Every morning used to start with a flood of emails and a derailed to-do list. Then I stopped. Now, the quiet hours before noon are mine—and I’m getting more done than ever.

What’s Happened Since Starting This Experiment?

I knew I’d enjoy some of the benefits of not checking my emails before noon, such as increased focus. Others, however, were much more surprising.

1. I’m Less Reactive

Checking my emails first thing in the morning had the same effect as when I used to read my phone notifications. Rather than completing essential tasks that would move me closer to my goals, I often found myself in a reactive state. I was more interested in putting out fires than laying the foundation for anything meaningful.

Many emails weren’t as urgent as I thought they were. Even if someone said I had to respond to them as soon as possible, I can count the number of times I’ve actually needed to on one hand. Besides not completing any of the tasks I had set out for myself, I also became resentful of others.

Because I no longer check my emails before noon, I’m much less reactive when I eventually open my inbox, I can approach every message with more logic

2. I’m Less Anxious

I always used to worry I would miss something important by not checking my emails in the morning. For example, I sometimes feared someone would want to hire me for a job I wanted, but if I didn’t respond to the message straight away, the hiring manager would forget about me and give the role to someone else.

Since I stopped checking my emails in the morning, I now realize those worries weren’t real. I’ve still been hired for interesting jobs, and contrary to what my mind tried telling me, I didn’t burn bridges with important people.

As I’m less anxious, I find it much easier to further reduce stress and build healthy email habits.

3. I’m More Efficient

One of the biggest reasons I first wanted to set boundaries with my emails is that I constantly got sidetracked with work. I’ve always wanted to be productive and have big goals, and I noticed my technological habits—including checking emails—were hindering my progress.

I’m much more productive after not checking my emails in the morning. I get most of my essential tasks done before lunchtime, which makes me feel more relaxed for the rest of the day. As a side benefit, I feel a nice sense of accomplishment, which motivates me to continue.

I’d go as far as saying that not checking my emails in the morning has done more than any remote work productivity app or similar tool.

4. I’m More Creative

Being less reactive, more productive, and less anxious is a potent trio. When combined, they’ve made a huge difference in my creativity. I’m with my own thoughts in the morning and doing work that moves the needle forward, I think of countless new ideas daily. In fact, I have some notes with over a hundred ideas for my different creative projects.

If I finish my important work before noon, I still don’t check my emails in advance. Instead, I either go out for a walk, brainstorm, or journal. By letting my brain think, I typically develop even more ideas.

Away from generating ideas, not checking my emails in the morning means I have a bigger bandwidth for each day’s essential tasks. So, I can give my all and see gaps to try new things.

5. I Feel Less Rushed

Since I grew up in a big city, I assumed being busy was supposed to be the human default. But after moving somewhere less chaotic, I grew to dislike what I can only describe as feeling like I’m constantly running for a train. I didn’t realize how much my email habits contributed to that feeling until I stepped away from them.

I feel like I have more time. As a result, I’m more relaxed, which gives me the confidence I’ll complete everything on my to-do list.

Besides not checking emails, reducing the number of items on my to-do list has helped. Having a not-to-do list with habits could have the same effect.

Tips for Not Checking Your Email Before Noon

I’d love to tell you I stopped checking emails one day and never returned to my old habits. However, I’d be lying. The journey to get to this point was messy and took me a few months; a few big things made the biggest difference.

1. Morning Time-Blocking

While time-blocking doesn’t work for me in most cases, I schedule some deep work blocks early in the morning. I set aside two uninterrupted hours after I wake up to complete my most important tasks for the day, and I’m not allowed to do anything—not even eat breakfast—until this time has passed.

Once my time block is finished, I’ll have some food and go to the gym before continuing my work in the afternoon. Only then will I check my emails. While I have more flexibility because I work remotely, you can still at least get your important work done as soon as you wake up.

Any calendar app is fine for time-blocking your morning deep work sessions. Start with 30 minutes and build as you become more comfortable. Once you get results, you won’t feel as much of an inclination to check your emails in the morning.

2. Use a Website and App Blocker

Willpower is finite, and I’d rather remove the distraction than try and fight it off. I recommend the same for anyone trying to build a “no emails in the morning” habit. The easiest way to stop this habit is by using a website and/or app blocker.

I use Cold Turkey to block my emails first thing in the morning and any other website or app that might distract me. The free version is pretty good, but I recommend getting the one-time fee for the full version. You can then schedule your blocks.

3. Log Out and Clear Your Cache

Putting friction in the way of any habit you want to stop is vital for limiting temptations. One of the most unique ways to do so is by signing out of your email account and clearing your cache. I’d even go as far as removing my email login details from any password manager I use (make sure you jot them down somewhere, though!).

These alone won’t stop you from accessing your email account, but they make signing in more difficult. If you’re anything like me, you probably access your emails more often because you can instantly see your inbox. Those extra seconds are enough to make you think twice.

Emails are an inevitable part of life, but managing them is vital. Setting boundaries—such as not looking at my inbox in the morning—has genuinely changed my life. Whether you’re studying or in the workplace, I suggest doing the same where possible; if you can’t, find a balance that works for you.