Email feels lightweight. It is not.
Each check pulls you out of focus and forces context switching. Recovery takes far longer than the check itself. Repeated throughout the day, this fragments attention beyond repair.
Most people do not manage email. They react to it.
Email batching reverses the relationship.
Choose two or three fixed times per day to check email. Morning, mid-day, late afternoon works for many. The exact times matter less than consistency.
Outside those windows, email stays closed. No background tabs. No notifications. No previews.
When you open email, process it fully. Respond, delegate, archive, or schedule. Do not skim and leave messages unresolved. Partial processing guarantees future interruptions.
This approach feels uncomfortable initially. Fear of missing something urgent is common. In practice, true urgency reveals itself without constant monitoring.
Batching also exposes low-value communication. Many emails disappear when you stop rewarding immediacy.
Response times may lengthen slightly. Output quality and focus increase dramatically.
Email is a tool, not a taskmaster. Batch it, and your day regains structure.
Stop letting email interrupt your work. Process it on your terms.