I assume this happens to lots of us, but this honestly makes me a little sad. I’ve reached the point where I just can’t respond to all of the emails I get. I really like helping people out whenever I can, but I’m in a situation where it’s just not possible anymore without neglecting things I need and/or want to be doing. I’ve been recently receiving over 400 emails a day. I send about 100. So, in order to stay sane and functional (and catch up on the 100+ that still need replies today), if you email me asking me to take time and help you with something and we’re not essentially good friends, I probably am just not going to reply. It makes me terribly unhappy and uncomfortable to do that, but I really have no choice. I just can’t afford to do work or give up time for everyone who asks. I am neglecting my commitments. I am neglecting my friends. It’s not fair.
I would guess that replying in even the most cursory way takes me, on average, 10 minutes. Complex replies take far longer. I am not even very popular/important/whatever, and I am getting 10-15 emails a day asking me to do favors for people – help them book a show, get in touch with someone, make comments on their mix, or tell them how I did something. I’ve been really trying to make sure that I respond to everything (or at least as much as possible). This is occupying more than an hour a day currently. I just can’t afford to do it anymore. I don’t have the time. I don’t think I am more important than anyone else. I don’t think I am better or further along or smarter or taller or a better dancer. I just think I can’t do it anymore. I’m really sorry. I’m still going to try and do as much as I can, but I think I am just going to limit it to 3 random helping messages a day. Even if your email takes just 5 minutes or 10 minutes, imagine what dealing with a dozen or more becomes. I am not upset at you. I am just sad that it has come to this. My apologies once more.
That said, sometimes is just takes me months to reply. I am going to try and not let that happen either. It makes me feel equally terrible.
E-mail is hard enough. I certainly don’t have time to look at Facebook or Twitter private messages. Don’t message me (or anyone else) there.
Some related articles:
https://medium.com/thoughts-on-creativity/bad7c34842a2
http://sivers.org/hellyeah