If you dont mind, I have to check a few emails before I start writing this story.
Now, where was I?
Kosta Kushlev is a PhD candidate at UBCs department of psychology. He has a special interest in happiness and, in this case, identifying those things that prevent us from being as happy.
Oh wait. Another email just arrived in my inbox. I should answer it.
Speaking of emails, Kushlev has noticed that while technology has made communicating with others so much easier, its also created a lot of stress in our lives. Unlike someone who has to knock on our office door after weve closed it in the hopes of getting some quiet time for our work, the people who send us emails dont ask if this is a good time to talk or not.
But his own personal experiences, while interesting, do not knowledge make. He wanted to do a study
Hold on, someone I emailed earlier today just responded and I need to let them know I got their email.
Im back.
Kushlev wants to do a study on the links between how often we check our emails. And he wants to find Vancouverites who will volunteer to help him.
Heres how it would work. For one week, people would check their emails only three times a day. The next week he wants them to check emails as frequently as they can. Each day for the two weeks, hed send them a questionnaire about how many positive and negative emotions they experienced as a result.
Such surveys have been done before, but usually with students. Kushlev wants to get about 120 real people to experiment with how their email habits affect their moods.
Were particularly interested in people who use email for work and people who receive a large volume of emails, he says.
Ive thought of signing up but every time Im about to email [email protected], I get distracted by another message in my inbox.
