H-F-L-Team: E-mail Time Saver Or Time Waster? By Douglas Miller At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Studies have shown that the average person receives about 40 e-mails a day. I know mine are at least twice that amount.

When you are running your home-based business time management is important. Often you are the CEO and clerk. You do it all.

One of the most important tools and time waster in your business is e-mail.
We all need it we all use it. The trick is to keep e-mail from over running your time.

What to do?

I have set up different e-mail accounts for different needs. I have one that is only for non-business related items. This e-mail address is the one that I give friends and family members to use. I know what they send me is not going to be time sensitive. I f something important happens or needs immediate attention they will call on the phone.

I also have an e-mail account for work related items. This one I use for an overall catchall for my business. I will also set up special e-mail account for specific projects that I'm working on. That way I know what they are responding to and for. What reason. I have an account that I use when I respond to special offers or e-newsletters. This way I keep e-mail separated and more manageable.

Use "Preferences" to manage each account.

Now put technology to work for you. Go into the "preferences" or "set-up" for each account. And apply the "junk-mail" settings and other filters that will help cut down on unnecessary e-mail. Check out all the tools, many can make managing your account easer. One more trick is to turn off any audio notification that you have new mail. It is just a distraction that will make you want to check it now.

Time management for e-mail.

One way I make the best of my time is to devote specific times and amounts of time to read and respond to e-mails.

I divide the workday into three times to address my e-mail. I will check it first in the morning when I start my day.

Then midday and then at the end of my workday, I will look at it again.

I devote fifteen minutes to a half hour to each time. I stay on schedule; if I don't it will just through off my other tasks that need to be done.

My 3 "Ds" To decision making.

Delete it: You know within three seconds if you need to respond to e-mail. Don't linger over it Delete It.

Do it now: If you need to respond to it, do it right away. Don't wait that just puts the work off and you may not get back to it until it's too late.

Defer it: If the task takes to long to address it right away defer it. A good way is to use a folder within your e-mail account. You must remember to schedule time to address that folder.

Managing your work time is an important tool in living your Hundred-Fold-Life.

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