June 7, 2005

Email Is An Art. Not a Science

As we use email more and more let us keep in mind that it takes a bit of careful thought and attention to efficiently use email and not be overwhelmed by it.

I use filters, auto-replies, smart subject lines and other tips to make my email use more effectively.

A recent press release by Peggy Duncan author of "Conquer Email Overload with Better Habits, Etiquette, and Outlook Tips and Tricks reads We all know that if left unchecked, spam can drive you nuts, but what about the email messages from people you either want to or have to hear from? Are there some things they're doing that's making you swear at your computer screen every time you "hear" from them?

Peggy Duncan, author of "Conquer Email Overload with Better Habits, Etiquette, and Outlook Tips and Tricks," has been collecting these pet peeves from comments she receives in her email overload seminars and on her Web site ( www.PeggyDuncan.com). She says, "These pet peeves are not only aggravating, but they're also contributing to email overload which is a huge problem in the workplace. Studies show that email overload causes people to work anywhere from one to two extra hours a day, either at work or when they get home. Another study showed that it reduces the IQ more than marijuana because of the constant interruptions that interfere with the ability to focus. The answer is to reduce the load on the front end, clear out the mess that's already there, and then get into the habit of dealing with each message as you open it."

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