How many times a day to you check your email? Do you check your email if you are in the middle of another project, on a phone call with a client or even face-to-face with someone? We are so connected in this day and age, but are we really getting more work done? Email is like texting and driving: a dangerous distraction from your more immediate priorities.
For a salesperson or business owner, checking email can actually be a counterproductive activity. Virtually any email can wait for an hour or more before being addressed. Some emails can even—dare I say?—wait a whole day.
The solution is to turn your email program off and on. Seems very simple, but you will discover that life truly changes when you turn your email on only periodically throughout the day. You may even consider scheduling time for email in your calendar, so it doesn't bleed over into the work you get paid to do. And turn off your notifications, because although you may shut off email on your computer, it can still come through on your phone or tablet.
There are some great tools for controlling your inbox, too. One I came across recently is SaneBox.com. SaneBox saves you time by moving distracting emails out of your inbox and into a "SaneLater" folder. The program uses an algorithm to prioritize emails on the basis of your past interaction with senders. Right now, it works with Outlook as well as Gmail. A lifesaver for prioritizing!
