Draw from proven productivity strategies by setting fixed times to review your inbox—no more than 2 or 3 times daily. Try 9 a.m. with your coffee, 11:45 a.m. before lunch, and 5:30 p.m. before leaving the office. Disable the "New message" alert to eliminate distractions and stay focused.
Delete (Destroy): Purge spam, newsletters, and unneeded documents. Do (Release): Tackle emails that take just minutes right away. Archive (Deposit): Store processed emails in your "Archives" folder. Defer (Postpone): Move complex tasks, like the boss's request for a "mini benchmark on the organic hyper market," to an "Actions" folder for later attention.
Adopt this U.S.-inspired practice: Dedicate one day a week to email-free work. Focus on tasks independent of email, and for on-site colleagues, deliver messages in person—by walking over.
