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5. Use the search function. Most email programs have “search functions” where they will scan the email for certain words or phrases. This is a quick way to navigate emails, when, like us, you break the “one screen-full” rule.

6. Have a second email address. Use this one for e-newsletters and shopping receipts. This is one that you don’t have to check on a daily basis and can read at your leisure. If you have friends who circulate funny emails on a regular basis, direct them to this address and then you can read them when you’re in the mood for a good laugh.

7. Turn off your email auto-notice. When something pops up or sounds an alarm that “you’ve got mail,” it could disrupt your flow of thought and cause you to waste time checking in only to find out someone wants to sell you Viagra cheap, cheap, cheap! Unless you’re waiting for an important email, it can wait for you to do hourly check-ins. While it may seem like you’re only wasting a few seconds to check each time, the real harm is in the disruption to your concentration.

8. Vacation overload, Part I: Preparing to go. When you go on vacation, you must turn on your automatic reply that you are out of the office. Otherwise, people will expect a response within 24-48 hours. Even if you are checking in, (and we know some of you will, as we do!) it’s best to put everyone on notice that you will only be checking sporadically. One beauty of vacations is that the number of emails you receive often correlates to the number you send, so if you start slowing down your email production the day or two before you go, you’ll see them trickle off right at the beginning of your vacation.

9. Vacation overload, Part II: When you return. It’s hard to enjoy your vacation if you’re dreading the email overload upon your return. One trick we’ve learned is to put in our out-of-office email announcement that we will return on the day after we actually return to the office. You can let your boss and other immediate colleagues know in advance that you really will be back in the office (so you don’t get docked an extra vacation day), but it will buy you at least a half-day to respond to all those backed up emails. When you return, sort the emails by sender, then answer the most recent ones from the most important sender first. This way you might catch that the most recent email negates earlier ones. And, you can prioritize particular clients or colleagues.

So, here's hoping you keep the email under control and enjoy your vacations this winter!