Email apnea is our body's physiological response to intense stress and anxiety. — Photo: skynesher / Getty Images, via ETX DailyUp
They invade our computers and cell phones to such an extent that they become a real nuisance. In fact, many employees complain of feeling overwhelmed by emails. This informational overload can be hard to cope with, and can lead to "email apnea."
Email apnea is a physiological phenomenon that occurs in working people who are overwhelmed by their emails. To keep on top of the many emails they receive, workers spend long hours checking and sorting through their inboxes. This time-consuming activity can become a source of stress, especially when added to the long list of micro-tasks that need to be dealt with.
Some employees feel this stress physically, which can lead them to holding their breath or modifying their breathing when reading their emails. This is what's known as email apnea. "Email apnea builds up stress and fatigue .... It’s like running a marathon while forgetting to breathe," explains Victoria McLean, founder and CEO of career consultancy City CV, quoted by Stylist magazine.
In concrete terms, email apnea is our body's physiological response to intense stress or even anxiety. After all, our emotions are expressed primarily through our breathing.
Rethinking our relationship with email
Holding your breath while working through your emails is not harmful if you do it occasionally. But it can become more problematic if you do it on a regular basis. Email apnea can, in the long run, lead to physical and mental fatigue. "Email apnea drains creativity and decision-making abilities. When we’re in a constant state of tension, it’s harder to think clearly and approach problems with fresh ideas, which can ultimately affect the quality of work and innovation within the business," Victoria McLean told Stylist.
Fortunately, it doesn't have to be that way. It's entirely possible to develop better breathing habits when you're at work. There are a number of breathing exercises and techniques that can be used in the office, such as the 4-7-8 method. This involves inhaling through the nose for four seconds, then holding the breath for seven seconds and exhaling for eight seconds. Lack of movement contributes to email apnea too, so it's essential to take regular breaks to stretch your legs, especially if you work in a seated position.
As far as emails are concerned, it's important to approach them sensibly. Not all emails require a written reply. Sometimes it's wiser to call the person to talk to them directly rather than writing to them. Similarly, think about how useful it really is to copy a particular person in to your email. As for response time, don't feel obliged to reply quickly. Not all messages are urgent, nor do they require an immediate response. Email wasn't designed as an instant means of communication, so you can allow yourself some time to think before responding to certain requests.
Employees aren't the only ones who need to follow good email practices. Managers and executives need to set an example. The pressure to be constantly connected is above all a collective issue, not an individual one. That's why some companies have introduced email-free days, to enable their employees to work uninterrupted, in peace of mind and above all, with maximal productivity.
7bfc8be6-a3de-4277-a636-af34b4fa16f4.original.jpg
