Don’t check email: process it.

A key principle in getting control of email is to only check your inbox when you actually have time to take action on any new messages. If you’re tempted to just check your email, it’s worth asking yourself whether you’ll have both the time and the headspace to respond to whatever you find there.

For those occasions when an email requires a response you can’t give it right now, send a quick note to let the sender know you’ve seen their message and that you will reply soon.