How to Keep the Email Monster from Eating You Alive

Jurgen Wolff

Reading, answering, and sending email can become a full-time job. Here are some tips for taming the email monster.

Control the Clock

Do you really need to read every email the moment it comes in? Probably not. In that case, set a number of times each day that you will check your email. Do you have a number in mind? Good, now cut it in half. There are very few people who really need to do this more than four times a day, and three or two times a day is even better. For starters, try this schedule:

• When you get to your desk in the morning

• Just after lunch

• An hour before the end of the day

If you have been in the habit of responding to emails immediately and are worried that ...