Email can quickly pile up and be a distraction with its constant notifications—especially those short back and forth messages. Tim Ferris, author of The 4-Hour Work Week, says you should get into the habit of using "if...then" statements to reduce these.
Such email ping-pong, as 99U puts it, can be distracting and more work than it deserves. The idea is actually simple, but as Ferris notes, it's about making it a habit:
Email communication should be streamlined to prevent needless back-and-forth. Thus, an email with "Can you meet at 4:00 pm?" would become "Can you meet at 4:00 pm? If not, please advise three other times that work for you."
Get into the habit of considering what "if … then" actions can be proposed in any e-mail where you ask a question.
You are essentially anticipating problems and addressing them pre-emptively. In most cases, it's not hard to do. Consciously make an effort to do this and you'll be able to reduce your email clutter.
Avoid Playing Email Ping Pong With "If…Then" Statements | 99U
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