Today, we’re continuing our “Clear the Clutter” series. Our topic today is one that, if you take action on it, can have a big impact on your relationships and your business.

I’m talking about all those unanswered emails sitting in your inbox. If you just felt a tinge of guilt when I brought up this issue, no worries. I’m here to help.

Let’s cut right to the chase: when you have a lot of unanswered emails, it causes you stress. Why? Because those are “open loops” of communication.

It’s like having a bunch of open tabs on your internet browser. Every time you see them, you feel guilty because you haven’t dealt with it… but you’re too overwhelmed to do anything about it. So, the problem keeps getting worse and worse.

The result is that you have people who are expecting a response from you. But you’re avoiding their messages, which causes you stress and makes you look unprofessional.

Here’s a little business secret: the most successful professionals are not necessarily the most talented. They are the ones who take action. A lot of deals are made, and a lot of business is done, just because people followed up in a timely way.

You might be the greatest writer in the world. But if you can’t answer your email in a timely way, you will frustrate people who need a response. You will also lose out to other writers who are more responsive and build better relationships with their readers, clients, or customers.

I want you to have GREAT relationships with people and be highly responsive. Here are nine simple tips for getting through all those unanswered emails.

1. Set a timer.

I do this frequently. I’ll set a timer for thirty and sixty minutes and rush like mad to get through my emails for the day. If you have a huge, undefined block of time when you’re working on email, it will take a lot longer than it should.

2. Make decisions quickly.

If an email requires you to decide something, make the decision and move on.

3. Don’t use your inbox as a task list.

If an email requires you to do something, move that action item to a separate list where you can prioritize those tasks. Then get rid of the email.

4. Keep emails short.

My friend David Hancock, founder of Morgan James Publishing, is a master at keeping emails short. You will be amazed at how much more efficient you become when you limit yourself to five sentences per email reply.

5. Set up a call for longer conversations.

I have noticed that many writers send very long, detailed emails. I also do this sometimes but I’m a lot better at it than I used to be. Email is not a very good tool for in-depth conversations.

6. Don’t be everybody’s hero.

We get sucked into email sometimes because people ask for solutions and answers. Use this opportunity to create a lead magnet, blog post, book, coaching package, or resource that answers people’s common questions on your topic. Point people to that instead of answering the same questions over and over again.

7. Reply within 48 hours.

Or better yet, within 24 hours. You can also use the genius technique that my friend Honorée Corder uses, which is setting up an autoresponder that gets sent to people automatically, letting them know you have received their email.

8. Make a video instead of sending an email reply.

I do this often. Instead of sending a long and drawn-out email, I use the Loom app to send a personal video. It’s a nice personal touch that requires less time than writing.

9. Don’t respond to every email.

If someone is critical, out of line, or just plain weird, you don’t have to respond. The email police are not going to arrest you. There is a lot of power in taking control of whom you let into your life, and whom you ignore.

There you have it: nine tips for dealing with those unanswered messages. If you find your email inbox constantly growing and causing you stress, these tips will help you make more mental space for other more important activities.

Today’s Challenge: Choose one of the tips I’ve mentioned and use it immediately. If I had to pick JUST ONE tip, I’d recommend keeping your emails short. That alone will drastically cut down on your email time.