As I am writing this post, a small little box on top of my computer screen is telling me that I have 3 e-mail messages waiting. Normally, I’d click on the box to find out if any of the messages are important and require immediate action. Today, however, I made a conscious act not to that. Why? Because of this article suggesting that people who check their email compulsively (every five minutes or so) waste 8.5 hours a week.
Now, I don’t check my email every few minutes but I know I check it more than necessary and that this is an unhealthy and counter-productive habit. According to a study conducted by researchers at Loughsborough University in England it takes a person an average of 64 seconds to recover their train their thought after reading an email.
If you’re checking your email more than twice a day — knock it off. It’s not making you more productive. It’s making you less so. In other words, it’s time to unlearn your habit of compulsively checking your email.
