The first thing on my work schedule has always been tackling the mail. When I had my law office, almost everything came via the postal service. Responding could either be with a phone call (returning calls was the second order of business) or by snail mail. 

Now I collect the snail mail a few times a week, most of which goes into the recycling bin.  Aside from my New Yorker there’s nothing I need or want to read.

These days I still start my workday with mail which comes through way too many portals. Two email accounts, WhatsApp, DMs, PMs, and of course texts. It's a never ending stream of communication, mostly relevant and plenty that is not. 

The expectation has changed; people expect immediate response and I want to have an empty inbox before I move on to other things. I usually respond fully, and sometimes the best I can do is an acknowledgment "with details to follow."  

Dealing with “mail” now takes up a good chunk of time – at least I have an easy commute.