[martin_ayton]

For me, the key is that how other people perceive my 'connectedness' manages their expectations of my response rates: My (very overworked) IT dept haven't got around to enabling push email or Exchange ActiveSync, and I'm not chasing them to do so. I work in the UK branch office of an organisation based in the US. The trouble is, my US colleagues regularly forget about the 6 hour time difference and if I was connected would expect an instant response. However, they know that I insist on using a non-BB solution (I push the 'eccentric Englander' angle here) which is not currently and am not constantly on-line, so they are usually happy to wait for a response until the next working day. That puts the control back in my hands: I do regularly check my email, and if I see something that merits a quick response then I'll act on it. For the reasons that Brad mentions, I would prefer an always-up-to-date inbox, but not if that changes my colleagues' expectations.

During the desk-based day, Outlook is always on, but that 6 hour difference means it is pretty quiet until around 3pm. And from 3pm, I'm ready to deal with stuff quickly, so I don't get 'phone calls at home.

[martin_ayton]

For me, the key is that how other people perceive my 'connectedness' manages their expectations of my response rates: My (very overworked) IT dept haven't got around to enabling push email or Exchange ActiveSync, and I'm not chasing them to do so. I work in the UK branch office of an organisation based in the US. The trouble is, my US colleagues regularly forget about the 6 hour time difference and if I was connected would expect an instant response. However, they know that I insist on using a non-BB solution (I push the 'eccentric Englander' angle here) which is not currently and am not constantly on-line, so they are usually happy to wait for a response until the next working day. That puts the control back in my hands: I do regularly check my email, and if I see something that merits a quick response then I'll act on it. For the reasons that Brad mentions, I would prefer an always-up-to-date inbox, but not if that changes my colleagues' expectations.

During the desk-based day, Outlook is always on, but that 6 hour difference means it is pretty quiet until around 3pm. And from 3pm, I'm ready to deal with stuff quickly, so I don't get 'phone calls at home.

[emuelle1]

For personal email, I use gmail exclusively. I have Yahoo!, Comcast, and MSN accounts, but mostly those get a trickle of stuff that I never considered important enough to switch to gmail. I have gmail set up for IMAP, which goes to my laptop and Pocket PC. I also use my iPod Touch at home for occasional email and surfing. During the day, I have Flexmail 2007 running and when I'm connected through AT&T, my PPC will vibrate when a new email comes in. Some are unimportant, but I do appreciate this when an email that needs to be addressed comes in.

For work, I'm a contractor from one organization to another. I have Outlook running for one email account, and webmail for the other. The webmail is normally unimportant and I can check it when I feel like it. I try to do so twice a day. I keep up on Outlook because sometimes emails come in that need responses right away. Others get filed according to a pseudo-GTD system.

[Jason Dunn]

Originally Posted by Brad Adrian

To me, having push e-mail doesn't make me a slave to e-mail or force me to work longer days, as some people may feel. To the contrary, having an inbox I know is always up to date is what guarantees that can I check my messages when it's convenient to ME and that my worktime is flexible.

I find that very interesting - every person I've seen with push email always checks it when they hear the bing or feel the buzz. It's hard to have a conversation with someone who's always checking their device, so to me that makes them a slave to their email. If you can resist looking, then you're a better man than most.

[wfisher]

There's actually some very solid research to back up the idea that constant minor interruptions (e-mail, IM, calendar reminders, etc) are a huge load for people in the information business - and that they completely toast any idea of trying to be productive during business hours. I know people who come into the office on weekends precisely to "get stuff done" without being interrupted. This is a shame, I think. I want my weekends. I love being able to turn off notifications - I actually keep my visual ones on, and turn off the audible ones. I absolutely hate having sounds interrupt me all of a sudden. It's like telemarketers - if I really wanted what you're selling, I'd be calling YOU.

[Jon Westfall]

Originally Posted by JvanEkris

My boss has a rather good solution. He picks up his e-mail in intervals of 4 hours. At 8:00, 12:00, 16:00 and 20:00. he told everybody that he does that, he even reserved time for it in his calendar. He blames people to use the wrong communication media if they tell him they needed prompt action and didn't get it.

Thanks for the comments Jaap. I really like that idea from your boss. It would be easy to implement (in a signature line) and would let people establish clear boundaries.

[Jon Westfall]

Originally Posted by JvanEkris

Well,


The scary thing is (besides me trying to stop myself visualising you checking your e-mail naked)

Lucky for your imagination, I don't sleep naked... often...

[Tim Williamson]

Could you guys please quit posting to this thread? I keep getting an email notification that it's been updated, so I have to come here to read the post, therefore, I'm not getting any work done today.

[Jason Dunn]

Originally Posted by JvanEkris

He picks up his e-mail in intervals of 4 hours. At 8:00, 12:00, 16:00 and 20:00. he told everybody that he does that, he even reserved time for it in his calendar.

That's not a bad approach, although I hate it when people combine that approach with an auto-responder. There's one fellow I know who has a Gmail auto-responder that basically says "I check email twice a day, I'll get back to you later, thanks". And I see this message EVERY SINGLE TIME I email him - it's just idiotic and rude. I now remove his email address when he's on the CC line of another email. He's a nice guy, but this approach of his drives me bonkers.

[Jason Dunn]

Originally Posted by wfisher

I love being able to turn off notifications - I actually keep my visual ones on, and turn off the audible ones. I absolutely hate having sounds interrupt me all of a sudden. It's like telemarketers - if I really wanted what you're selling, I'd be calling YOU.

Ok, you've inspired me, I've turned off sound notifications for my email, and I've also turned off visual notifications (the Exchange "toast"). I'll see how that works out...

[phoenixag]

Wow, this is such a great thread! I've been a longtime lurker of this site (for years) and check it everyday, but finally I found this discussion so interesting I moved my lazy ass to reply.
Just as an OT note: I love the Thoughts media sites (PPC, Digital Home, etc) and they are my only major resource on WM info. Thanks for all the great articles! You've really inspired some of my buying decisions.

Ok, back on topic.

I've always put a lot of importance in how my email works and gets to me.

My personal email consists of a hosted exchange solution. I also have accounts at Gmail and Gmail for your Domain, plus my work email exchange server, etc.

I have always used a WM device because I feel that they give you more flexibility in managing your email accounts. A blackberry device will route all your mail through its servers, regardless of where its from. Thats just crazy and a very unoptimized approach, IMHO.

Anyway, about 6 months ago, I discovered the 'joy' of Push email on my personal email. I had it set to check for about 18 hours a day. Was loving the feeling of always being up to date and was lured by what I initially thought was email heaven.

Then I realised what a big mistake I had made. I found myself constantly replying to email whether I was in the bathroom, walking, sitting, talking, driving, etc.
I started being woken up by an email notification at 2am at night. My work hours got longer as I was replying to work email from home.

Now, finally, I have switched off Push and I don't give email priority over other matters in my life.

I have it set to check every 2 hours, and have a strict rule about not replying to work email from out of office. I have disabled it to check for any email at night. And any mail that comes is rarely immediately replied to. I usually use a little bit of my lazy time to reply to all the email needing them.