For backup purposes and reasons that are not worth going into here, I essentially have to maintain a duplicate mail folder that archives every single email that is sent from me or to me over time. This process has been in place for just about a year now, and up until the other night I had never tried to go into that archive folder. However, while searching for an email I did have to go into this archive at which point my laptop froze as it tried to restore and process the twenty-two THOUSAND (22,000) emails I have received in just the past year. Assuming the majority of those were received on business days that averages 88 emails per day! That doesn't include my other personal and blog email accounts or facebook messages that are also received each day. I have often been asked how many emails I get everyday, but never really knew with certainty until I stumbled upon this. (By comparison I only sent 8,000 emails last year which can draw all sorts of other inferences).
I certainly don't think this bit of trivia is particularly newsworthy, but it did make me reflect back on what life was like before email or even worse the blackberry... I'm quite certain I didn't process that much incoming mail and memos and I'm guessing there was a lot more personal interaction taking place. So the question is, are we any more productive today than before and even if we are, are we any better for it? Just food for thought...
3 comments:
The problem arises when you try to solve real problems over e-mail. E-mails should be for sending update reports and answering yes/no questions only.
Anon 1:15pm:
I agree with your thoughts for the most part, I would modify though to say problems that can be resolved through a simple email are effective from a productivity perspective. It's the ones that require personal interaction or multiple audiences that tend to get out of control!
Definitly agree with you. Emails have consumed our life and computers. I tried recently to figure out why I don't have 'any' time anymore. I raised 3 kids and kept a house and farm and worked 32 hr a week for years and had more time than I do now.
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