Beep! Bzzzt. That incessant knockbrush! Work message notifications run nonstop all day, every day, and there doesn’t seem to be signs of stopping. It’s exhausting.
In today’s global, remote, WiFi-powered workspaces, the majority of async communication is conducted through email, direct message, or system notifications. Responding to this bottomless stream of requests can be time-consuming, not to mention stressful and mentally taxing. I needed some advice. How do I avoid getting burned out by work messages? What are some things I can do to set boundaries? And how do I create a healthier relationship with my inbox?
I sought answers from Daniel Sieberg—Director of Innovation Marketing at Moody's Corporation, Co-Founder of Good Trust, and author of The Digital Diet. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by work notifications, Daniel suggests setting communication boundaries with your team clearly and early, reframing the immediate urge to respond, and digging into your notification features and settings to better manage incoming pings. I also include some of my favorite tips and techniques for tackling work messages—let me know what’s worked for you!
This video was originally published on HBR's Ascend YouTube Channel in September 2022.
00:00 Has this ever happened to you?
01:24 Meet Daniel Sieberg
02:25 Rethink urgency
03:17 Pause those pings
04:05 Set realistic boundaries early
05:25 Make OOO expectations
07:03 Recalibrate pace
08:55 My personal tools
Learn more about Daniel Sieberg’s work:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielsieberg/
https://mygoodtrust.com/
Produced by Elena Lake, Andy Robinson, Christine Liu
Video and Editing by Elena Lake
Animation and Design by Alex Belser and Karen Player
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#boundaries #worklife #email