Treat Email Like Laundry

… And Other Tips from Google’s Productivity Expert

The HBR podcast episode “Treat Email Like Laundry” discusses effective strategies for managing email overload, drawing parallels between handling emails and doing laundry. The hosts emphasize that, just as laundry is best managed with regular, consistent attention rather than letting it pile up, emails should be handled systematically to avoid overwhelming inboxes. They offer practical tips such as setting specific times for checking and responding to emails, prioritizing urgent messages, and organizing emails into categories or folders. The goal is to help professionals reduce stress, improve productivity, and maintain better control over their email communications.

About the Podcast

The Harvard Business Review (HBR) podcast HBR IdeaCast offers insights, strategies, and advice on various business and management topics. Each episode features expert interviews, research findings, and practical tips to help professionals navigate the complexities of the modern workplace. From leadership and innovation to productivity and career development, HBR’s podcasts aim to provide listeners with valuable knowledge to improve their professional lives.

Alison Beard is an executive editor at Harvard Business Review. A mom of two, she tries – and sometimes succeeds – to apply management best practices to her household. She is the co-host of two of HBR’s podcasts, the HBR IdeaCast, a Q&A with a management expert, and Dear HBR:, which offers advice on listeners’ workplace dilemmas. Beard was previously a reporter and editor for the Financial Times in both New York and London. She was recently named to Folio’s 2019 Class of Top Women in Media, and earned a B.A. in journalism and politics from Washington and Lee University.

Curt Nickisch is a senior editor at Harvard Business Review. He earned an MBA from Boston University and has reported for NPR, Marketplace, and Fast Company. He speaks ausgezeichnet German and binges history podcasts.