Email raises stress levels at work – new research, old news
A new study conducted by Loughborough University proves once again that email still causes us stress at work – If more proof were needed.
30 staff at a UK Government Agency took part in the study and email stress manifested itself as increased blood pressure and increased heart rate when dealing with too many emails.
Reducing the feelings of stress caused by email was fundamental to the design of our email management courses and our results from 15 years of successful delivery prove that this is one of the successes of our course. Namely, putting the email user back in control of their inbox.
While email has revolutionised the way we communicate in business it has become the default method of communication. Email etiquette training re-trains us to use email more responsibly.
This is important as so often the way we interact with others defines us and improves our wellbeing. Email can causes high levels of stress if staff are not trained how to deal with it effectively.
The study also found that certain types of emails had a more negative effect than others. Unsurprisingly these types of emails included unnecessary “ccs” and constant interruptions from incoming mail.
It is too easy send emails – especially “CCs” – almost by default yet take no responsibility for the impact email overload has on others.
Consider email etiquette training as occupational health training…and take a relaxed approach to your emails.
