If you're feeling stressed, put down the mouse and don't click "Inbox." It's the lesson to be learned from a new study that says easing up on email surveillance can reduce physiological stress.
A group of 124 adults, including students, financial analysts and medical professionals, participated in the two-week study in which they answered daily questionnaires about their stress levels.
One group was instructed to limit email checking to three times per day for a week and another was given the green light to check email as often as they could during that week.
One week later, the groups switched.
"Our findings showed that people felt less stressed when they checked their email less often," says Kostadin Kushlev, the study's lead author and a PhD candidate at the University of British Columbia's Department of Psychology.
Another finding uncovered by the study is that stepping back from email isn't easy, for Kushlev reports that most participants encountered difficulties with the intervention.
"This is what makes our obvious-in-hindsight findings so striking," says Kushlev. "People find it difficult to resist the temptation of checking email, and yet resisting this temptation reduces their stress."
Kushlev says his personal struggles with email inspired his study.
"I now check my email in chunks several times a day, rather than constantly responding to messages as they come in," he says. "And I feel better and less stressed."
9 Ways To Make Your Mornings At Work More Productive
Prioritize(01 of09)
Open Image ModalTake 15 minutes to pinpoint your most critical and time-sensitive tasks in the morning. Creating a prioritized to-do list will help you start the day on the right track — and can serve as a road map to keep you focused and productive throughout the day. (credit:Shutterstock)
Avoid Distractions(02 of09)
Open Image ModalMuch like your email inbox, the Internet is full of potential diversions like cute cat videos and memes. Unless it's part of your job, you shouldn't spend more than a few minutes of your morning routine scanning news headlines or checking social media. (credit:Shutterstock)
Do One Thing At A Time(03 of09)
Open Image ModalEvery professional needs to multitask to some degree. But continuously tackling several tasks simultaneously is mentally taxing and can lead to making errors with your work. If you're working on a project, give it your full attention. (credit:Shutterstock)
Say No To Procrastination(04 of09)
Open Image ModalA lot of people put off working on assignments. One effective way to overcome procrastination is to break a project into smaller, more manageable tasks or work on them with another person. (credit:Shutterstock)
Tap Out Of Tech(05 of09)
Open Image ModalIf you can’t resist responding to new messages, eliminate the temptation. Close your inbox tab before lunch and use this time to work on your assignments or tasks. If you're expecting an email, change your inbox setting to have alerts pop up for specific messages. And again, turn off notifications on your phone. (credit:Shutterstock)
Eat Well(06 of09)
Open Image ModalYour daily run to Tim Hortons can be good, but eating a well-balanced breakfast is better. Instead of relying on coffee to keep you up and energized, eat fruit, proteins (like eggs) or whole grains to start your day. (credit:Shutterstock)
Stay Hydrated(07 of09)
Open Image ModalIf you're feeling sluggish every morning, start drinking water at your desk. Buy yourself a 1-litre water bottle and challenge yourself to finish it each day. (credit:Shutterstock)
Focus On Tuesday(08 of09)
Open Image ModalIf you can, try to postpone any big projects or important meetings until Tuesday — it is often the most productive day of the week. Chances are most of us will still be in weekend mode come Monday morning, resulting in less productivity. (credit:Shutterstock)
Get Moving(09 of09)
Open Image ModalIf your mornings mean heavy eyelids and yawning, get out of your chair. Try standing, stretching or take a small walk around the office to get your blood pumping and body moving. (credit:Shutterstock)