The 10 commandments

One day without email is a first step on the path to a new email culture. If you wish to reap the fruits of a new attitude afterwards, respect the following 10 commandments:

1. Check your email only three times a day. Resist the temptation to read every new message the moment it comes in.

2. Keep your Inbox empty. Your Inbox is not a to-do list. Keep a helicopter view.

3. Be sparing with the CC field. Only use it when the person in CC really needs to know about the subject at hand.

4. Stay clear of Reply to All if you can. Send your reply or comments only to the original sender.

5. Use good subject lines. A good subject line summarises your message like a newspaper headline.

6. If possible, limit your email message to the subject line and finish with eom (end of message). Then the recipient doesn’t even have to open your message.

7. Only forward messages twice. Explain why you’re forwarding.

8. Pick up the phone for urgent messages or complicated questions.

9. Unsubscribe from all those newsletters you never even read. Unsubscribe from mailing lists in which you have no interest.

10. Use your common sense. 30 emails a day is more than enough. Sometimes, less is more.

 On the web you will find many more free email tips and policies.

The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool - Richard Feynman Nobel Price Winner