Unproductive Work Habits: Part III

In this series, we’re discussing how meetings and email are consuming the majority of time for the average worker.

If you’re collaborating with others on projects, email is often the tool you must check frequently. When new emails catch your eye, it’s easy to get distracted by other issues.

Even if you can get away from your desktop email, most of us now have email on our phones, sending us notifications on lunch breaks or at home. Psalm 119:99 says, “I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes.” The more time spent reading and responding to emails is less time spent working on the task at hand. The less you work on a project, the less you know about it, and your success at your job slowly but steadily decreases.

Email is a vicious cycle that distracts from the pressing work. The pursuit of limiting email-related distractions will provide you and your team with more time, energy, and insight for work.

Some suggestions that may help include turning off email notifications, scheduling specific times to review emails, and blocking out time on your calendar for your more important work.

Questions For Reflection

• How many times have you checked your email in the last hour? The last two hours? Was the time spent productive?
• How many of the emails that you receive a day are pertinent to your work? Have you set up a system to organize incoming emails?
• How much time do you spend in God's Word a week? How much on email? Which will provide the greatest wisdom?