Introduction
If you're paid to solve real-time problems, for example in a call center, this won't really apply to you.
But if your work requires at least twenty minutes of uninterrupted focus to produce something worthwhile, you're in the right place.
On average, an employee checks their inbox every fifteen minutes. That's huge.
It means the rhythm of your day is no longer dictated by your priorities, but by other people's.
And as we saw with asynchronous communication, it should always be you deciding when you receive and process information, not the other way around.
Your emails aren't urgent by default
When you send an email, you implicitly accept that the reply may come three or four hours later.
Fine. The corollary is simple.
You can check your email three times a day without offending anyone.
And above all, without being interrupted constantly.
Emails are like socks
You don't start a washing machine as soon as you drop one pair of socks in the basket.
You wait until you have several, then you process them in one go.
Email works the same way.
It should be handled in batches, not drip by drip.
If you followed the previous advice, especially remove notifications, you no longer get alerts for every new email.
If you haven't done it yet, now is the time.
Nobody ever woke up one morning thinking:
"Damn, I haven't checked my email in two months, I have 8,000 unread messages."
Close your inbox
Even without notifications, most people keep their inbox open all day.
As a result, they glance at it several times per hour, out of reflex, to kill time, or to escape a boring meeting.
The rule is simple.
Close your email client.
Open it only when you decided to.
For example:
- once in the morning,
- once after lunch,
- once at the end of the day.
No more.
This simple change protects deep focus blocks, which are necessary to reach flow state.
Remove temptation
Even with strong discipline, temptation stays strong.
That's why some extensions can hide the inbox and let you write emails without seeing new messages arrive.
The only way to read incoming emails becomes a deliberate click.
You regain control.
It's the same logic as the Nutella jar: add friction between you and distraction.
Only open email if you can handle it
Never check your inbox:
- in a meeting,
- during a coffee break,
- on your phone between tasks.
Open it only when you have the time and mental energy to properly handle what you'll read.
If three check-ins a day feels too radical, start with six.
Then five.
Then four.
You might be a bit less reactive, but far more effective.
Zero work email outside work
Outside work hours, the goal is simple: zero.
Reading a work email at night or on the weekend, without being able to answer, immediately triggers the Zeigarnik effect.
You create an unfinished task in your head that will spin in the background and create unnecessary stress.
In other words, you ruin your rest without moving anything forward.
Let others read email on Sunday.
Read yours Monday morning.
And above all, don't impose on others what you don't want to suffer yourself.
If you get an idea during the weekend, keep the email in draft or schedule it for Monday morning.
What research says
Researchers at the University of British Columbia compared two groups.
Both received and sent the same number of emails.
The only difference was how many times per day they checked their inbox.
The group that checked only three times per day:
- spent about 20% less time on email,
- reported significantly lower stress,
- reached relaxation levels comparable to techniques like meditation or breathing exercises.
Fewer check-ins, same work volume, less stress, more effectiveness.
Go further
If you want a short daily email to help you take back control of your time, protect focus, and work without burning out, just leave your email below.
One email a day.
No more.
Just enough.