Hello loves,
Here we go…another month, another fun theme to shift our world into a heatlhier, slower, softer experience.
I work with clients in every aspect of wellness and how it touches their world. And yes, our inboxes effect our health. I have a few clients I am working with now that have anywhere from 20,000 emails all the way upwards of over 146,000 emails sitting in their inbox. Yes, you read that right. My job is to help clear space in people’s lives so that they can live with less pressure, weight, and clutter in their personal space, within their body and yes, within their inboxes too.
The Inbox Zero Method approach to inbox management is a method for keeping your inbox organized and under control. The basic idea is to aim for an empty inbox by processing each incoming message using one of four actions:
Delete•Delegate•Defer•Do
1. DELETE: If an email is spam, irrelevant, or requires no further action, delete it. Done.
*UNSUBSCRIBE to every email you receive that does not provide value in your life; bring you joy, keep you updated on things you love, or connects you to people/businesses you want to support.
2. DELEGATE: If an email requires someone else’s attention or action, forward it to the appropriate person. Do not CC yourself or we are simply back where we started.
3. DEFER: If an email requires action but you can’t do it immediately, move it to a separate folder that is designated for such matters.
4. DO: If an email requires a response, reply to it as soon as possible.
*I am well aware that we all live different lives and our needs vary greatly. This is a merely a jumping off point for us to play with. Of course you will customize this to your specific needs and modify it as necessary. I do encourage you to arrive at the same place as us though, creating a mindful relationship with your inbox.
A few more notes~
• This entire approach applies to our text messages, DMs on social media accounts, Linked In, etc. as well as emails.
• Delete all email accounts you don’t need, or use, anymore. I have a few gmail accounts I use for different purposes that no longer serve me. I have deleted them all and simply keep one back up for Dove’s Bodies in case someone has an issue with my main email account.
• If there isn’t an UNSUBSCRIBE link at the bottom of an email don’t just delete it or it will keep flooding your inbox. Don’t click the website via their email, that strengthens the algorithm of them knowing you bit the bait of their advertisement. Go to the company’s site directly by typing in the URL. Scroll to the bottom of the page and find a link on their site to stop email/paper mail/whatever you want out of, or contact them directly via a contact page, email, text, or yes, pick up the phone and call them. *And yes, I *67 my number so they don’t then add my phone number into their database to get me that way. Get it done however you can, but follow through.
• I unsubscribe from everything that comes in. If I want to know something I simply go to the company’s site. Same applies for texts. I get dozens of texts a week asking me if I want to sell some our house. I don’t ignore it, I reply with STOP. Sadly, in this world of spam, we must address it one at a time, and stay on top of it or before long our inbox/text thread is jammed full of junk. There are some other approaches if you wish to know more please reach out.
• I choose a time to look at emails/texts/DMs/etc. I do not check them as they come in. I do not have ANY notifications on my phone, or computer. I do not wish to live in a world filled with devices pulling my attention. I mindfully choose when I log on and how long I stay. I do not want screens flashing, dings dinging, devices vibrating, and such, all day/night long. Instead, I choose to create a life of peace and quiet. When I decide it is time to work or check in, then I do so; and I do so for a limited amount of time so I am not sucked into the rabbit hole of tech/EMF exposure and the like.
• I reply to every email that needs my attention. I do so in the moment I receive it. I do not put it off.
• I delete every email that is either spam or I have tended to.
• Now, here is where I do allow a few emails/texts/DMs to sit in my inbox for a very short time.
—An event coming up that I need details for. I delete it the day of the event
—A shopping list I have created. I delete it once finished shopping.
—A DM regarding an upcoming pick up/drop off of some sort if I need an address, etc. I delete it once completed.
—A thread regarding scheduling. I delete it once entered it into my paper calendar, with a pen! :)
—I keep my text thread with my husband always and forever. :)
If you are aware of KonMari there is a lovely aspect to the philosophy called touch it once. It applies to how one lives their whole life; puts things away in the house, opens mail, pays bills, etc. and it fits beautifully with our theme this month. I will leave you with this phrase, touch it once. It sums up the Inbox Zero Method softly, and succinctly.
As things come into your life, in any way, simply touch it once and be done. Live in the space this opens up in your life; wander in the quiet, soft, freedom of a simpler life without any pressure, obligations, expectations and looming, never ending to-do lists. Join me on the other side in a world where we are not controlled by tech, EMFs, societal norms, corporate pressures, bot algorithms and more unhealthy energy. It is a lovely life that is waiting for you. I will meet you there.
With SO much love and appreciate for your company along this path of living a soft, slow, mindful life. Happy clearing!
*Funny note to end on. As I was typing the last line a red dot popped up on my email icon with the number 1 in it because it was empty a moment ago. My attention was pulled and I smiled. I didn’t go check it, although part of me did get pulled and the wandering, curious brain does want to know. Honestly I am also a little addicted to the Inbox Zero Method so I tend to LOVE deleting things.
Instead I went into my System Preferences on my MacBook and clicked on Notifications and went to each Application on my computer and edited Message Alert Style to NONE and unselected BADGE APP ICON, that’s the little red dot that messes with our brain! And of course also unselected PLAY SOUND FOR NOTIFICATION. OY! You can also do this on your cell phones by going into SETTINGS and then NOTIFICATIONS. I think we all deserve to have say over how we want to interrelate with technology and how much of our life force energy we are willing to hand over to it. Now I simply open the application when I want to check emails but there is no red dot, no number looming to be tended to or deleted. Simply clean, open space, for me to choose how and when I wish to participate with.
Instead of another deep dive into the neuroscience of the addictive brain and why tech uses the red dot to captivate us and get us hooked into more tech/commerce, I will simply provide you this link to read more if you are interested.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/rewired-the-psychology-technology/201803/obsessiveaddictive-tiny-red-dots
Here’s to Nothing!