Compulsive Email

I used to compulsively check my email.

It has burned me more than once.

Especially that last double check before bed. You know the one I'm talking about: You peek at your email even though you're legit in bed with no intention to actually respond to anything.

Or the other one: that compulsive check when you're at an important family event with no ability to react in real time.

I've been there--but no more.

How'd I stop?

📨 I turned off all notifications;

📨 I close Outlook whenever I can;

📨 I don't bring my cellphone into my bedroom at night (at least most nights; I'm not perfect);

📨 I often leave my phone at home or in the car when I go on dates with my husband or other important family/friends time;

📨 I catch myself going for the app and ask, "Am I really going to respond right now?" or "Can I really react right this moment?"

📨 I tell myself, "They know how else to find me if it is an emergency," and, "They have my cell; they'll call if it is important."

📨 I periodically delete email apps from my phone and ipad.

That last one is huge and often feels drastic to folks when I talk about it.

But: people know how to find you.

And: you know when you can and cannot be away.

Our brains love to exaggerate and lie to us.

We tell ourselves we are more important, more needed than we often are.

Part of what causes the overall decline in mental health and well-being of attorneys is the "always on" mentality.

You have power to stop that--at least to a degree.

Taking control of email checking is one small way--I know it feels huge now, but if you give some of these techniques a try, I promise, in a year, you'll feel lighter and freer. Ask me how I know.

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