Recruiting now
Don't get spammed - do yourself a favour and remove your name from unwanted mailing lists. Spam takes up time, so get rid of it!
Break the habit - if you're always getting emails from your manager and colleagues, try to respond using other communication channels. Emails may just be office habit, so next time you get one, pick up the phone to respond!
Schedule email time slots - just as you would a meeting or conference call, put two slots a day in your calendar for checking and dealing with your emails. This way you won't keep stopping what you're working on to read your latest email. If it helps, tell others in the office that this is what you are doing, so they know not to expect an immediate response.
Use your tools - organise your inbox using Outlook tools. Try colour coding emails and setting up auto rules to file emails according to who sent them. When you do check your emails you'll be more efficient in dealing with them.
Only read it once! - Don't waste time re-reading emails. When you've read it the first time either delete it, delegate it, deal with it or defer it.
Keep track - make use of all the clever features in Outlook. You can add reminders, actions and flags to emails to help you organise your working day.
Turn it off - turn off your email notification. It only distracts you - weather it's the beep or the alert which pops up on your screen. If you allocating time slots to checking your emails you don't need an alert. By turning it off you'll avoid the temptation of checking!
I'm out of the office - you may not be out of the office, but that doesn't mean you can't use this great Outlook feature! Use this in between your allocated email checking time slots (above). Don't lie in your out of office message, try something along the lines of
I will be checking my emails between 9am - 10am and 4pm - 5pm daily. If your email is urgent, please call me on XXX XXX.
People will soon get used to your new (more efficient) way of working!