What is SO hard about turning it off???
This is NOT rocket science. But it IS personal control.
Given all of the email you receive daily, perhaps it is difficult to tear your eyes away from your inbox, even when you’re supposed to be working on other matters. Just as some people feel compelled to answer the phone whenever it rings, others believe it is essential to respond to emails immediately upon receipt. This reactive approach is not only unnecessary, but it is a description of a classic inefficient practice.
Try this. Minimize or close down your email, first for a half hour. Then check it. How many top one priorities did you miss in that time? Do this a few times till you feel comfortable.
Then, expand the time period to an hour. Do the same thing. How much did you miss?
Many of us go to meetings that last more than an hour, and can’t access email in that time. What is the difference? Nothing.
But the reality is that if you stop looking up every time your email or blackberry makes a noise or a flash, you’ll be amazed at how much better you’ll concentrate on the challenge or project at hand.
Try it. Let us know how it works.
