It’s easy to unsubscribe from the stuff that you don’t want to read or watch – the vlogger you once thought wise, but who in recent months has proven themselves to be insufferably dumb/annoying; the mailing list you signed up to for the useful help sheet, only to have your inbox flooded with marketing emails thereafter. Urghhh.
Where it’s harder to opt out, is where some part of you actually wants to ‘stay in;’ where something tells you that you ‘should’ make time for the emails, audiobooks, YouTube videos etc. You just never do.
This, for me, takes the form of either a) emails about freelance writing – courses, publications to pitch to, recommendations for podcasts to listen to/books to read; or b) lengthy ‘self-help’ podcasts from people that I love, interviewing other people that I love, about topics I’m interested in. All of these are things that I want to be able to watch/read. And I absolutely would, if I had an extra day each week. Sadly, I don’t.
As far as problems go, having a lengthy ‘watch later’ list is hardly crack cocaine. So I didn’t think it was particularly damaging. Until, after upping my meditation game and becoming a little more self-aware, I began to notice a repeated physical reaction. My chest and shoulders tightened, my stomach dipped a little, my breath became shorter. Looking at the emails that I wanted to read (or should want to read) but didn’t have time for, was resulting in feelings of stress and overwhelm.
The sub-text here is the underlying belief that if I’m not making time for all these fabulous, inspirational emails or videos, then I must be doing something wrong. If I’m not reading/watching/listening to/acting on all the things that I ‘should’ be, then I’m not up to standard. That’s not good enough; I’m not good enough.
And who needs that? Not me! So I unsubscribed from all but 2 of the freelance writing mailing lists that I belong to. What a relief! Now I don’t feel less-than, every time I scan through my inbox. And I’m just as productive, if not more so.
It’s not easy to exercise restraint when there’s so much great content out there these days. But at the end of the day, if you really want to do something, you’ll do it. Having daily reminders of all the things you’re not doing is a lot like paying for a gym membership that you never use: only it costs your self-esteem instead of your wallet.
So take my advice and unsubscribe from anything that you realistically don’t have time for. This blog included – you’re forgiven in advance.
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Anxious-Ambition.com 