Hitting a Happy Medium
I haven’t managed to get my email totally cleared for a long time now. I never, ever, have less than six hundred newbies there on any given day, so if I’m away from my computer for longer than that I generally log on from under the table with only one eyeball open. When I try and handle all of them, I don’t get any scribbling or scribbling related projects done, and if I don’t handle them all, they tend to get buried under all the new ones. Not to mention forgetting to eat and feed people. This is not good, and it freaks me out when I find something important that’s been waiting for me, or I’ve unintentionally missed a comment on any of my sites. This has to change. Now that I’m pretty much back to my – ahem – normal self, I’ve decided to try and hit a happy medium.
I’ve generally always saved what I can’t get to on any specific day for the next – or the next – or the next, but nowadays there’s just too much coming in – it’s impossible to keep up. So I’m going to have to start allocating specific daily amounts of time to each of my sites, and unless they’re really important, any emails that I know that I’m not going to be able to deal with in twenty four hours are going to have to be deleted now. Time for me to ditch the OCD and get a little more professional with my chosen path in life I reckon. So, from now on it’s going to have to be only writing related things first every day, then the interweb and email fun stuff, and then the delete stuff, so there’s also a little time to relax and enjoy living too.
Now – just off to check my emails.
Jo Robinson 
September 16, 2014 at 11:01 am
I had to create a separate email address for author submissions (it also includes book promo notifications and other ‘Blog Business’ things) – so the only stuff I get on my original blog linked email are notifications of articles by those blogs I follow (plus posts from FB, Google+ and LinkedIn).
These still number about 800+ per day, but the odd 30 minutes here and there keeps them under control – by liberal use of the DELETE button LOL.
There’s only so much an ape and honourary apes like you can do Jo 😀 😀 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 16, 2014 at 11:10 am
Serves you right for being popular Jo lol 😉
LikeLike
September 16, 2014 at 11:11 am
Reblogged this on Have We Had Help? and commented:
Jo on mountains of emails. 😉
LikeLike
September 18, 2014 at 1:50 pm
Thanks Jack!
LikeLike
September 16, 2014 at 11:26 am
Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
The merits of a delete button….from Jo Robinson
LikeLike
September 16, 2014 at 11:28 am
I have switched off most of my email options on all my sites now – I use Twitter notifications etc and that saved a load coming through. I don’t get any FB notifications or Linked in and just check once or twice a day. I do get a lot of emails that are nutritional based but give out another email for that. Still Jo you are in demand and popular and loved by all. XX
LikeLike
September 18, 2014 at 1:49 pm
That’s a lovely thing to say Sally! FB hardly ever sends me notifications now, and never sends me notifications of messages either, so I’m always late on that site because by the time I’m done with my other bits, the day is gone before I get to log on to it – need to make more of an effort with FB. I’m going to have to turn off a lot of notifications for things I follow and get another email on the go straight away. XXXXXX
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 18, 2014 at 2:10 pm
XX♥
LikeLike
September 16, 2014 at 12:00 pm
I like to respond to comments on the blog and check people who visit often but I’m also trying to get rid of most of the notifications…Good luck with the plan!
LikeLike
September 18, 2014 at 1:43 pm
Thanks Olga! I think I just need to get my priorities straight, and stop trying to respond to everything in the whole world. 😀 Need more arms and heads for that.
LikeLike
September 16, 2014 at 12:27 pm
Everybody tells me to start deleting too but I can’t do it without checking whether it’s important. If someone comments I have to thank them and/or comment back. It’s a 25/7 job that takes up a lot of ‘me’ time. Maybe I’ll try and follow your example Jo and make some changes.
xxx Humongous Hugs xxx
LikeLike
September 18, 2014 at 1:42 pm
I see how many hours you devote to your emails every day David. It’s a LOT of work. I’ve always been the same with clicking every email just in case, and to be honest, a couple of times I’ve spotted things important to me that I would never have known about if I hadn’t. If you take all the minutes of just clicking, squizzing and then deleting, it still adds up to a lot of wasted time, so I’m going to try and be strong now. HUGS and LOVE XXXXXXX
LikeLike
September 16, 2014 at 12:27 pm
p.s. Love the cartoon. xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
LikeLike
September 18, 2014 at 1:38 pm
Thanks David. Sometimes I have to inflict a doodle on people. 😀 I hope that everyone can see the medium kangaroo – possibly I should share these things. HUGS ❤ XXXXXX
LikeLike
September 16, 2014 at 12:38 pm
I Sooooooooooooooo relate to this Jo.. and at the moment in my in box is 796, and I just spent 2 hours visiting existing alerts of new posts… I am always working backwards like this… And often just have to delete and start again..
I too have put those who post daily in weekly alerts, and even this is still not getting to grips with the influx..
I smiled at the hitting of a ‘Happy Medium’ LOL.. being one.. hee he.. .. I could do with a good smack to get myself into some sort of organised routine.. I think I have got worse since I took the early retirement plunge.. As I wander aimlessly some days, from this job and that… And other days full steam a head I bulldoze everything in my path.. LOL Much to my Hubbies horror.. As he retired two years ago, and If truth be known. 🙂 I think I am upsetting his routine 😉 ,,
Some times we just have to do what is best for Us.. and try not to worry… We are Human after all.. 😉 .. I think! :-D… Big smiles and THANK YOU for all the Likes… Much appreciated Jo…
Happy Writing!… xxxx Hugs Sue xxx
LikeLike
September 18, 2014 at 1:37 pm
I’m fond of mediums, and I reckon it would be a really bad idea to ever smack one. 😀 Especially not you dear Sue. It seems like everyone has similar problems with coping with the massive email influxes. It gets bigger all the time, so I guess something will have to be done at some point or lives won’t be lived at all. HUGS ❤ XXXXXX
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 18, 2014 at 2:56 pm
🙂 xxx
LikeLike
September 16, 2014 at 1:17 pm
I have nightmares about an endless flow of emails. I’m always checking too, which is the pro/con of having a Smartphone. Every wait on line is a chance to check the account and ditch the stuff that isn’t urgent.
LikeLike
September 18, 2014 at 1:30 pm
I admire you for it though – you’re never late with anything, and you never forget anything. I keep the wifi on my phone off when I go anywhere though or I’d never manage to buy a packet of beans with all the checking I’d be doing. 😀
LikeLike
September 18, 2014 at 1:57 pm
I should do that from time to time, but I never known when someone will try to contact me through Facebook Messenger or something else. I can’t even turn the sound off because I never know if my son’s school will call and vibrate doesn’t always register.
LikeLike
September 16, 2014 at 1:45 pm
I’ve just started to be ruthless and hit the delete button because if I carry on the way I am, I’m never going to get back to my writing, which is as important as my art, and probably have another bloody stroke!
LikeLike
September 16, 2014 at 3:05 pm
We’re all pulling for you. (And of course, time permitting – or not – we will all check in to see how you fare).
LikeLike
September 18, 2014 at 1:26 pm
Thanks Bruce! 😀
LikeLike
September 16, 2014 at 3:29 pm
I have separate e-mails for my blog, another for submissions and a third for my personal friend e-mails. Blogging wears me down and out, just reading, commenting and responding. I always want to know how anyone else manages.
LikeLike
September 18, 2014 at 1:25 pm
So true – I’ve seen blog posts with hundreds and hundreds of comments on them alone, and I wonder how that blogger manages to keep up with everything else. It could be the everything else that’s a problem too though, what with Twitter, and FB and all the rest.
LikeLike
September 18, 2014 at 6:59 pm
I don’t have time for Facebook and although I have a Twitter account haven’t used it, forgot my password and don’t have time anyway. Sigh.
Our lives are way to busy.
LikeLike
September 16, 2014 at 3:38 pm
God, Jo, do I know that feeling! 6.5 thousand and counting in my inbox at the moment. 😦 Most total dross.) And even when I click on unsubscribe, it never seems to take. I’m seriously considering abandoning this email address as I had to do with my last one when it was filled with hundreds (thousands?) of pieces of spam.
I admit that a lot of it’s my own fault; I’m an incurable link clicker and signer-upper.
LikeLike
September 18, 2014 at 1:24 pm
6.5 Thousand! Wow Geraldine – that is seriously depressing. I’m also too much of a signer-upper, and follow more and more all the time – often forgetting why I signed up in the first place. I reckon serious nipping and tucking is in order though or we’ll never be able to get out from under the train.
LikeLike
September 16, 2014 at 3:59 pm
We keep an old email address to provide to catalogs and subscription services. Yours isn’t a bad problem to have. You’re popular, and that has value.
LikeLike
September 18, 2014 at 1:21 pm
I’ve got an old Yahoo address but I’m not fond of the way it works, so I’m going to have a bash at opening another gmail now. I’m surprised that some people are still talking to me though after the delay in answering them.
LikeLike
September 18, 2014 at 1:23 pm
It’s a theme across WordPress right now. People are busy. Don’t worry about it, we’ll be around when you get available once again.
LikeLike
September 16, 2014 at 4:25 pm
While I have separate business, blog, and personal emails, my blog email can get filled quickly. Some days you just have to say, “Oops! I was absent that day.” And move on.
LikeLike
September 18, 2014 at 1:19 pm
I’m definitely going to have to set up another email or two as well – having one is just chaos now, and “Oops!” is definitely going to have to be a word used around here too.
LikeLike
September 16, 2014 at 4:29 pm
Love the drawing, Jo.
We just need to suddenly have tons of money, so we can hire assistants for email.
Oh, and please… be kind to mediums. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 18, 2014 at 1:17 pm
Thanks Teagan! Liking the tons of money bit. 😀 I’m a total control freak though, so I’d probably end up making tea for the assistant just in case she got it wrong. LOL! I love mediums – the one in my doodle insisted on turning into a medium kangaroo for some reason. 😀
LikeLike
September 17, 2014 at 4:21 am
Amen. I was once told by an author friend to do the writing in the morning and check the email in the afternoon so you don’t get bombarded with distractions.
LikeLike
September 18, 2014 at 1:15 pm
That’s what I’m doing now too. At least if you’re tired from writing it’s easier to catch up on line than the other way around.
LikeLike
September 18, 2014 at 12:16 am
I’m finding the same is true with life. Kids and grandkids though still take the biggest share of my time but the rest of it I’ve had to get under control. I have to get back to the blog/writing so I’m restricting my internet usage now…in fact I hadn’t checked emails in over a week. Surprisingly other than facebook notifications I had very few. I decided to allow myself until 10 a.m. for online frivolity and perhaps a quick check in the evening but the rest of the day I shall be internet free. It’s only been a few days but I’m already surprising myself with what I’m accomplishing.
LikeLike
September 18, 2014 at 1:12 pm
Sounds like a good plan to me Mike. It’s amazing how you can wake up one day and find out that you’ve just spent eight hours or more on the internet. Not good or healthy in any way.
LikeLike
October 10, 2014 at 5:47 am
I am always behind on my emails. Good luck in your trying to keep it all organized and answered and read. Sometimes the delete button is needed and very helpful. 😀
LikeLike
October 13, 2014 at 10:15 am
Thanks for the luck wishes – I need them this week. 😀 I don’t think that it’s possible to keep up all the time these days, unless you spend all day, every day on emails. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person