When we chose a life of minimalism, we assumed it would be super easy. Overall, yes, it is, but we didn’t realize how much more we could minimize in our day-to-day lives. When starting this journey, we automatically assumed it pertains to decluttering the obvious: home, vehicles, office space, shop, barns, etc. It does go beyond that, however, we’re so desensitized to it all that we don’t notice it until having what we think is a breakdown. “What are you talking about?”, you ask…follow me for a few minutes…
The other day I was going through my normal morning routine tidying up the house, then I checked my email on my phone and started deleting email after email after email...after email after email and had an, “oh, gosh!” moment. Quickly, I scurried to my laptop and opened my email and was just so overwhelmed. There were so many unread emails that were promotions for various companies that I had subscribed to over the holiday that I am definitely not planning on purchasing from any time soon. Now that the holiday is well beyond over, the consumerism tactics are still shining in my face. Literally, shining from the brightness of my computer screen. Also, I get frequent texts from various companies sending messages with the deal-of-the-day, an opportunity of only 24 more hours to get “free” shipping, or promoting a new product. Dawn has appeared and I see the light! Some of those companies sending me the text messages were also the same emails I was sitting there deleting! I digress…
Minimalism is the constant art of editing your life. ~Danny Dover
In today's fast-paced world, our inboxes and phone messages are more like busy marketplaces filled with promotional emails, calendar alerts, newsletters, and other notifications. The constant influx of information can be suffocating, making it hard to focus or find joy in our daily routines due to the inane interruptions.
The powerful realization that hit me between the eyes: unsubscribing isn’t just a task; it’s a meaningful gift. This realization was the turning point I needed to take relevant action.
I will forever be grateful for the other day when my inbox hit rock bottom and I took the time to acknowledge what caused the surge of anxiety within me. Unread emails from newsletters I once enjoyed had turned into an unbearable weight. Each notification zing felt like a thief, stealing away my valuable time and focus that just left me feeling frustrated, honestly. There were days I vowed to myself to delete the emails in my inbox, but I just kept postponing it, becoming a little more desensitized to the notifications, much like white noise...until I really needed to check my email. The sheer thought of sorting through hundreds of emails was extremely daunting. This digital chaos reflected a bigger issue in my life: I was surrounded by distractions that drained my energy and peace of mind.
So, equipped with a cup of coffee and my laptop, I committed one hour to tackle the clutter in my inbox. To begin, I simply asked myself a critical question: Why am I keeping this subscription email if it serves no purpose? This simple action sparked my journey toward digital minimalism, helping me reclaim my time, focus, and happiness. As I clicked “unsubscribe” on the first few emails, I felt an enormous sense of relief. With every confirmation click to unsubscribe, I could feel the mental weight begin to lift. Instead of anxiety, a sense of clarity emerged as I naturally began to differentiate between emails that sparked my interest and those that were merely white noise and creating clutter. For instance, I noticed that a majority of the newsletters I received were no longer relevant to my life and my current interests. Ignoring them only added to my stress. Ultimately, unsubscribing became not just a way to reduce the clutter but a way to invite joy and more enriching content back into this space of time for me.
There are more benefits than anything. My mental health is improving significantly. Anxiety levels are significantly less as I find that I’m checking my phone only when necessary. After going through the process of unsubscribing, I can find more joy in simplicity, realizing how valuable my time truly is.
Minimalism is a tool to reduce life's excess. Focus on whats important and find freedom, fulfillment, and happiness. ~Joshua Fields Millburn
As my digital world is becoming simpler, I want to expand this minimalism principle to other areas, from curating my social media feeds to filtering the books I have on my kindle, weeding out videos I saved on YouTube that I don’t need anymore, to even putting my phone on Do Not Disturb when I need to stay focused, oh and a good one-turning off notifications completely on certain apps that aren’t important. This newfound clarity is already enhancing nearly every aspect of my life and it’s only been a week! Since I have fewer distractions, I am able to focus more deeply on personal projects, nurture relationships, and pursue self-improvement. Suddenly, my digital world feels lighter and more vibrant; I am inspired instead of overwhelmed, and this feels SO good! Very freeing, enabling me to embrace activities that ignite passion in me instead of draining my energy, allowing me to experience a profound sense of satisfaction and empowerment that I have missed. I’m no longer getting sucked into that black-hole of deleting emails and texts that aren’t pertinent to my life any longer.
I’ve already started to embrace minimalism in other areas—like decluttering our closets, bathrooms, kitchen, and refocusing my mental energy—so I will choose to continue to bring these principles to my digital life as well now. My hope is to inspire you by sharing this personal transformation I’m experiencing through the power of unsubscribing and how you can embrace this gift to uplift your own life. I implore you to take the leap and clear out your inboxes. Type out STOP on those promotional text messages. Some of you will be hesitant, feeling trapped in your digital routine. I get that, I truly do! I’m here to remind you though that every small step counts. Each unsubscribe could be a stepping stone toward a more peaceful and fulfilling life. I want that for you! Realize it's about more than just tidying up the inbox. It's an invitation to live a life that focuses on what truly matters, both online and offline.
The gift of unsubscribing helps us rethink our relationship with technology and information. It pushes us toward a minimalist lifestyle that nurtures clarity and focus in our day-to-day lives. Even in the small tasks!
So…I encourage you to start your own journey. Go through your email and reconsider what deserves your attention. Welcome the freedom that comes when you make room for positivity and relevance in your life and content that sparks happiness within you. You might be surprised at how the straightforward act of unsubscribing can lead to significant changes.
Unsubscribe…breathe…and rediscover the joy of living fully in the present. It’s a gift you deserve to give yourself and your family, time after time.
Sending you loads of Love & Light,
~Cassie
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