This has been quite a week. As many of you know, I have been working on a ton of projects over the past several weeks and I have felt like I can do anything. That all kind of grinded to a halt the other day. I knew it was bound to happen – everything goes in cycles – but I was surprised at what put me over the edge – it was EMAIL.
Because I love to be educated and I am in the business of educating others, I subscribe to and read a LOT of online newsletters. And yes, a LOT of them are really good. Several months ago I had decided to really cut back on what I was reading, and reduced what I was receiving. But low and behold, the news I cut seems to have been quickly replaced by other news, and I am back where I was – too much email!
One of my favorite mentors is Robert Middleton, and he spoke on this same topic in his newsletter this week (yes, I always read his.) So this is what I am going to do to reduce my email intake – maybe it will work for you too!
1. Remove your name from every newsletter that does not give you value RIGHT NOW. My plan is to get my newsletters down to no more than 10 – with a mix of design newsletters and business newsletters.
2. Create a folder for one email from all of the newsletters that you unsubscribe from. If you ever miss it, you can go back in and resubscribe.
3. Delete that WHOLE folder in 30 days if you do not go back to it.
4. Know that if you need to know something – you can ask! Even if you only ask Google! (It is amazing what google knows.)
5. Know that there is ALWAYS another chance or opportunity to do and learn something – there is almost no such thing as “never again” in this world we live in.
So, if my newsletters aren’t the thing you need right now – if they aren’t helping you with your business – feel free to unsubscribe – I’ll totally understand.
Have a great week!
-Mary
4 Responses
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These are some really great email control tips, Mary. I’ve been grappling with the same problem myself. Here’s a few more that may help everyone/someone out there….(1) turn the automatic notification off that tells you instantly when you have an email coming in. Most emails don’t need an instant response; if you do respond instantly, it makes it look like you’re just sitting at your computer with no “real” work to do. But worse yet, it distracts you from that project you really ARE working on. That distraction will take you 20 minutes to get your brain back in gear! Precious time lost! Rather, check your email inbox less frequently–once an hour after 50 minutes of diligent work on your project du jour; once in the morning and once before you leave work behind for the evening or just in the afternoon. I scan my email first thing in the morning to see if there is anything that needs my immediate attention and then wait until about 3:00 in the afternoon to get into it and focus on it as the task rather than the interruption. This has saved my hours of time and made me more productive in other areas of my business. And Mary, yours won’t be one of the newsletters I’ll delete. May I also suggest that everyone unsubscribe from any retail outlet email lists in the same way Mary (Robert) have suggested. Do you really need to know every time that Chico’s has a sale or Borders has a new coupon for a discount on books you don’t want?
Thank you, Sandy and Mary. Bordes an Chicos are gone!!!!
Hi Mary
Thanks for the great tips on email control. Also, thanks again for another mention this week on my marketing plans for 2009! Response last week was great!
I’m also inundated with emails and Sandy also had some great tips to share. I’ve gotten into the habit of deleting any non-essential emails 1st thing in AM and last thing at night on an almost daily basis. I’m a self-described information junkie and subscribe to a variety of newsletters which are relevant to my business and also to my interests outside of my business. Also, emails are how I keep in touch with clients, family, friends, business associates, prospects, and various organizations I belong to.
I also have folders set up for specific types of emails, so once I’ve read them, if they have to be kept, I just transfer them to the appropriate folder. Then I periodically check the folders and delete anything I don’t need to keep.
By the way, I won’t be unsubscribing to your newsletters any time soon! And, I just subscribed to Robert Middleton’s newsletter because he had some great info that I didn’t find anywhere else.
Which probably means that I’ll have to find something to delete or unsubscribe from!
Ceil Petrucelli
http://www.ceilpetrucelliinteriors.com
Thank you Mary! Something I am just putting into play is using a timer. I have a cube that has numbers written on 4 sides….5, 15, 30, 60 minutes. I turn on the cube and turn up the side for the number of minutes I desire. It gives me a little beep when my time is up.
I find that I often waste time b/c I am unaware of just how much time is passing while I’m checking email or working on a particular item. This keeps me in check. So far, so good!
I do get too many newsletters and I have done like Ceil and created folders for each newsletter so that I can periodically go through them. I actually delete many without reading b/c I don’t have time. Some emails I always read as soon as I get them…yours being one of them!