Head Space

Calm productivity for academics

Tag: email

  • Clearing email backlog: A systematic strategy when returning from leave

    Clearing email backlog after extended absence doesn’t have to derail your return to productive academic work—with the right systematic approach, you can regain control of your inbox and establish better communication habits.

  • [Note] Attending to emails

    “My inbox isn’t a place for leisurely reading. When I open my email it’s with purpose. If I want to catch up on my newsletters and blogs I follow, I can flop down on the couch, open my RSS reader, and enjoy them when I’m not also trying to work.” – Herman Martinus.

  • Deranged pleasure of email management

    There’s something deeply, almost embarrassingly pleasurable about declaring an entire day dedicated to email management. The unsubscribing, the brutal deletion, the methodical filing of correspondence that’s been lurking for months. It’s the kind of day where you roll up your sleeves and prepare to wrestle your inbox into submission.

  • Stop using email as a to do list

    Using your email inbox as a to do list seems convenient but creates a chaotic system where other people’s priorities dictate your workflow. Learn how to separate email communication from task management with a simple approach that helps academics regain control of their daily priorities.

  • How to write a good email

  • [Note] Urgent email is not a thing

    “Questions you can wait hours to learn the answers to are fine to put in an email. Questions that require answers in the next few minutes can go into an instant message. For crises that truly merit a sky-is-falling designation, you can use that old-fashioned invention called the telephone.” – Fried & Hansson

  • Email-free mornings: The simplest productivity tip you’ll ever see

    Stop letting your inbox dictate the outcomes of your day by aiming for at least 2 hours of email-free mornings.

  • Turn email threads into coffee breaks

    Replace lengthy email threads with brief face-to-face conversations. Learn how shifting complex discussions from your inbox to in-person meetings can save time, improve relationships, and create space for meaningful work.

  • Five tips to stop letting email dictate your day

    Email’s dominance can derail schedules and usurp key tasks, causing stress and diminishing productivity. To prevent email from dictating your work life, establish strict boundaries, prioritise messages, reduce inbox noise, use management tools, and safeguard time for high-priority tasks. It’s crucial to reshape your email habits to prioritise your academic output.

  • Use the time between meetings

    Use the time between meetings to make notes, schedule follow-ups, and list the tasks that are your responsibility to complete.

  • Fried & Hansson: It doesn’t have to be crazy at work

    It Doesn’t Have to Be Crazy at Work by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson champions a “calm company” approach, where productivity doesn’t equate to relentless busyness. By minimising distractions, protecting time, and setting realistic expectations, the authors propose a sustainable work culture that prioritises well-being alongside impactful results.

  • How to manage email overload

    Create a practical system for how to manage email overload that transforms your inbox from a source of stress into a productive workflow. Learn why traditional email management advice falls short and how treating your inbox as a temporary processing point rather than permanent storage can reduce anxiety.