I love that the internet has allowed us to access so much fantastic information for free. Learn to eat better, lose weight, and grow your business with spot-on, free tips straight to your inbox as often as you like. It’s amazing!
And it can be overwhelming… so overwhelming that it can actually slow you down.
It happened to me, and here’s what I’ve done about it. You won’t want to miss this!
Watch today’s video for my super simple strategy to make sure all that free advice is helping not hurting you!
Are you accepting this week’s action challenge?
Then, declare it in the comments below and go take action!
If you have insights, experiences, or stories about this week’s challenge, please share them in the comments as well.
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Prefer to read instead of watch? Here’s the transcript for today’s video.
When I quit my job to start my business, I diligently dove into learning as much as I could. I received dozens of newsletters and emails each week telling me how to get my business off the ground.
However, instead of all of this free advice helping me, it had the opposite effect: it squelched my success. Could this be happening to you, too? Keep Reading…
Thank you for this very humorous and truthful piece. It had me laughing out loud :-). I can soooooooooo relate! I feel empowered to start making more conscious choices about what input is actually helpful and what input is just too much and in the end counter-productive. I think this is really a discipline that I want to develop. There are so many good offers out there, free and not free. And even the ones you buy can end up being “shelf-help” if you just don’t have the space/time to work with them in the moment or they become just another contributer to the overwhelm, thereby becoming anti-help! I think I need to unsubscribe from some lists. . . .
So glad you got a good morning chuckle in, Yael! There is a lot of great free stuff out there, but you’re right — if it’s sitting on the shelf (even an electronic one), it’s not worth it right now. Focus on what you need in this moment. Free content isn’t go away, and you can absolutely learn what you need when you need it. Happy unsubscribing!
Perfect and fabulous, Jenny! Information overload! Thank you for naming it and describing it. Here I thought I was the only one. Not long ago, I started putting my subscriptions into a filter so that they wouldn’t come in my personal inbox. This way I can set a timer and only go there intentionally for a little visit. I set an intention for only the most helpful information to catch my eye. I trust in that intuitive guidance as I choose one, and I stop reading when the timer goes off. This way, I can still get some free info, but it’s selective and intentional, and I alway get what I need and no more.
This only came about after YEARS of information overload and getting nowhere. Thank you for calling it out so that I can be reminded, affirmed, and everyone can benefit. You’re awesome!
You are far from alone on this one, Oceana! I still do this, accumulating free content in folders that I don’t ever look at.
I love that you set an intention. That’s so smart! I have a mantra to keep me from oversubscribing: I’ll find what I need when I need it.
Glad to hear you’ve learned what you need to do for you. Thanks for sharing your approach here!
Haha! Unsubscribing to everything now, you won’t be one of them!! Loved this message.
Yay! And so glad! 🙂
Hi,
I actually starting unsubscribe last week… Seriously I don’t get personal emails anymore.
I only actively look for 2. The others only if the headline is something I really and working on.
I’m going to unsubscribe to everything that isn’t helping me… So tough. What if I miss something ? Haha so yes I take the challenge!
Nathalie
Feel free to borrow my mantra: I’ll find what I need when I need it!
No need to hoard free content for future use. There will be plenty available when you need to learn about something new. Pinky swear!
LOVE this. It seems like a small thing, but it really does make the biggest difference.
For the biggest impact, make a plan for what you’ll do with that extra mental bandwidth *before* you make the change.
If you want a quick way to unsubscribe, try this tool: http://unroll.me . Life-changing.
For those with tons of subscriptions, unroll is fantastic! Thanks for that. I also always think about an email when it comes into my inbox. I ask myself if I’ve been reading it (or not), and then make the choice in the moment to unsubscribe.
Been meaning to check out unroll.me – thanks for the nudge Jenny (and reminder Shalon) 🙂
Unroll.me so easy, Catarina!
Oh yeah…. you know it!!! I am subscribed to emails, when I see the name on the list… I think… who the heck is that?????? I definitely need to unsubscribe to MANY email lists.
Another action blocker is…. signing up for course or classes to help you on marketing, sale, or whatever it may be…… That is another one of my bad habits. I think if I learn more, I’ll be able to nail this business… Nope hasn’t happened yet. Just wasting time and money, on courses I’m to overwhelmed to even finish.
Oh such another good post today Jenny!!
Love your honesty, Adriana! It’s an easy to sign up but not always easy to follow through — even on free things!
My trick for managing that is to always get super clear on what I need and also what I have time to consume — then make time for it in my calendar. See if that helps you, too!
I actually deleted all emails before January 1, 2015. I feel confident I can find anything I might need out of the deleted info online if I discover I need it. Of the remaining emails, I went thru and spent a whole day unsubscribing and deleting. Of the now much smaller list, I sorted what I wanted to keep into clearly labeled folders so that I can find them when I need them. Opening up in the morning to an EMPTY inbox feels like heaven. Lastly, I have committed to four current teachers. Anything not from one of those four (including you Jenny Shih) goes in the garbage!
Love that you did a mega-delete, Melinda. So smart. I personally strive for inbox zero — it feels so good!
I’m so glad I made the cut in your inbox. I intend to keep delivering to keep that sacred spot 🙂
Ha, brilliant advice! I have a folder “friday reads” where newsletters get automatically redirected to, without even touching my inbox. Do I ever read them? Nope. I have already unsubscribed from several in the past few weeks.
And I created a video for my subscribers, on how to deal with stress. Guess what – I never had more unsubscribers than after that newsletter went out. Looks like they took my suggestions to heart. Oh well. They might come back one day. Or just make space for better suited audience. 🙂 Thanks for the clip!
Lisa
I, too, find it funny that when I send some of my best stuff (or info on a free training) that I get a ton of unsubscribes. I’ve learned to laugh at it and realize that if someone unsubscribes from some of my best stuff, then they most certainly aren’t my people.
Happy unsubscribing!
Yes, I’m in. Just unsubscribed from several and will keep a discerning eye on the incoming emails.
Way to take fast action, CJ!
Oh so true, the information overload has lead to complete overwhelm and stagnation. I’ve been unsubscribing furiously for the last few weeks and more have to go. You’re always on point! I’ll find what I need, when I need it! xx
Way to clear out the clutter to get focused, Wilma!
Ohhh, this is a good one Jenny. Challenge accepted. I’ve been meaning to do this for a while and I’ve got a bit of build up on my end…years of subscribers and learning.
So… I’m using Amit Agarwal’s Gmail Unsubscriber to mass unsubscribe (http://www.labnol.org/internet/gmail-unsubscribe/28806/)…you just drop it under the label you create and it unsubscribes for you. I love it – it’s so much fun to have a clean inbox!
(Before I was using unroll.me – which just puts you unsubscribe to in the trash, but doesn’t “hard” unsubscribe.)
I also created a separate email for all things promotion so my inbox stays clean and clear.
Excited!
This is so helpful, Maya! I wondered how unroll.me worked because it didn’t seem to me that it was really unsubscribing. So helpful. It’s funny to see you mention Amit Agarwal because I remember finding a fancy gmail filter of his that I used a few years ago to transfer emails from one account to another.
Thanks for sharing this info and such a helpful alternative — you’re amazing like that!
You could just repost this every other month and we would all find value! Thanks for the reminder to keep my inbox calm!
That’s funny!! I can’t promise to do that but you could add a monthly reminder to your task list to do an unsubscribe run-through. Enjoy the clean inbox!
Guilty! I have a ‘junk mail’ address that I use…but lately I’ve been using it so much it’s no longer ‘junk’. And my ‘To-do’ list has gotten crazy long. But I’m adding one more “to-do” – unsubscribe from lists that aren’t a “Hell yes!”. Thanks for the kick in the pants, Jenny!
I love how honest you are, Becky! Get on with unsubscribing and enjoy that empty inbox!
Absolutely! Love the permission for FREEDOM, Jenny 🙂
You’re welcome!
Wow, Jenny, that was me. I was so excited to get my practice off and running that I subscribed to too much, and it stressed me out! I’ve been unsubscribing. Thank you.
By the way, I LOVED your presentation at Mastermind in Santa Barbara. Thanks so much for that, too! You are an inspiration!
Thank you for the kind words, Shari! I loved speaking to you all and teaching you about starting and growing your online business. You were such an AMAZING group!
I’m so glad you’re unsubscribing and relieving your stress in the process. So important!
Challenge accepted! My issue is that I actually appreciate most of the advice and just don’t feel like I have the time for it all. I’ve unsubscribed from anyone’s newsletter who didn’t jive with me/made me feel like crap but the others I genuinely like and find helpful…when I get to them! Guess its time to “kill my darlings” as they say in the journalism world…
Yes, Kait! Anyone who makes you feel like crap or doesn’t help you with what you need right now should be outta there! You can always subscribe later if the time is right!