Definition

💡 Email fatigue syndrome is a real problem that can affect anyone who uses emails heavily for work or personal communications. When someone receives a ton of emails, they can feel overwhelmed, exhausted, or annoyed. This can lead to email fatigue.

What are the main symptoms of email fatigue?

Email fatigue can potentially stem from:

Frequently receiving emails. On average, a person receives approximately 121 emails daily. When a company sends emails too often, subscribers may get annoyed, causing 51% of users to unsubscribe.
Receiving irrelevant email content. Today’s consumers expect personalized and relevant emails from brands. If you send emails that don’t meet their expectations, they’re more likely to unsubscribe.
High email sending load. Having to send a large number of emails regularly can contribute to fatigue, as it requires constant effort and can become a repetitive and tedious task.

Symptoms can vary from person to person. The list below covers both physical and mental symptoms. Here are some common signs you need to look out for:

Disrupted concentration, which leads to decreased focus
Decreased productivity
Difficulty sleeping or insomnia
Headaches or fatigue

Email fatigue can also lead to increased levels of anxiety. People may check their inbox too frequently, or end up totally avoiding it.

How to deal with email fatigue

There are several ways to deal with email fatigue. The good news is that they’re all simple and easy to apply in your daily life. The tips below apply to both brands and individuals.

Set specific times to check your emails. Allot specific times to check and respond to emails. If you receive plenty of emails, break them into intervals. For example, you can spend an hour checking emails in the morning and another hour in the afternoon.
Adopt a more mindful approach when using email. If you start to feel overwhelmed or anxious, it’s best to take a quick break from checking your emails. You can always return to the task later when you’re feeling more relaxed.
Clean up or organize your email list. Use a tool like Clean Email to clean up your email or organize your messages into folders. Doing so helps keep your inbox clean and makes it easy for you to find important emails.

💡 The Clean Email app helps you combat email fatigue by organizing your mailbox, managing your subscriptions, and more. It also lets you set up Auto Clean rules, allowing you to automatically organize and manage emails. Sign up today to discover how Clean Email transforms your inbox.