How to kick your email addiction

Email is a great mode of communication in many instances, but it can suck hours out of your workday. Take these steps to minimize your exchanges and maximize your efficiency.

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Hello. My name is Chris, and I’m an email addict.

Email addiction is taking a serious toll on both our personal lives and our work productivity. Long gone are the days of handwritten letters, snail mail, and faxes. Why use those outdated practices when you can simply type a message from anywhere and instantly send it to anyone in the world?

The problem starts when we abuse email and it begins to replace other, more personal forms of communication. A co-worker once said to me, “It’s easy to be mean over email.”

In order to be effective, email must be used correctly. Yes, it’s a phenomenal way to send a non-urgent message, a great use of recapping a meeting or telephone call, and possibly the best method for updating multiple people on a project. But it is very ineffective at conducting a discussion, carrying on a conversation, getting to know someone, or addressing a serious matter.

For many entrepreneurs, email has become a crutch. Below is a five-step program to kick the habit:

Say no to the ‘push’

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