YOU TOUCH IT, YOU PLAY IT…
Previous parts of this article: Part 1 Part 2
Do:
One of the following:
Note: The universal routine you must follow is - The moment you click on and open
the e-mail, read it, work on it and finish it right away, right then and there.
You touch it, you play it.
-
If you expect an action or answer in return to your e-mail - Convert the e-mail
to a task with a defined target date (Outlook and other similar programs have task
management features – yes, they are limited, but they are better than nothing).
Setting up a task that will remind you when you need to take the next action eliminates
the need of occupying any attention units. This is the most important action, and
other than ensuring you do not waste attention units, it also ensures nothing gets
forgotten.
-
If you don’t expect an answer in return to your e-mail – Simply reply to the e-mail.
However, concentrate on replying in a final way which will ensure the communication
does not drag out or end up needing further communications.
-
If no further action is needed – file the e-mail in the appropriate organized and
easy to find folder. Yes, you need to keep nearly all e-mails (other than junk)
as they are the “memory” of the organization.
-
If no further action is needed, and you do not need to retain the email - delete
the e-mail and release the attention unit.
The purpose here is to create time by ensuring one does not do the same work twice,
while also ensuring that no communication, task or action is ever dropped or forgotten,
and you keep your attention units free all the while.
Try it out over the next couple of days. It’s simple, but it’s magic!
See you next week with the next tip - FIFO – FIRST IN, FIRST OUT…
Meir Ezra,
Founder - TimeMaker
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