Like all good addicts, I denied I had a problem for a long time. I checked my email before I got out of bed because “the light from my phone keeps me from falling back asleep.” I spent the entire work day in my personal and work email. I was constantly checking both inboxes – and getting distracted by the influx. I thought if I kept my inbox under 10 emails, then I clearly didn’t have an email addiction problem.

In March I am going to break my email addiction and be more productive and less scattered.

The Rules

I will check my email at 2-3 predetermined scheduled times throughout the day so I stop interrupting my work flow.

I will not check my email on my phone (unless I am for some reason away from my computer during one of those scheduled times and it can’t wait until I get home).

I will not check my email on weekends. Period. No email from Friday night at 6 p.m. until my first scheduled time on Monday morning.

The Desired Outcome

I am going to spend more time on the tasks that matter. I am also going to stop my habit of checking my email when I can’t do anything about any of the messages I receive. The weekend should not be spent worrying about tasks that can’t get done until Monday anyways.

My trial run this past week proved that this is going to be hard. Really hard. I’m not really breaking one habit, I’m breaking many. To make it easier, I am closing out of my inbox on my computer when I’m not supposed to be checking/responding. I also moved my email app off the main page of my phone and into a folder so I can’t click on it without thinking.

Want to join me but need a bigger push? Try this.