I hear that!

I do that always. Since the time I got annoyed by that pop-up at the bottom of my screen with “You’ve got mail” etc. I changed the settings only to check if there is mail if I say it :)

I switched to checking one time per day one hour max; usually before lunch. I never (never ever) open Mail at other times. A auto-responder politely tells people when they can expect answers and gives my cellular number, in case of an emergency that can’t wait. Know what? No “emergencies” anymore. It works perfectly fine. Got to educate people that you’re not an always-available-information- or blabber-hub. Make them getting to the point once a day. Cut and dried, that is it.

Arjan: manual only… hear here!

Andi: Nazi style. I dig it, but I’m afraid it’s a little too extreme for some of my friends and clients

Oh yeah, know about this one. I check in the morning, before starting for the day, then I close the application. Only to open it at lunch time and then re-close time later afternoon. I figure if it’s urgent clients with ring me.

Funny thing is clients expect you to respond with ASAP with email. like its IM or something. It’s a matter of training them otherwise.