Simplifight - The Email Productivity Journey

Joint problems call for joint solutions.

Acknowledge the problem

Too many emails, useless cc's, constant interruption, low productivity.
But the bitter truth is:

It's not the technology that is wrong. It's how we misuse email collectively.

Understand the solution

A collective misuse calls for a collective correction. One step at a time. The more people participate, the better.

We need to collectively change our email habits. And you can start today.

Build new habits

It takes 9 weeks to build a habit. Within this time we are going to send you friendly reminders and useful email productivity tips.

Implement them yourself, share them with your team and tell your colleagues.

Good email use

Email is asynchronous: we decide when we reply
Email simplifies communication: we can easily reach people
Email allows us to stay up-to-date on our own timely terms

Bad email use

Hyper-responsively answering email: it's constant interruption, killing productivity
Including too many (cc) recipients: we do this to avoid responsibility
We have too many newsletters, marketing updates etc. and get distracted when they arrive in our inbox

Reluctant to join?

We understand. There are millions of newsletters out there. So why should you (ironically) sign up for another one. Take your time. But to get you started, here are three things you can do immediately to gain productivity and escape the email madness.

Restrict "doing email" to twice a day

Treat "doing email" like any other task: set aside some time, focus on it and later move on to the next task. Stop checking your email as "time filler". It's not useful and only distracts you. Instead, in your calendar block two time slots a day (usually between 30min and 90min) to respond to email. Out of experience, one slot in the morning and one in the mid-afternoon work just fine. Add a third one in the evening if needed.

Disable email notifications

Email is an asynchronous communication technology. You decide when you answer. Which also implies that you do not need email notifications. So turn them off. All of them. They do not serve any purpose but to interrupt you.

Let people know how you use email

People will wonder why, all of a sudden, you are not replying to emails immediately anymore. So let them know about your new email habits. Put a quick explainer in your email signature. You'll find an example here. Also, this serves the important purpose to spread the word and, hopefully, convince other people to adapt a similar healthy and conscious use of email.

Fed up with this email madness? Let's fix it.