If you’re like most people, you constantly check your email so that no important messages go unanswered. However, constantly checking email prevents you from being in control of your time and focusing on finishing your work. Learn how to accomplish more each day while monitoring your email with these four tips.

Turn Off Notifications

Turn off notifications for when messages enter your inbox. Notifications serve as distractions, and you need quiet time to focus on your work. In addition, notifications increase your feelings of anxiety over having unanswered emails. Therefore, you can reduce your stress level by letting your email enter your inbox silently.

Log Off from Your Account

Science shows that when workers constantly transition between actively engaging in a task, then letting their thoughts wander, workers’ brains are less able to focus, and less work is accomplished. When you’re constantly checking email, you’re distracted from important tasks that need finishing. As a result, you may end up consistently working late to make up for all the time you spent on checking your messages, rather than working. Log off from your account so you can focus on other activities.

Schedule Time for Checking Messages

Because email may be commonly used for sending and receiving work-related information, you’ll have to check your messages at some point, but not all the time. Since email is designed to help you perform your work, rather than keep you from it, you need to set aside time each day for checking your messages. For example, you may set a specific time for checking your email after you arrive for work in the morning, again around lunchtime, and before you leave in the evening.

Don’t Feel the Need to Respond Immediately

Because you do not need to be available all the time, you should not feel that you have to respond to every email right away. You need time to focus on your work and complete your tasks. Respond to your messages only when you are able to during your scheduled time. If someone needs to get a hold of you quickly, they will find another way to communicate.

Save yourself time and increase your productivity by not letting email take control of your life. For additional help with taking the next step in your career, reach out to the friendly staff at CarterWill Search & Flex today!