Niklaus Gerber

April 24, 2023

How to Politely Decline Cold Emails and Take Control of Your Inbox

In today’s world, getting distracted by notifications, emails, and other interruptions is easy. But, as someone who values deep work, I know how challenging it can be to manage an inbox full of cold and marketing emails.

While I appreciate the effort that goes into crafting these messages, responding to them can take up valuable time and derail my focus. That’s why I’ve created a simple, generic response template that I can use to politely decline these offers and opt out of any follow-up emails.

This approach has been helpful for me, as it allows me to respond quickly and move on without being bothered anymore. 

Here’s the template I use:

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to me. I appreciate your interest in working with me, but at the moment, I won’t be able to take on any new opportunities right now as my focus is on completing my current work. I hope you understand that my focus is on my current projects, and I won’t be able to take on any new ones for now.

Thank you again for considering me, and I wish you all the best in your endeavours.

Best regards,
Niklaus

Of course, you may need to modify this response to fit your specific situation. For example, if you’re interested in the product or service being offered but don’t have the time to engage with it right now, you could ask the sender to follow up with you later. But the key is to be clear, polite, and respectful while prioritising your goals and priorities.

Using this approach, I’ve managed my inbox more effectively and focused on the most critical work. Remember, your time and attention are valuable, and it’s okay to say no to things that don’t align with your goals or priorities. However, doing so will free up more time and energy to focus on what truly matters to you.

In conclusion, managing your inbox doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By using a simple template to decline cold and marketing emails politely, you can take control of your inbox and stay focused on the work that matters most to you. So feel free to use this template, adapt it to your needs, and take control of your inbox once and for all!

About Niklaus Gerber

My thoughts on leadership, life, productivity, design, and innovation.