Ann Rusnak has released ‘Focus on Success’ June 20 issue 24. Read Ann Rusnak’s article titled “Dealing with Email Overload”.


Ann Rusnak has released ‘Focus on Success’ June 20 issue 24.

Article

Ann Rusnak’s latest article is reprinted here.

******

Dealing with Email Overload

Question:

My email is out of control. I get bogged down in it too often. I’ve done a number of things to manage my inbox but it seems overwhelming most of the time. What’s the best way to manage my email and not let it manage me?

Answer:

Yes it is possible to exert control over your inbox and turn your email into a time gaining tool.

For years my business coach complained about how much time he wasted each day dealing with email. Finally he downloaded the tools I suggested, applied some of our time system strategies and low and behold… total control with spam eradicated.

He thinks he died and went to heaven. His inbox became a friend again instead of time draining enemy.

Email provides great advantages when used wisely. It allows you to respond and communicate at your convenience. But at the same time, it can become a huge time waster.

Reality… No matter how much we want to eliminate it, spam is here to stay while it remains a profitable venture. You can take measures to reduce it.

Don’t use one email address for everything. Create a variety of email address accounts for different business functions. Avoid support, info, client and admin when creating your accounts. These addresses are now automatically spammed. If you don’t know how to do this, contact your hosting company. They can tell you how many accounts you can create and how to do it.

Cut your time down answering email with email templates. If find you receive the same questions over and over, create an f.a.q. template to send out. Do the same thing for instructions etc.

While this may sound counter productive, turn off the junk mail filter in Outlook. Personally I found this wasting more of my time. So much legitimate email ended up in junk folder that I had to check it on a regular basis along with my inbox. It didn’t stop spam from getting delivered in my inbox.

I now use a program that let’s me preview, bounce and delete mail before I download it. Only what I want ends up in my inbox. Some one recently recommended Thunderbird instead of using Outlook. So far I love it. It provides more flexibility than Outlook. I can send email without downloading everything. Great when I want to do a quick reply to someone. But the verdict isn’t in yet, but so far it looks like a keeper.

Set specific times to check your email and then turn it off. Last time I looked; no law requires you to keep your email on 24/7 and to check it every time new mail arrives.

If you’re like me, you subscribe to several ezines. These ezines keep me informed on what’s happening, how to improve put them in a reading folder. I schedule reading time once a week to go through them. I pull out the nuggets and ideas and pitch the rest.

RSS (Really Simple Syndication) gives you a great alternative to receiving information without the hassle of email. Many of my favorite ezines now publish using RSS news feeds. You can get your information delivered right to your desktop. No spam. You can download a free rss reader at http://www.rssreader.com/download.htm

You can even receive our articles via desktop by adding our newsfeed URL to your rss reader program. http://www.simpletimemanagement.com/feed/

Let’s recap the email time saving tips:

1. Set specific time to read and answer your email. Turn it off while working to eliminate distractions. Use templates to answer common questions.

2. Quit using one email address for everything. Set up different accounts for specific functions in your business.

3. Print ezines and news items to read later. Keep what’s important and pitch the rest.

4. Try using RSS feeds to receive news and information right on your desktop.

5. Try different programs available on controlling your email. Keep experimenting until you find the right combination for your needs and demands.

—
Ann Rusnak, “The Time Diva” developed a system to show busy self employed people and business owners how to achieve success with less effort and time. Receive her free Time Package and find more additional articles at: www.SimpleTimeManagement.com

******

Contents

The contents of the Newsletter are:

– Feature Article: Dealing with Email Overload

– Timely Snippets: Soggy Brain Syndrome

– Upcoming Events: Free audio intro class

– Weekly Time Technique: Trying to Do It All?

Link

Go to Simple Management to subscribe to the newsletter.

*IMNewswatch would like to thank Ann Rusnak for granting exclusive permission to reprint this latest article.

 

 

 

 

Sharing is caring