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Smart Email Management Goals for 2013

Empty Wardrobe – Empty Inbox

2012 saw the volume for email traffic rise by at least 10% and certainly my inbox is starting to bulge again.  Email overload is rising (and hence email stress its direct descendant).  Do I declare inbox bankruptcy like so many before me.  The only trouble is that unlike a bank there is no bale out if I lose  a valuable email.  Yesterday I  spent four hours clearing out my sent items and lots of old folders.  It felt just like clearing out the wardrobe of all those old clothes which one hangs onto just in case either they come back into fashion or you lose some weight so once more you can get into those skinny fit jeans!

In the case of the inbox it was old projects and possible joint ventures which had long since past their sell by date.

As a result here are my top tips and indeed my own goals for limiting the effects of email overload and email induced stress.

1. Write like a man – shorten my emails by 10 to 20%.
2. Reduce the number of time I check my inbox by 20% (to about five times a day).
3. Stop feeling I must reply to every email out of courtesy – after all I don’t reply to all my phone messages and especially those which are sales calls.
4. Have at least one ‘No Email Day’ every quarter.
5. Use a file sharing system like Dropbox for sending large attachments.

What are your goals and plans for 2013 to help you save time and unchain yourself from the inbox?

Do you need some help slimming down your inbox for 2013?   Call us and we can discuss how our Brilliant Email Management workshops and coaching can help you and your business.   Alternatively, subscribe to our free monthly   e-briefing.

Tags: Brilliant Email, Email Bankruptcy, email management training, email overload, email stress, empty inbox, Imrpoved personal productivity, new year's resolutions

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