Tips to manage email and "all that."

Have a response policy.

Return messages on an as-needed basis instead of handling them as they come in. Try an email signature such as, “I answer e-mail at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., and 4 p.m. If you need a quicker response, please call.” Just as long as people know when they can expect an answer, or where to reach you in an emergency, you can answer most types of e-mail only a few times a day.

Manage your usage by type of device.

Use your personal cell phone only for personal calls. Use your BlackBerry for work related issues during the day. Use your iPod only while driving or exercising.

Take small steps.

Try being inaccessible for short time frames. You’ll see that you can survive the “abstinence” period.

Do a reality check.

After a few minutes of unplanned activity, as yourself, “Should I really be doing this now?”

Be deliberate.

A skillful time-manager responds to things more slowly, because s/he has time-blocked her day and isn’t answering e-mail as it comes in.

Don’t just leave e-mail sitting in your inbox.

Take action on an email as soon as you read it. Organize messages in file folders. If an e-mail needs more thought, move it to your to-do list. If it’s for reference, print it out. If it’s a meeting, move it to your calendar.

Work on your most important task first.

Before you check your e-mail spend an hour on the most important thing on your to-do list. Even if you can’t get the whole thing done in an hour, you’ll be much more likely to go back to it once you’ve gotten it started. If you can get two or three of these jobs done up front, the rest of the day is gravy.

Have a capture tool.

Use a notebook (electronic or physical) to capture all those little notes you would normally put on a Post-it. If things come up while you are working during your time block, log it in and keep on working on the task at hand.

Source: NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers)