One of my biggest time sucks is email.
Worst yet, I check “Mark as Unread” far too many times.
My biggest hindrance?
Time.
I want to write a proper response and that’s going to take time. I don’t have time now, so I wait until I do.
This makes no sense, but as far as “inbox zero” may seem, I think I may have found a strategy.
The Problem
I’ve posted about email etiquette and email charters, before, so this is nothing new. I’m certainly not the only one drowning in email, either. Email is suppose to be easy and fast.
Like McDonalds.
But just like McDonalds, we’ve added too many things to the menu.
We need to cut it down, cut it back, and simplify email.
Like Chick-fil-A.
Interestingly enough, I’ve got some kick-back from readers. They say it’s rude to write short emails. The only people who think it’s rude to write short emails, are those that don’t get very many emails.
True story.
(Two) (Three) (Four) (Five) Sentences
This is Five Sentences:
E-mail takes too long to respond to, resulting in continuous inbox overflow for those who receive a lot of it.
Treat all email responses like SMS text messages, using a set number of letters per response. Since it’s too hard to count letters, we count sentences instead.
five.sentenc.es is a personal policy that all email responses regardless of recipient or subject will be five sentences or less. It’s that simple.
This project comes in three other versions:
Clever and original, I know. 🙂
They include some text you can copy and paste into your email signature, so recipients understand why your email is brief.
Is this something you would use?
The Exception
It seems silly to have to mention this, but there’s always an exception.
Whether it be business emails or emails to your mother, there’s always exceptions.
Remember, the goal of (two) (three) (four) (five) sentences is to make you a better communicator, not less of one.
Are you game?
James Cooper says
I guess I’ve been doing this (or at least trying to) without even knowing it! For me it’s the less words the better!
One thing I also do (I use gmail web interface as my main email system) is to use ‘auto filters’ as much as possible. I’ve loads of filters that auto label(s) emails based on the sender, so when I’ve read one, and/or responded I can hit the archive button and it’s gone from the inbox. If someone then replies to it, the thread will appear back in the inbox complete with label(s).
(and that comment was in five sentences – not including this one!)
Eric Dye says
Great tips, James! Thanks man! Stellar as always.
Ben Miller says
Here’s my revolutionary strategy. In my e-mail responses, I use exactly the number of sentences necessary. It seems kind of silly to restrict one’s self to 5 sentence e-mails. Sometimes one word is enough, and sometimes 2 paragraphs are required. I think it would take more time counting sentences and editing down than it would just to type and hit “Send.”
(5 sentences)
Eric Dye says
#pro
Brent Homer says
I have heard of this before – but the link and explanation make it useable for me. This is happening for me TONIGHT!
Eric Dye says
Awesomeness! 😀
Matt Pugh says
Aw, this explains a lot. 🙂
Eric Dye says
?
Eric Dye says
LOL! — Just kidding. Before you know it, there will be five word emails.