Constant email is increasing stress levels

Constant email updates are a stress that people should do without, say psychologists.

They recommend not having the email app running at all times — which many users would regard as heresy. The report, from the London-based Future Work Centre, which conducts psychological research on workplace experiences, said emails were a “double-edged sword” of useful communication and stress.

Urging users to seize control of their email, instead of being ruled by it, the authors said: “You may want to consider launching your email application when you want to use email, and closing it down for periods when you don’t wish to be interrupted by incoming emails. In other words, use email when you intend to, not just because it’s always running in the background.” The team surveyed 2,000 workers, across a range of industries and occupations in the UK, about the pros and cons of using email.