
During my working day I spend all of my time staring at my computer screen, and a large portion of it is spent dealing with emails. If I tally it up I could easily have spent several days a week in my inbox, don't tell my boss!
It's stressful because when I'm in my inbox I'm not writing articles. This makes me question whether I'm actually doing any work at all.
I read an article recently by The Stylist Magazine about work stress and email apnea - yes email apnea is a thing. Similar to sleep apnea, which is a serious medical condition, described by the NHS as follows: "Sleep apnoea is when your breathing stops and starts while you sleep", email apnea is the tendency to hold our breath while emailing.
You may not have even noticed you're doing it. Or, if you're anything like me, you might have noticed feeling a tight knot developing in your chest. This is stress and anxiety in its physical form, because you're trapped somewhere you really don't want to be.
The worst is when you come back from annual leave and there are so many emails that your inbox becomes your full-time job.
But what's the answer?
Mindful explains, "Email apnea is a condition caused by uninterrupted screen fixation. Thus, one of the most powerful cures is to build in short breaks every now and then. Get up. Stretch. Move around."
This got me thinking about the amount of time I was spending in my inbox throughout the day, sat at my computer as the list of emails gets longer in front of my eyes, probably looking quite petrified, like a stone statue.
I didn't sign up to be a secretary! I am a writer of online content, not emails. I had to find a way to take back control, and get back my time.
So, I'm trying out this new inbox schedule...
I'm checking my inbox twice a day. Once in the morning, for organising and replying to emails that need responses. Then once after lunch, which will be my opportunity to check for responses and send out any emails I need to send out for the day.
I might pop back in before I finish my shift if I'm waiting to hear from someone about something important, but strictly only to check for that contact.
And, you know, if a notification pops up during the day and I spot that it's a time-sensitive opportunity, I might have to pop back in to deal with that, but I definitely won't be tempted to go through the other emails...
...even if the lists is growing again...
Hmmm, this plan still sounds suspiciously like I'll still be spending a lot of time in my inbox.
Maybe there is no solution, and this is why people hire PA's. I wonder if my niece is looking for some work experience?
I have to go now, I'm about to start work, and as long as I'm away from it, my inbox will be filling up!
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