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Here at Capstone, we make it our goal to respond to all emails within 24 hours of receiving them. The point of this policy is to help with efficiency and to make sure that everyone is getting back the responses and information that they need. I have always viewed it as a positive idea, and do my best to stay on top of my emails. However, the article posted below warns us that being too on top of replying to one’s emails could have some negative consequences – especially to one’s health! The article discusses how constantly checking your work email, even after hours, and feeling a need to respond immediately, leads to more fatigue and burn out at work. As I thought about this, I realized that it is something which I am guilty of. When my work phone dings that I have an email, I immediately check it – even when I am sitting on my couch at home!
It is always important to be aware of keeping a good work life balance so that we don’t all burn out. But it is also important to stay on top of your workload and make sure that the job is getting accomplished, especially since we work in a field that often has after hour commitments and emergencies. Is there a way to do both? If we are made more aware of our behaviors, especially in how they relate to working after hours and our relationship to technology outside of the office, hopefully we can change this. It should still be possible to respond to emails within 24 hours, but to only do so during one’s normal office hours. I think it’s possible, we just have to be cognizant of it, and not only for ourselves, but for our colleagues as well. If we are constantly expecting a response within 15 minutes, or expecting a response to an email after hours, we are adding to the problem. Instead, let’s find a way to add to the solution. And if I email you some ideas to help us brainstorm how to handle this issue, don’t respond right away. I’ll understand.
Immediately Responding To Work Email Is Destroying Your Health 
