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This time I will finally defeat e-mail.
I’m determined that e-mail will no longer run my life, define my days, suck dry my time.
Every other previous attempt to get out of e-mail jail has failed. This time I will succeed!
Here is my e-mail escape plan:
1. Unsubscribe From Everything:
For the past couple of days I have busily hitting the “unsubscribe” button on any e-mail that includes one. Any mailing list, newsletter, club that I have ever subscribed to, either voluntarily or unknowingly, I have now unsubscribed.
I figure that if the communication is important enough that an actual person that I know will let me know. Yes, I may miss some news - but my problem is not a lack of data crossing my screens.
2. Turn All E-Mail Notifications Off:
I’m trying to visit every platform, service or website that I receive notifications to change my settings to “never e-mail”. No more e-mails from Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Audible, Netflix, Goodreads, or any of the seemingly endless sites that I agreed to (or defaulted into) getting e-mail from at one point.
From here on out I’ll call them if I need anything.
Will I miss some important notifications. Sure. Will life go on. We will see.
3. Only Respond to E-Mail From People That I Know:
This may be biggest change of all. I get tons of e-mail from folks asking me to review some edtech app, platform, or piece of software. Lots of requests to write about a new service or a new product.
From here on out I will not be responding to those e-mails unless I know the sender.
There are lots of ways that we can get to know each other. One great way is to become an active participant in our IHE community. I read almost all of the stories, views pieces, and blogs posts on IHE - and I also read a good portion of the comments. If you are an active community participant on IHE then I’ll get to know you as an individual.
There is also the old-fashioned way of getting to know each other. I’ll be more likely to respond to your e-mail if you have been recommending by someone that I do know in our edtech world. Or if we have met at a conference.
Exceptions are for anyone with an edu e-mail. I always want to hear from you.
My hope is that all these changes will decrease the flood of messages into my inbox. That I’ll create a virtuous cycle of less messages, more time, and a happier e-mail experience.
We will see.
Do you have any other ideas to wrestle e-mail into submission?
What are your e-mail strategies?
