Your Inbox Isn't a To-Do List (It's a Suggestion Box)
Reclaiming your focus from the unread email.
Directive
For the next 24 hours, treat your inbox as a reference library, not a priority setter.
Why It Matters
We've all been there: You open your email, intending to tackle that big strategic project, and suddenly you're drowning in CCs, "urgent" requests, and meeting invites that could have been a quick chat. Before you know it, an hour has evaporated, and you've reacted to everyone else's priorities instead of advancing your own. Your inbox is a stream of incoming information, a set of suggestions for what could be done, not a definitive list of what must be done now.
Action Item
Start your day by identifying your single most important task—the one that, if completed, would make the day a success. Block out a dedicated, uninterrupted chunk of time (even just 60-90 minutes) to work on only that. During this time, keep your email closed. If you must check it later, set specific times (e.g., 10 AM, 2 PM, 4 PM) and tackle what truly needs your attention, deferring the rest. Remember, very few things are as urgent as they pretend to be, and your focus is your most valuable asset.
Words to Work By
"The key is not to prioritize what's on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities." - Stephen Covey
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