Currently, TK and I are in the breathtaking South of France, supporting Cameron in his football tournament and exploring the stunning Provence through delightful walks.
However, even before leaving, I was plagued with the worry of constantly checking my email. I know I’ve advised many not to do so while on vacation, but it’s easier said than done.
Bonjour, in this video I want to share a simple trick that I’ve been trying out to truly enjoy my vacation.
To overcome this challenge, I decided to implement a rule with Jilord, my trusted assistant. The rule is straightforward: I refrain from touching my inbox, and Jilord takes charge of managing it for me. He sorts the emails into four categories: “Cyril to Action,” which contains items that require my attention, “Cyril to Read,” for information that I can peruse, and “Jilord to Action” and “Speak to Cyril,” for matters he needs to discuss with me. Initially, it was hard to resist temptation, and I’ll admit, I gave in to a sneaky check one morning.
To my surprise, Jilord had diligently processed most of the emails, and there was nothing left in my inbox. It was an amazing feeling. While it’s still a work in progress, I’ve been checking in with Jilord every few days to stay updated. Additionally, we have established an urgency protocol. If something truly urgent arises, he will send me an SMS. But I must confess, waking up to an empty inbox with most items already dealt with was truly remarkable.
Of course, nobody is perfect, and I still struggle with the occasional temptation to check.
This experience has led me to suggest that if you have an assistant, why not delegate your email management to them? In the past, when we had assistants, we would never think twice about having them handle our mail. So why not adopt the same approach for your email? If you don’t have an assistant but hold significant responsibilities, I highly recommend considering one. Virtual assistants, or VAs, are incredible resources available nowadays. They can make a tremendous difference in supporting you. Asking your assistant to handle and sort your email can be a game-changer.
I have to admit that my beautiful wife, TK, is also a great accountability buddy for this and keeps me on track. I know I am not supposed to check my emails too often when I am on leave but I am not perfect on this. I am a work in progress.
TK and I may even create a video on this topic soon, discussing the importance of having someone to help you stay focused.
Now, I pose a question to you: Are you spending too much time on email, even during your weekends and leave? Should you consider enlisting someone’s assistance in managing it?
This is this week’s Work Smarter: Live Better tip.
Wishing you an incredible day!
A bientôt,
Cyril
