The act of composing a message and scheduling its delivery to the sender’s own email address at a later date allows for delayed reflection or the conveyance of information across time. For example, an individual might draft a reminder about a task due in six months, or document current thoughts to assess personal evolution on a future anniversary.
The practice provides a unique method for personal growth and accountability. It can facilitate retrospective analysis, allowing individuals to examine past intentions and compare them against actual outcomes. Furthermore, it allows for the pre-emptive placement of timely encouragement or cautions. Historically, similar methods have been employed using physical letters, but electronic mail provides ease of scheduling and automated delivery.