How many emails are you receiving on average per day? 50, 100, 200, more?
Let’s broaden the lens to include messages from Slack, Teams, WhatsApp, Trello – the whole shebang. How many messages are you juggling daily? And here’s the real kicker: how often do you catch yourself reaching for your device, driven by an irresistible urge to stay connected?
Bonjour, in this video, I want to share two simple pieces of advice that can make a big difference both to your focus and your performance.
In my work with leadership teams, one of the initial challenges we confront is managing their workload. In our modern world, we’re inundated with a torrent of information, a ceaseless downpour of messages and emails. It’s not unusual to hear leaders moaning about their daily struggle with 300 to 500 messages. It’s nothing short of overwhelming.
But here’s what’s even more fascinating: we often underestimate just how frequently we’re glued to our devices. We might reckon it’s around five, ten, or maybe fifteen times a day, but in reality, it’s often much more.
I recently stumbled upon a study that should give us all pause. Researchers found that office workers who constantly check their emails experience a drop in IQ by a whopping 10 points! To put that in perspective, it’s twice the IQ drop you get from smoking marijuana.
So, here are my two simple suggestions, fully aware that they can be quite the challenge to implement.
Batch Your Email: Set specific times in your day (maybe twice) to check and respond to emails. This simple habit can make a world of difference. Trust me; I implement it with all my clients.
Silence Those Notifications: Whether it’s your phone or computer, turn off those pesky message notifications. It sounds almost too simple, but it can be a total game-changer.
Now, my question for you is, are you ready to resist the temptation and commit to checking your messages only twice a day?
This week’s Work Smarter: Live Better tip – is your invitation to embrace digital liberation.
Good luck and have a day filled with clarity and focused accomplishments.
A bientôt,
Cyril
