DEVELOPMENT when you want to get deep , focused work done and Freedom blocks you out of all potential distractions .
Think you might end up wanting to hack the system ? ‘ Locked Mode ’ literally makes it impossible for you to switch off a Freedom session prematurely .
Set yourself a focus goal
2 Dipping into our inbox can provide dopamine hits when good news comes through and working our way through countless messages can give us a false sense of productivity . As a result , when we feel stuck on a task , our email can provide relief and make us feel productive . But rather than immediately succumbing to the siren song of email , set yourself a focus goal . Make a deal with yourself where if you stay focused on work for an hour ( or even just ten more minutes ), you can dip into your inbox as your reward .
Four ways to overcome your email addiction
With six minutes the average amount of time people can stay focused before succumbing to the email or messaging apps , it ’ s time to tame your inbox says Dr Amantha Imber
THE EXPERT
Dr Amantha Imber is the Founder of Inventium , Australia ’ s leading behavioural science consultancy . She also hosts an insightful podcast about the habits and rituals of the world ’ s most successful people , called How I Work .
In February 2021 , the average Microsoft Teams user was sending 45 % more chat messages per week compared with February 2020 , and over 40 billion more emails were sent in February 2021 compared to February 2020 . Meanwhile , 50 % of people surveyed by Microsoft respond to MS Team chat messages within five minutes or less . It ’ s no wonder 54 % of people feel overworked and 39 % feel exhausted …
If you can relate , here are four ways to tame your inbox and its contribution to your stress levels and exhaustion at work …
Give yourself Freedom
1 Instead of relying on willpower to stay out of your inbox , Freedom allows you to block yourself from accessing certain websites and applications , or if you are game , the entire internet . Just decide
Boost your energy with the right kind
3 of breaks We tend to procrastinate more when our energy levels are low . And our email is a great tool for procrastination from tasks that feel hard and require our undivided attention . Kick your email procrastination habit through boosting energy with regular breaks .
Psychologists have uncovered ideal conditions for taking effective breaks . Research from the University of Colorado has shown that in contrast to one 30-minute break or no breaks at all , hourly five-minute walking breaks boost energy , sharpen focus , improve mood and reduce feelings of fatigue in the afternoon more effectively .
Delete email from your phone
4 When we are waiting in a queue or a bit bored , having a quick check of email on our phone can be so easy – yet unnecessary . To remove the urge , you need to break the habit . And one reason habits form is because the behaviour is easy to do . Let ’ s break the habit by making the behaviour harder to do .
Is your email app front and centre on your phone ’ s home screen ? It ’ s easy to make email the first thing you check when you pick up your phone . Move the email app from your home screen and checking it on impulse becomes harder .
If you are serious about kicking your email habit , delete it from your phone . If this idea feels overwhelming , try it for just one week and see how your behaviour changes . If your work life falls apart without having email on your phone , feel free to reinstall it . But you might find things get a lot better … S www . inventium . com . au
60 Executive PA | Winter Issue 2022