The impact of inbox anxiety

Next time a rude email throws your day off and you beat yourself up for letting it get to you, know that your reaction is valid: Research from the University of Illinois finds that negative messages have a surprising impact on mood and sleep. Surveys and diary studies revealed that unkind exchanges—from outright insults to passive barbs— caused subjects significant distress, lost productivity and sleep problems, and also strained family life after hours. Researchers advise getting some distance from your inbox by turning off notifications after work or setting boundaries around what times of day you’ll respond to messages.