From Overwhelmed to Organized: How to Manage Your Time Spent on Reading Newsletters 6 min read · Written by Mae R Davis on · Inbox Zero.
In today's information age, staying informed is crucial, and reading newsletters is one of the most popular ways to do so. However, with so many newsletters available, managing the time spent on reading them can be overwhelming. In this article, we will explore some tips and tricks to manage reading newsletters while wasting as little time as possible.
Prioritize your newsletters
Not all newsletters are created equal, and some are more important than others. Start by prioritizing your newsletters based on their relevance to your interests, industry, or job. This will help you focus on the most important ones and ignore the rest. You can also set up filters in your email to automatically sort your newsletters into different folders based on their priority.
Set a schedule for reading
Set aside specific times during the day or week to read your newsletters. This will help you avoid the temptation to read them as soon as they arrive in your inbox, which can be distracting and disrupt your work. You can also use a time tracking app to monitor the time you spend on reading newsletters, and adjust your schedule accordingly.
Skim first, read later
When you first open a newsletter, skim through it quickly to get an idea of the content. This will help you decide whether it is worth reading in detail or not. If you find something interesting, save it for later, and move on to the next one. You can use tools like Pocket or Evernote to save articles or links for later reading.
Unsubscribe from irrelevant newsletters
Be ruthless in unsubscribing from newsletters that no longer interest you or add value to your life. This will help declutter your inbox and save you time in the long run. You can also use tools like Unroll.me to unsubscribe from multiple newsletters at once.
Use speed-reading techniques
Speed-reading is a technique that helps you read faster and more efficiently. Some of the techniques you can use include skimming, chunking, and eliminating subvocalization. There are many speed-reading apps and courses available online that can help you learn and practice these techniques.
Listen to audio versions
Some newsletters offer audio versions of their content, which you can listen to while doing other tasks, such as driving or exercising. This will help you save time and make the most of your day. You can also use text-to-speech apps like NaturalReader or Read Aloud to convert written content into audio.
Collaborate with colleagues
If you work in a team, consider sharing newsletters with your colleagues and discussing their contents together. This will not only save you time but also help you gain different perspectives and insights. You can use collaboration tools like Slack or Trello to share and discuss newsletters with your team.
Take breaks
Reading newsletters can be mentally exhausting, especially if you have to read a lot of them. Take breaks in between reading sessions to give your brain a rest and avoid burnout. You can use the Pomodoro technique, which involves working for 25 minutes and taking a five-minute break, to manage your time effectively.
Use a merging service
Some services offer merging of future newsletters, which can save you time by deliverying all newsletters on a single day and in a single email message. Use Email Monster to delay and merge your newsletter to a single day.
In conclusion, managing the time spent on reading newsletters can be challenging, but with the right strategies, it can be done efficiently. Prioritizing your newsletters, setting a schedule, skimming first, using speed-reading techniques, and collaborating with colleagues are some of the ways you can save time and make the most of your reading. Remember to take breaks and unsubscribe from irrelevant newsletters to avoid burnout and declutter your inbox.