A 2012 survey highlighted email overload as a potential stressor, but it's not just the volume of messages—it's how we handle them that truly impacts our well-being.
Led by Dr. Richard McKinnon of the Future Work Centre, this research was presented at the British Psychological Society's Division of Occupational Psychology annual meeting in Nottingham. The study explored how factors like technology use, behaviors, and personality traits amplify the pressure from incoming emails.
Surveying over 2,000 professionals across various fields, the Future Work Centre found that more than 62% keep their inbox open all day, while over half enable push notifications for new messages. Checking email first thing in the morning or right before bed heightens stress levels. As Dr. McKinnon notes: "Our research shows that email is a double-edged sword. Even though they are valuable communication tools."
He further explains: "The habits we develop, the emotional reactions we adopt to messages, and the unspoken norms around email use combine to become a toxic source of stress, which can negatively impact our productivity and well-being."
To reduce stress, the experts recommend disconnecting: Avoid checking emails after 5 p.m., disable push notifications, and use email intentionally rather than letting it run in the background.
