You may be here because you clicked on this link in an email signature: Why the brevity? Or you’ve just been browsing the content on Hwyl.co either way, please read on about an email hack to save you time:
Efficient email writing
It’s not about being rude. Instead, think of it as a form of radical efficiency to reduce email fatigue for both the sender and receiver. Try to follow these steps:
Remove the fluff when writing
I still care, but removing the fluff will save time.
- ☹️ I’m not going to ask how you are doing
- 🍻 I’m not going to mention if you had a good weekend
- 👨👧👦 I’m not going to ask about your family
- 🏖 Holidays don’t exist
- 🦔 I’m not going to make up excuses for slow replies
- 🤕 I’m not going to mention if I’m well or not
Get to the point
With no fluff in the email, it should be quicker to read, but I’m going to try to get to the point even quicker and make it easier to read:
- ⚫️ I’ll likely use bullet points
- ✅ I’m going to tell you what I need
- 🪜 I’m going to keep it short
- 🧐 It’s going to feel blunt… but not rude
Don’t send emails
One great way to reduce emails is not to send them or reply!
- 💬 I’ll try and use WhatsApp, Slack, etc.
- 📞 I may call you (yes, old school), especially if it’s too complex for email
- ⛔️ I’m only going to reply to emails that need a reply
- 🚨 If I don’t have an action, I’m not going to reply to it!
- 🙏 I’m not going to thank people just for emailing
- 💤 I’ll compose now but send later if it’s more optimal for when you are likely to read it
Remember I still care about you!
This is the most important point. Please don’t mistake my short, to-the-point emails as me being rude.
- ❤️ I want to reply quicker and more precisely because I care
- ❤️ I want to make your life easier as well as mine because I care
- ❤️ I’m still going to double-check the email makes sense before I send it because I care
We can do this together
Thank you for reading. Let me know if a bit of brevity helps you, and if you have any other tips that help you escape the email hamster wheel (e.g., thoughts on inbox zero, only answering emails in the morning, etc.)