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3 Email Auto Responders to Break Email Addiction
How to use auto responses to set boundaries and reduce your email anxiety.
THIS IS A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: Email Addiction Has Reached Epidemic Proportions. If You Don’t Take Proper Precautions, It Will Soon Take Over the Planet.
Seriously. According to a Kings College study that Tim Ferriss often cites, email and phone distractions lower people’s IQ more than drugs. Crazy!
In response to this national crisis, I have been developing a email Detox Program. But to get the ball rolling, I wanted to share a few effective email auto responders that can help you break the vicious cycle of treating your email message indicator like a fire alarm.
Once you set the expectation that you will not immediately respond to email, these auto-responders will become unnecessary. But for now, the emails below can be your “patch” during the detox process.
Email Auto Responder #1
Tim Ferriss provides a form email auto responder in Chapter 7 of his book The 4-Hour Workweek. This email corresponds with his suggested method of checking email at 12 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Email Auto Responder #2
This is an auto responder used by Mitch Matthews, a trainer, coach, and connector extraordinaire! Mitch says it’s helped him to psychology let go of the compulsion to constantly respond to email.
Subject Line: “Thanks for connecting! Re: Subject Line of Original email”
Text:
Hello!
Thanks for your email.
I’m sending this to let you know that due to a number of exciting
projects, I am only checking and responding to email once a day.
You and your email are important.
So… if you need an urgent response, please call the Matthews Group,
Inc. toll-free number at 800.491.5316.
If it is not urgent, know that I will respond to your email as
quickly as possible.
Thanks again for connecting and thanks for understanding this move
towards greater effectiveness.
Have a fantastic day!
Mitch
–
Mitch Matthews,
Coach, Speaker & Connector
p: 800.491.5316
f: 515.221.3801
Check out these “kick” connection projects:
Email Auto Responder #3
This is an example of an auto responder from Patrick Combs, an amazing speaker and coach who is on on the road frequently. It lets people know that he cares about their message but might not get back to them immediately.
Text:
Ah, your email has arrived but alas it might take me time to respond. So…
If you need an immediate, time sensitive response please contact me through my office: [office manager's email address] or (858) 759-6994. Phones are more fun anyways.
If you have my direct line, feel free to call me. And…
If you are seeking my coaching, might you consider my coaching program? It puts you on the phone with me on a regular basis and you can ask me anything you wish. It’s less than $1/day. www.coachedbyPatrick.com
Many blessings,
Sharing Success,
—————————————
Patrick Combs
(858) 759-6994
www.coachedbyPatrick.com
www.goodthink.com
And on FaceBook
www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=554560093
What tips do you have for reducing email stress?
Elizabeth Grace Saunders is the author of The 3 Secrets to Effective Time Investment: How to Achieve More Success With Less Stress and is the founder of Real Life E Time Coaching & Training. For more time investment tips, check out www.ScheduleMakeover.com.