I like email. A lot. I find it a brilliant, efficient and easy way to stay in touch and informed. I’m the type that is keen to check my email the minute I walk through the door, be it my work email address, or the myriad of personal addresses I keep on my notebook at home.

But perhaps my way isn’t the best way. 43Folders a while ago had a post on the merits of not checking that all important email as soon as you walk through the door; rather waiting until you had offloaded at least one of the nasty things on your to-do list and downed that second cup of coffee before touching base with the rest of the world.

I’m all for this, in principle. I rather think, however that I would find this particularly difficult in real life. My personal email, for example, generally contains only spam, digest emails from various groups I belong to, and emails from friends. I like checking that email, and really, really want to do it when I get home from work.

And speaking of work; how do I explain to my manager and my boss that I’m not ignoring whatever frightfully important thing they deemed it necessary to send me a 9pm the previous night just so I can finish off this letter/report/telephone call/cup of coffee, but rather engaging in a time-honoured personal efficiency technique? I don’t stand a chance.

So, as effective as this particular lifehack would be to a great many people, I don’t think it is for me. I just need to be connected to the world. Even if it is before that second cup of coffee.