Does your inbox ever make your heart temporarily stop? Same. Whether I’ve been in a meeting for an hour or off rummaging in the cupboards for a choccy biscuit for five minutes, there’s always an avalanche of virtual mail when I get back to my desk … And I’m convinced I. Must. Answer. Everything. Immediately. In our perma-switched on world, it’s just the done thing, right?
Well, not necessarily. If our FYP is anything to go by, it seems more of us are rejecting the notion we need to be instantly—and constantly—contactable, even during traditional working hours. Some are even adopting 24/7 out-of-office notices, letting the world know not to expect a response straightaway – adjusting expectations while (hopefully) alleviating their own internal guilt and stress.
That was certainly my aim when I set out to test the trend for a week. “Thank you for your email. I’ll do my best to get back to you within three to five working days (…) Unfortunately, I cannot respond to every email I receive due to the volume of messages, but please do feel free to send a reminder if necessary,” I wrote in my trial message.
Turning on my auto-reply, I wondered if I might make my mountain of emails worse. Would everyone expect a response on or no later than the five day mark? Would people spam my email if they wouldn’t or couldn’t wait three days for a response? Would my boss be annoyed?
Related: 5 Low-Stress Jobs That Pay Well
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It turns out, I needn’t have worried. As little as a day into my new system, I feel less stressed. Sure, the emails are stacking up, but I’m happy to escape the distracting cycle of ping-pause- reply, and I can focus on tasks without worrying about people expecting immediate replies.
One week in, and I’m rattling through tasks at breakneck speed and setting aside dedicated email time, rather than being constantly distracted. What felt like a small change has made a big difference. It’s a relief to know I’ve sent a heads-up to anyone who messages during a busy time, so they’re not panicked if the response they’re expecting doesn’t arrive.
According to career coach Anna Campbell, creating an out-of-office could also benefit
your employer. ”By setting clear boundaries around availability, individuals empower themselves to focus on tasks at hand, enhancing productivity and efficiency during work hours,” she says. But, warns Anna, it’s a good idea to consult your supervisor or HR department to check you’re complying with company policies and guidelines.
For the week I have it on, nobody comments on my OOO. And many of the non-urgent queries resolve themselves while I’m focused on more urgent work. I’m sold. So, please email me—just know I won’t be getting back to you in any haste—and maybe that’s exactly how it should be.
This article appeared in Issue 02 of Cosmopolitan Australia; originally from Cosmopolitan UK. Get your copy and subscribe to future issues here.
