When an email from a client or customer comes in, it’s easy to put aside whatever you’re working on to respond right away. But although being responsive to customers is important, constantly checking and sending emails can hurt your productivity. If it’s not possible to divert these kinds of emails to a customer service rep, set up a realistic response window for yourself. Try replying to emails once every four hours or at the end of the business day. If you’re worried that your clients will feel ignored, put up an auto-response to tell them when you’ll be checking email and to instruct them to call if they have an urgent issue. That way, you can use your largely uninterrupted workday to focus on getting projects done, not managing your inbox.
Adapted from "Your Team's Time Management Problem Might Be a Focus Problem," by Maura Thomas
