Why Checking Your Inbox in the First Two Hours of Your Day is a Mistake

We get it completely. That inbox is just…so…tempting. It’s like a bad relationship you can’t shake, but we’re telling you – we’re begging you – do whatever it takes to block it out of your mind, especially during those critical first two hours of your workday.

Why?

Well, you probably know it intuitively and I’m sure you’ve heard it before, but like many things in life, even though we know what’s best for us, it can still be awfully hard to resist its appeal.

The thing with email though is that it’s never just one thing. And even if it were just one thing, it distracts you, it busies your brain, and it hijacks your energy by pulling it in a completely different direction.

Just Say No

The first two hours of your workday (and that’s a conservative estimate) are your most important. If you start your day off strong by just saying no to email, no matter what happens as the afternoon and evening approach, you can rest easy knowing that you’ve already accomplished important tasks that will actually move the needle on your business.

Your morning is important for another reason, too.

As a small business owner, your life is all about managing priorities. You want to channel your most productive hours into achieving those tasks that are going to make the biggest impact for your business.

That means maximizing the early hours of the day when you’re in the clearest headspace and have the most capacity for making important decisions. Then, whatever interruptions and small fires that begin to ignite once you do allow yourself to click on your inbox can be handled with a clear conscience.