It’s Never Too Late to Answer an Email

To make it easier, we wrote the responses for you

Kara Cutruzzula
Forge

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Photo: kupicoo/Getty Images

You can’t see them on the first page of your inbox, but you know they’re there. Your ancient unanswered emails lurk deep inside your inbox. Invitations you forgot, interesting opportunities you accidentally ignored, long messages you barely remember reading in the early days of the quarantine haze. They’re important enough that you can’t dismiss them, but at the same time, responding now just feels… awkward.

So, what do you do with the emails that no longer feel urgent but you can’t bring yourself to answer out of embarrassment or shame or a fervent hope that the sender already forgot about your silence?

Reply anyway. Even if your response comes two days, two weeks, or two months later, it’s okay. Answering old emails feels like a secret power. You’re vanquishing time and stasis while erasing the psychological hold they have over you. Responding late is always better than not responding.

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