Let’s talk. Why I’m leaving email in last year.

I’m going email cold turkey today.

At least I feel like it. I’m finding that the default communication, in the world of business, in my current corner, has become the email. Screen-based life has convinced us that the easier method of communication is the digital. It’s less obtrusive, right? You have a record of communication. It’s quicker. I don’t need to remove my ass from my seat. It’s hitting all of the metrics that stroke our productivity-ego and calm our busy anxious inner-dialogue.

“You got those emails out, that’s one thing to cross of your list.” Our inner industrialist tells us. “We’ve been so busy — good thing we can get these out. On to the next.”

But the truth of the matter is we aren’t as busy as we like to convince ourselves we are. And we aren’t as effective, or productive, as our email comfort blanket makes us feel.

I watched an email conversation bounce around for two days. I picked up the phone and called. We talked for 20 minutes and we left the conversation understanding exactly what each person needed. The problem with an email is that it isn’t a person.

Our screen-lives make our communication easier quicker more efficient ASAP.

They also give us an excellent excuse to avoid taking the time to look another person in the eyes and remember that they are a human being. When we convince ourselves that we don’t have the time for a conversation, a short walk, or some mental downtime we slave ourselves away to a never ending list of repetitions and false productivity.

This year I need to take a moment to step away from my business — my mantra is “You have the time, you are not in a rush.” I need to make an effort to go for a stroll, to go seek out a conversation… even a confrontation. I need to make the face-to-face a priority, then the phone, and the email only when it’s needed. It will be uncomfortable often.

But I’d rather be uncomfortable and human than an easy email.