Shut Up, Email!

Little did I know how much disabling my email notifications would improve my life. This post is my attempt to convince you to do the same.

I have been using Spark as my default email client for the past seven years, practically since it was launched. Over time, and without much consideration, I connected many accounts to it—my primary and secondary accounts, accounts related to my apps, and some older ones. While not all of them are super active, I still optimized my subscriptions and settled at receiving around ten emails per day on average. A number I was content with. In retrospect, realizing how oblivious I was to the possibility of turning off the email notifications altogether feels odd. The thought never crossed my mind, even though receiving 10 emails a day meant being interrupted 10 times a day.

Earlier this year, I heard about turning off the email notifications on the Cortex podcast. The idea was so outrageous that I swiftly brushed it away. It made me feel FOMO, but for what? For not seeing a Terms & Conditions update on time? The whole idea felt almost… illegal. I couldn't wrap my mind around the fact that, like most other things, I could also completely silence the emails. Despite my reservations, I bit the bullet and turned off all Spark and work email notifications. Well, I'm a happier man now.

My Workflow

I check my emails once a day, and only in the morning, as a part of my "Boot Up" checklist. This rule applies to all accounts on Spark as well as my work email. Anything that needs my attention or action directly goes into my OmniFocus inbox or stays pinned until the next day. And that's it. I don't accept the notion of urgency in emails. If an email is so urgent that you must see it immediately, it will find you anyway. 

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You don't need to see any email the moment it arrives; instead, you should check your emails periodically and at most once a day. Be mindful of your focus, don't waste it.