diff --git a/static/js/emailInbox.js b/static/js/emailInbox.js
index 17b1d1dc2..7a8abe5cc 100644
--- a/static/js/emailInbox.js
+++ b/static/js/emailInbox.js
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 
 import spinnerModule from './spinner.js';
 import sessionModule from './sessions.js';
-import { initEmailLibrary, openEmailLibrary, closeEmailLibrary, isOpen as isLibOpen, prewarmEmailLibrary } from './emailLibrary.js';
+import { initEmailLibrary, openEmailLibrary, closeEmailLibrary, isOpen as isLibOpen } from './emailLibrary.js';
 import * as Modals from './modalManager.js';
 import { applyEdgeDock } from './modalSnap.js';
 import { buildReplyAllCc } from './emailLibrary/replyRecipients.js';
@@ -274,10 +274,11 @@ function _bindEvents() {
     });
   }
 
-  // Initial unread count check, refresh every 60s
-  _refreshUnreadCount();
+  // Delay the lightweight unread badge check so opening Odysseus doesn't
+  // compete with the initial chat/session paint. The full email list now loads
+  // only when the inbox is actually opened.
+  setTimeout(_refreshUnreadCount, 8000);
   setInterval(_refreshUnreadCount, 60000);
-  prewarmEmailLibrary({ delay: 3000 });
 
   // Deep-link: #email=<folder>:<uid> opens the library and expands that card
   _maybeOpenFromHash();
diff --git a/static/js/tasks.js b/static/js/tasks.js
index 9bd09104f..bde11d9e2 100644
--- a/static/js/tasks.js
+++ b/static/js/tasks.js
@@ -2706,6 +2706,7 @@ function _renderMainView() {
 // ---- Modal ----
 
 export function openTasks(focusId, opts) {
+  startNotificationPolling();
   const o = opts || {};
   const openActivityForFailure = _taskFailurePending && !focusId && o.filter === undefined;
   _setTaskFailurePending(false);
@@ -2937,9 +2938,6 @@ function stopNotificationPolling() {
   }
 }
 
-// Start polling on module load
-startNotificationPolling();
-
 const tasksModule = { openTasks, closeTasks, isTasksOpen, startNotificationPolling, stopNotificationPolling };
 export default tasksModule;
 window.tasksModule = tasksModule;