Here’s an easy way to improve focus, concentration and productivity…

Turn off your email alerts. Yep. You heard me right. Turn off that little box or bell that signals you each time an email arrives in your Inbox. That way your concentration isn’t broken and you’re not tempted to stop what you’re doing to respond.

Even if you don’t always read emails when they come in, you know you stop and look to see who it’s from when that alert shows up (admit it). This breaks your concentration and can suck you away from the task at hand.

Once you’ve turned off the alerts, set specific times to check email, say twice a day. Because let’s face it, for most of us very few emails need immediate attention. Taking a half-day or day to respond is perfectly fine.

It also helps to NOT check email first thing in the morning. Do that, and you lose control of your day because you’re now attending to everyone else’s wants and needs instead of your own. I find checking them at midday and end of day works perfectly for me.
To turn those pesky alerts off in Microsoft Outlook:

• Go to “Tools” at the top and click “Options.”
• On the Preferences tab under Email, click “E-mail Options.”
• Now click “Advanced E-mail Options.”
• In the section titled “When new items arrive in my inbox” un-check all the boxes.

After a few days you won’t miss those little alerts one bit. And chances are good you’re going to feel relieved to get that email monkey off your back!

Are you overwhelmed by email?

Have you already done something about it?

Please do share you thoughts by leaving a comment below…

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About the Author: Practical Marketing Expert Stacy Karacostas, founder of SuccessStream Sales & Marketing Solutions, specializes in taking the stress, struggle and confusion out of growing your small business. She's the author of the 2-page marketing plan workbook Putting Your Business on the Road to Success, and The Small Business Website Bible. Stacy also writes the fun and informative Marketing Junkie blog and Bright Ideas weekly newsletter. For more practical, business-building wisdom help yourself to a copy of her free report The 7 Deadliest Small Business Marketing Sins... Are You Guilty?