This is a continuation of my previous previous blog posting, where I explained the two first steps in my new "information diet".

Before I start, I have to say that the effect of the previous steps are more positive than I imagined. Dispite the fact that I only check mail two times a day now, there's been no incidents, where a quicker mail response would have been needed. This only proves my assumption that the necessity of being always-on always-available mail is actually quite artificial and really doesn't give us anything but a more fragmented work day.

Step 3 - Making my private inbox more light
I use gmail as my preferred e-mail application. From now on, everything that comes into my mailbox is directed directly to the Archive - except when the mail is from very very important persons. That way, the e-mail works for me, and the Gmail notifier notifies me only when these people write to me. This is a bit contrary to my business mail where I have no notification, but I choose to have it like this for now - mostly because I don't get that many mails from these people.

Step 4 - No news (at all)
I haven't seen or read any news for close to a week now. Not in the TV, not on the web. Nothing! Nada! The idea of this experiment basically to shut down all news input just to find out if too much time is spent on reading news with no real relevance. (Is this post relevant for you to read?) I'll continue the experiement for a whole week. After the initial week, I'll decide what news channels I'll pick up again.

Have you done something like this "information diet"? Leave me a comment and tell me about it!

Cheers!

Two weeks ago I decided that it was time for me for an information diet. I've started with these first two steps:

Step 1 - Business e-mail:
I implemented an information diet on my business e-mail two weeks ago. I now only check my e-mail at 11 and 16 every day. Everyone who sends me an e-mail will get an automated reply e-mail, which explains this new e-mail schedule and also gives my mobile number in case of (real) emergencies. Although people often are convinced of the opposite, there's never really an issue, that requires action immediately and cannot wait 4 hours. I have had many experiences, both at my current job at Cybercom and when I had my own Kompany, that confirms this.

The effect: Normally I get between 20-30 e-mails, whereof maybe 2-4 are of importance and requires some action on my behalf. The others are about trivial stuff in mass mails like when people are leaving the office that day, are being sick or coming in late. People that do work in my department, but whom I'm often not really depedent of. Instead of 20-30 interruptions a day, I now have 2X15 min of mail check everyday, and a lot more time to be effective.

One of our customers promptly wrote me a reply to the automated e-mail and congratulated me on the idea:

"Wow, that sounds reasonable!
I try to accomplish the same sometimes. ;-).
If not, I spend the whole day answering mails."

I hoped for such a velcome, but it was unexpected! Actually the most fuzz I've gotten are from colleagues, who gives me friendly comments about me being "Mr. Important" :-) But it's not about that, it's about being able to work concentrated in the information business, and not being interrupted by unimportant noise.

Step 2 - Facebook:
I've sent an e-mail to all my friends on Facebook today, stating that my attendance there will be less in the future. I like Facebook for the pictures and how it allows me to keep in touch with new and old friends, but I don't like how it positions itself as a instant messaging media: facebook e-mails, status comments and chat messages are being exchanged as if i'm on Facebook constantly ("I'm home now", "Are you coming over"?). There's two instant medias for me: my e-mail (I won't write it here, but it the easiest to guess) and MSN messenger.

I will continue to use Facebook, but more or less on a bi-weekly basis.

Effect: Not sure yet.

More steps to come... :-)