Mindful emailing
E-mail is so fast it’s almost magical, yet with a little mindfulness it could be more than that―it could be truly transformational.
👥 Serves: 1 person
🎚 Difficulty: Easy
⏳ Total time: 11-30 minutes
🥣 Ingredients: Device to access your emails; Internet
🤓 Wholebeing Domains: Awareness, Community, Digital Consciousness, Liberatory Learning, Radical Care
💪 Wholebeing Skills: Clarity, Digital relating, Honesty, Intentionality, Liberation, Non-attachment, Perspective, Respect
Mindful emailing
📝 Description
Improving your relationship with emails.
Emails in the workplace often come with questions, work to do, goals to reach, and obstacles to overcome. That makes them inherently stressful or anxiety producing. Plus, communication is hard enough when we are face-to-face and email makes it much more challenging. Face-to-face we have the ability to read another person’s intentions and emotions. Over email, we are left guessing what the other person is trying to express. When you read an email that upsets you, it is often because a reaction is being triggered that may not be appropriate to the communication as it was intended. Knowing this, here are some steps for what you can do to transform the email experience.
👣 Steps
Step 1 – Compose an email
Try using the “Enter” key more. Shorter paragraphs are easier to read on screens.
Step 2 – Pause
Stop and enjoy a long deep breath. Put your hands in front of you and wiggle your fingers to give them a little break. Now, lace your fingers together and place them behind your head. Lean back and give your neck a little rest. Now you’re in a good position for the next step.
Step 3 – Think of the receiver
Think of the person, or people, who are going to receive the message. How are they reacting? How do you want them to react? Do they get what you’re saying? Should you simplify it some? Could they misunderstand you and become angry or offended, or think you’re being more positive than you intend when you’re trying to say no or offer honest feedback?
Step 4 – Review
Look over the email again and make some changes. Take one last look, press send, and wish yourself good luck.