Email Autoresponse: The 4 Hour Workweek Effect

If you’ve been reading my blog, you know I’m a fan of the 4 Hour Workweek book by Tim Ferriss…in his book, Tim recommends that you severely limit your email consumption and production to maximize your productivity while you work. He recommends that you:

1. Turn off any email alerts or send/receive functions you have that remind you to check email as soon as you receive it.
2. Check email only twice per day: at noon or just prior to lunch, and at 4pm.
3. Create an email autoresponse that will tell all your bosses, co-workers, partners, etc.. that you have implemented a new email policy to be more effective.

The sample autoresponse email Tim suggests is the following:

Greetings, Friends [or Esteemed Colleagues],
Due to high workload, I am currently checking and responding to e-mail twice daily at 12:00 P.M. ET [or your time zone] and 4:00 P.M. ET.
If you require urgenet assistance (please ensure it is urgent) that cannot wait until 12:00 P.M. or 4:00 P.M., please contact me via phone at 555-555-5555.
Thank you for your understanding this move to more efficiency and effectiveness. It helps me accomplish more to serve you better.
Sincerely,
Tim Ferriss

If you would like to see an example of how this works, send an email right now to: autoresponder<-at->sitelead.com (FYI: I won’t see your email, that email address is to demonstrate an autoresponder only)

Since reading the book, I haven’t gone so far as to implement his recommended twice per day email checking and email autoresponse…but I have put some effort towards blowing a lot less time on email, checking it less frequently, etc..

Although I’m not doing this (yet), I have noticed that several people I communicate with via email have started using this strategy…their email autoresponses are so close to the example Tim Ferriss gave that I asked a couple of them if they read the book and they said yes!

Have you noticed some email autoresponses coming to your email inbox? It seems the 4 Hour Workweek book is having a serious effect on the email habits of more than a few folks out there. Below are a couple examples of actual email autoresponses I have received from people who were inspired by the book to change their email habits. (their personal info has been removed)

Here is the first example:

In an effort to increase productivity and efficiency I am beginning a
new personal email policy. I’ve recently realized I spend more time
shuffling through my inbox and less time focused on the task at hand.
It has become an unnecessary distraction that ultimately creates
longer lead times on my ever-growing ‘to do’ list.

Going forward I will only be checking/responding to email at 11a and
4p on weekdays. I will try and respond to email in a timely manner
without neglecting the needs of our clients and brand identity.

If you need an immediate time-sensitive response… please don’t
hesitate to call me. Phones are more fun anyway.

Hopefully this new approach to email management will result in shorter
lead times with more focused & creative work on my part.

Cheers & here’s to life outside of my inbox!

Name
555-555-5555 Cell
555-555-5555 Fax

And here is a second example:

Greetings Esteemed Colleagues and Friends,

Due to the high workload, I am currently checking and responding to email twice a day, Wednesday through Sunday, at 12:00 P.M. PST and 4:00 P.M. PST.

If you require urgent assistance (please ensure it is urgent) that cannot wait until either 12:00 P.M. or 4:00 P.M., Wednesday through Sunday, please contact the main office via phone at (555) 555-5555.

Thank you for understanding this move to more efficiency and effectiveness. It helps me accomplish more to serve you better.

Sincerely,
Name

If you’re looking for ways to boost your productivity at work and in life, I recommend you read the book (if you haven’t already). Tim’s blog is also a great read.

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