---
title: "Disruptions: Life’s Too Short for So Much E-Mail by Nick Bilton (New York Times, 7/8/12); summary + commentary by Melissa Sweat, Online Community Manager"
description: "Haven't heard about our summary+commentary (s+c*d) format?  Learn more!  
 Summary 
   
 Corporate employees send and receive about 105 emails dai"
image: https://www.people-onthego.com/hs-fs/file-15491874-jpg/images/summary-commentary_emaildistration_8.20.12.jpg
---

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# Less-Is-More Blog by Pierre Khawand

## [Disruptions: Life’s Too Short for So Much E-Mail by Nick Bilton (New York Times, 7/8/12); summary + commentary by Melissa Sweat, Online Community Manager](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/bid/81581/Disruptions-Life-s-Too-Short-for-So-Much-E-Mail-by-Nick-Bilton-New-York-Times-7-8-12-summary-commentary-by-Melissa-Sweat-Online-Community-Manager)

Posted by [Pierre Khawand](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/author/pierre-khawand) on Mon, Aug 20, 2012 @ 09:17 PM

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Haven't heard about our summary+commentary (s+c*d) format? [Learn more!](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/bid/65528/Introducing-summary-commentary-articles-making-the-Web-a-little-easier-to-absorb)

# Summary

# ![summary commentary emaildistration 8.20.12](https://www.people-onthego.com/hs-fs/file-15491874-jpg/images/summary-commentary_emaildistration_8.20.12.jpg?width=169&height=158&name=summary-commentary_emaildistration_8.20.12.jpg)

Corporate employees send and receive about 105 emails daily. Writer Nick Bilton thinks that’s a big problem as he tries to manage his more than 6,000 monthly emails, using everything from filters to away messages to no avail ([see "Disruptions," *NYT*](http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/08/life%E2%80%99s-too-short-for-so-much-e-mail/)). He cites a 2012 UC Irvine report stating that those who didn’t check email regularly at work were less stressed and more productive than those who checked more often. Bilton considers other forms of messaging instead, like Google Chat or Twitter, or even not responding at all.

# Commentary

We relate with Bilton about email frustration, but “avoidant inbox disorder” is not the solution. Our methodology at People-OnTheGo is that email is a task you schedule into your day. This enables you to focus your work effort, while saving time for collaboration (email, social media, etc.). We have a unique inbox strategy that helps you prioritize emails, daily and weekly; no more switching tasks to attend to every alert. We also agree with the UC Irvine study:  those who check email less regularly—though we would add “and more *strategically”*—are less stressed and more productive.

# Discussion

Are you frustrated and overwhelmed by email? Do you try to avoid it? Are newer forms of communication like chat and social media messaging more preferable to you? What are some email solutions that you use in the workplace?

# Additional Resources

- [The New New Inbox Survey Report](https://www.people-onthego.com/the-new-new-inbox/)
- [Overcoming the E-Mail Overload Workshop](https://www.people-onthego.com/time-management-e-mail-outlook-excel-word-powerpoint-sharepoint/overcoming-the-e-mail-overload/)
- [Managing Your Inbox in Outlook Workshop](https://www.people-onthego.com/time-management-e-mail-outlook-excel-word-powerpoint-sharepoint/managing-your-inbox-in-outlook/)
- [Managing Your Inbox in Google Apps Workshop](https://www.people-onthego.com/time-management-e-mail-outlook-excel-word-powerpoint-sharepoint/managing-your-inbox-in-google-apps/)
- [Total Organization](https://www.people-onthego.com/time-management-e-mail-outlook-excel-word-powerpoint-sharepoint/total-organization/)
- [Accomplishing More With Less Workshop](https://www.people-onthego.com/time-management-e-mail-outlook-excel-word-powerpoint-sharepoint/accomplishing-more-with-less-time-management/)

 

 

 Topics: [summary-plus-commentary](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/summary-plus-commentary), [Gmail](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/gmail), [Technology](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/technology), [time management tips](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/time-management-tips), [getting organized](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/getting-organized), [interruptions](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/interruptions), [productivity](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/productivity), [information overload](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/information-overload), [time on social media](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/time-on-social-media), [managing stress](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/managing-stress), [email management](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/email-management)

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