Can you check your email only once or twice per day?  Yes, I said only once or twice!  I, like many of you, often check email whenever it comes to my in box.  When I check email only once or twice per day, I spend much less time on email.  Most importantly, I save time by avoiding multiple transitions between tasks.  Transitioning between tasks can add time to both the task I was doing and reading email so it ends up being a lose-lose proposition.  When you check email as it comes in, you are more likely to rush through your response.  Reading and responding to email in chunks of scheduled time can help you focus on the email at hand and give it the attention it needs.

Give it a try and let us know how it goes.  Time yourself before and after – did this idea help you save time?