I am really sick of email ruling my life. Even when it doesn't, it kind of does. [In the words of Nick Jonas, "Tryin' to break the chains but the chains only break me!"]
If you listen to the podcast, you've probably heard me mention (a couple of times, now) how overwhelming my inbox has been lately. You've also probably heard me mention something that I heard on Pat Flynn's podcast, "Email is just a convenient way to organize other people's agendas/needs." And it's true! Ever since I heard this statement, I haven't been able to get it out of my head. My email is always one of the biggest things holding me back from working on the big picture, and I don't like to think that the way I spend my time is being dictated by other people's agendas, instead of my own. But let me say this: I SO appreciate many (most!) of the emails that I get on a daily basis. The ones from you, my readers, the inquires from people who want to work with me or hire me in some capacity, the emails from students, the emails from friends + family, etc. However, as my business has grown, my inbox has grown with it, and it's gotten to the point where I have to make some changes. In fact, I've already started making some changes, and I'm really happy with how they're affecting my life. I guess you could say that I'm in the middle of/am slowly coming out of an inbox midlife crisis, and just like many solopreneurs before me, I'm learning that I simply have to set up some specific systems for handling my email, before it eats me alive. Do you understand this feeling of being ruled by your inbox? Does your inbox increase your anxiety because of all of the unread/unanswered requests that just sit there, taunting you? If so, you, too, might need a bit of help... There are TONS of philosophies out there about how to best handle email overload, and there are many systems/concepts to choose from when you decide to start being more methodical in how you handle your inbox, but a few have stuck out to me, so I wanted to share them with you today. Here are the systems and approaches that I've been playing with in my own efforts to take control of my inbox:
So what do you think? Do you want to join me in taking control of your inbox? Oh, and one more *important* note on this subject, for anyone reading this who may have emailed me and never received a response: I try my hardest to respond to every email that I receive, I really, really do. But sometimes, during really busy weeks or extra full time periods, emails slip through the cracks. If you wrote me a kind, thoughtful email that I never responded to (think, last year?), know that I did read it, it touched me, and I wholeheartedly meant to respond. But I might not have. It doesn't mean I don't adore you and/or appreciate what you had to say, it means that I was overwhelmed and couldn't handle it at the time. I hope you'll forgive me. Good luck with your inbox, everyone! We can do this! I'll be sure to snap a screenshot + share it with you when I get to my first inbox zero (ever?).
Angelyn
4/14/2015 06:10:05 am
Thanks MC - I needed to hear this today!
Mary Catherine
4/14/2015 09:23:03 pm
So glad. Email is SUCH a nasty beast sometimes, isn't it? ;) 7/21/2015 10:06:08 am
Hello Mary Catherine, I was going to send you an email but decide it would be wise not to. I have a system I designed using Microsoft Outlook and the concepts of GTD (David Allen). I call the system Control Your Day "CYD". I think my system could help you and your readers avoid getting to the bankruptcy step. I would be happy to share a free copy of the PDF version of the book with you and any of your readers. Just flip me a quick email and reference this post. Comments are closed.
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HELLO!I'm Mary Catherine, a Cape Cod-based yoga teacher, painter, designer, writer, mom, and list-maker extraordinaire. My goal is to inspire you to start living a more creative, simple, joyful, + purposeful life.
{Learn more + read my story}
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