--- title: How to Make Your Life Better by Sending Five Simple Emails description: How to make your life better? All you need is email. canonical: https://time.com/22752/how-to-make-your-life-better-by-sending-five-simple-emails/ author: Eric Barker article:opinion: true article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-03-13T04:01:12.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:38:17.314Z article:section: Ideas og:title: How to Make Your Life Better by Sending Five Simple Emails og:description: How to make your life better? 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It explains how TIME's journalism is made, from the first pitch through the editorial decisions behind a finished story or cover. #### How can I read about how TIME chooses its covers? Inside TIME is the newsletter where TIME's Editor-in-Chief explains cover selection and the editorial reasoning behind major stories. It is free at time.com/newsletters. #### Who is the editor of TIME? Sam Jacobs is TIME's Editor-in-Chief. He writes Inside TIME, a twice-weekly newsletter about the newsroom's reporting and editorial decisions. #### Is Inside TIME free? Yes. Inside TIME is a free newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. A paid TIME subscription is separate and available at time.com/subscribe-agent. ## Video: Ask the Expert: Dealing With a Colleague's Gross Work Habits [Watch (HLS stream): Ask the Expert: Dealing With a Colleague's Gross Work Habits](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/R6hSAD1F.m3u8) (1:23)  _Published 2015-01-21. What do you do when your someone at your office regularly grosses you out at work? MONEY's Donna Rosato has tips on how to handle a co-worker with icky tendencies._ by [Eric Barker](https://time.com/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Mar 13, 2014 4:01 AM UTC  by [Eric Barker](https://time.com/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Mar 13, 2014 4:01 AM UTC I’ve covered a lot of research on how to make your life better but many people struggle with implementing changes because it seems like a major undertaking. It doesn’t have to be. You can make strides in 5 fundamental areas by just sending 5 emails. ## **HAPPINESS** **Every morning send a friend, family member or co-worker an email to say thanks for something.** Might sound silly but it’s actually excellent advice on how to make your life better. There’s [tons](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/04/how-to-quickly-and-easiy-feel-happier-and-mor/) and [tons](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/08/can-writing-make-you-happier/) and [tons](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/04/what-are-quick-little-things-you-can-do-to-in/) of research showing that over time, this alone – one silly email a day – can make you happier. Via Harvard professor Shawn Achor’s [The Happiness Advantage:](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307591549/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=spacforrent-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0307591549) --- > “” --- (More on [increasing happiness here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/08/here-are-the-things-that-are-proven-to-make-y/).) ## **JOB** **At the end of the week, send your boss an email and sum up what you’ve accomplished.** They probably have no idea what you’re doing with your time. They’re busy. They have their own problems. For your boss, this let’s them know what you’ve been up to without having to ask and saves them from wondering and worrying. They’ll appreciate it and probably come to rely on it. For you, it’s proactive and shows off your efforts, which [Stanford professor Jeffrey Pfeffer says is the key to success](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/04/interview-stanford-mba-school-professor-teaches-secret-promotions-raises-power/) in any organization: --- > “” --- (More on [improving your work life here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/01/checklist-effective-work/).) ## **GROWTH** **Once a week email a potential mentor.** Doesn’t have to be related to your job. Who do you admire that you could learn from? As I’ve blogged about before, [mentors are key to success](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/02/find-best-mentor/). Via [The Genius in All of Us: New Insights into Genetics, Talent, and IQ](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307387305/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0307387305&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- This is one of those things everyone seems to know but nobody does anything about. It’s the age of the internet, folks. If you have Google and half an ounce of resourcefulness it’s not that hard to find almost anyone’s email address. If they have a website, their email is probably listed on it. What do you write? Try [Adam’s method](http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20130624114114-69244073-6-ways-to-get-me-to-email-you-back) or [Tim’s method](http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2008/05/19/5-tips-for-e-mailing-busy-people/) or [Ramit’s method](http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/video-how-to-use-natural-networking-to-connect-with-anyone/). (More on the [power of mentors here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/02/find-best-mentor/).) ## **FRIENDSHIP** **Email a good friend and make plans.** What does research say keeps friendships alive? [Staying in touch every 2 weeks](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/12/what-keeps-friendships-alive/). Got 14 friends? Then you need to be emailing somebody every day. And what should you email them about? Make plans to get together. Research shows [the best use of electronic communication is to facilitate face-to-face interaction](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/09/how-you-can-use-technology-to-make-you-happie/): --- > “” --- (More on [improving friendships here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/09/5-ways-to-strengthen-your-friendships/).) ## **CAREER** **Send an email to someone you know (but don’t know very well) and check in.** These “weak ties” are the primary source of future career opportunities. From Charles Duhigg’s excellent book [The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400069289/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=spacforrent-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1400069289): --- > “” --- “But I don’t know what to say.” Do any little thing that benefits them, not you. Try [Adam Rifkin’s 5 minute favor](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/04/interview-wharton-business-school-professor-teaches-approach-give/). Or just send them a link they might find useful. Still stuck? Okay, send them the link to the post you’re reading right now. If this has helped you with how to make your life better it can probably help them too. ;) (More on [how to network effectively here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/05/how-to-network/).) **Join 45K+ readers.** Get a free weekly update via email [here](http://eepurl.com/o6uAD) Related posts: [What 10 things should you do every day to improve your life?](http://time.com/14047/what-10-things-should-you-do-every-day-to-improve-your-life/) [What do people regret the most before they die?](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/12/what-do-people-regret-the-most-before-they-di/) [What five things can make sure you never stop growing and learning?](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/11/never-stop-growing-learning/) _This piece originally appeared on_ [_Barking Up the Wrong Tree_](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/)_._ ## Transcript [ MUSIC ] Clipping your nails in the office is one of the grossest things you could do at work. And surprisingly, it's one of the most common. Staffing agency at Deco did a survey on worker's top pet peeves. And clipping you toenails and your fingernails in the office apparently, is common and one of the top things that annoys workers which is totally understandable. So the best way to handle your clipping- nail colleague is to be direct, have a conversation. Do it in private. Maybe take him to a conference room and say, gee, you might not realize that this is kind of bothering me. Could you perhaps clip your nails in the bathroom or maybe do it at home? Kind of a tough conversation to have. That feels awkward for you. Go to your boss and ask the boss if they could send a memo out about work place etiquette and the behaviors that are not okay. And be specific. Make sure that they include nail clipping and other things. Believe it or not nail clipping isn't the only disgusting thing. That annoys people in the office. According to the Adecco survey, putting makeup on in the office, brushing your hair at your desk, and walking around without your shoes on are very common and among the top pet peeves for workers. Chances are, you're not the only one who notices these things, though, so if you do speak up, your colleagues are going to be happy that you did too. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"OpinionNewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/22752/how-to-make-your-life-better-by-sending-five-simple-emails/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/22752/how-to-make-your-life-better-by-sending-five-simple-emails/"},"headline":"How to Make Your Life Better by Sending Five Simple Emails","datePublished":"2014-03-13T04:01:12.000Z","dateModified":"2026-08-04T07:38:17.314Z","description":"How to make your life better? 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