1) Work email accounts that I only access on my work laptop because I refuse to install them on my personal cell phone.
2) Personal email accounts that I can check on mobile devices, but the notifications are turned off. Most of my personal emails are not time-sensitive so I don't feel pressured to check or reply promptly. My family and friends know that if they need an immediate response, they need to call me. Ha!
I've been trying to keep my inboxes cleaned out. Lol. And I do the same I unsubscribed from a bunch of stuff and wow did that ever slow down the emails to make them manageable. I appreciate you sending the anxiety series.
Thanks bunches for sharing the porch with Sweet Tea & Friends this month sweet friend. I'm always so happy you're here.
It's like once you start unsubscribing you can't stop! And some of us do need to cut way back on what's grabbing our online attention to keep ourselves sane and balanced. I'm raising my hand on this!
I used to be amazing with the inbox when I worked! Now it's all I can do to keep up with it! Mostly blog comments. Today I finally am mostly caught up apart from a couple of things there as a holding zone so I don't forget to act. (I know that even if I make a file called "holding zone," I will never go there!
You have an incredible following, Jeanie, and I can see how those blog comments must overflow your inbox. You do a beautiful job in keeping in touch with so many people. And yes, I love the idea of calling the inbox a 'holding zone.' It kinda gives it an official title and job description all in one!
Oh, my goodness! One email subscription I will never unsubscribe from is yours. It's a gentle lifeline extended that I let sit until I find uninterrupted time to savor every word. There are certain emails like that from a select few that feed my soul every single time. Those are allowed to take up space in my inbox and they can sit there for however long it takes. I made it through day five of the stronger series, then life got busy, and I am looking forward to completing it. It's absolutely golden and has helped me so much already. Thank you, dear friend. It was so wonderful to visit with you this morning!
Oh you are incredibly generous and kind, Cheryl. We've been through so many ups and downs together along the way and we're still here! God is so awesome, friend.
Cathy, thanks for bringing up the simplicity of the wisdom in this little series. Sometimes short and sweet and chock full packs the best punch. Yes, let's keep those tool boxes full and easily accessed!
I am so grateful you shared this series with us - it was FANTASTIC!! I am going to have to go through them again to find a favorite because literally everyone had so many takeaways!! This could easily be an annual rhythm! Thank you!!
Terri, you're right, each one had so many takeaways. And yes, I'd like to create some kind of rhythm with this because I want to re-visit all the goodness packed into those short 5 minute segments.
Thanks for taking the time to let me know this worked for you. I really appreciate it!
What a great idea to use those long hours in the car to take care of this kind of (usually) mindless business, Maryleigh. Brilliant. I'm going to remember that in the next few weeks. Thanks!
These are new to me...but I definitely plan to listen to each one. I think the titles that grab my attention most of day one and day nine. But I suppose they go together, don't you think? Thank you for sharing!
Jennifer you're right, they're all linked together in some way. And as we open our hearts, by the time we're done listening we're feeling a bit more healthy and whole.
I'm ready for round 2. You've somehow given me a gentle nudge to listen all over again!
I really need to get on the stick and jump into this with you because what you’ve shared so far is such wisdom! I’m hoping life will slow down soon so I can do just that. Thanks for always being such a wise guide, Linda.
Yep, we're in a wild season right now, aren't we. Choosing what's essential and holding the rest in open hands. Closing down the laptop and getting outside and breathing deep and soaking in the quiet moments.
You continue to show me how to do that, friend. And you'll be happy to know a brand new hummingbird feeder now resides right outside our porch and within a day I had a feathered visitor.
Oh Linda. If I told you how many emails are in my inbox, you might break out in hives. :-) I have good intentions of doing something about it, but it must not bother me too much or else I think I would actually follow through. I've watched five of the Stronger videos and am really enjoying them. The one that comes to mind right now is the one about perspective. I loved the story about the two guys in the hospital room.
Dear Lois, for sure you're in a season to let stuff like email (and so much else) go. I love how you're choosing what matters most, what will encourage your spirit and feed your soul.
May you meet God in the viewing of those videos. May you hear Him whisper, 'peace, be still.'
I always go through my emails daily, but when I go on vacation and they stack up, it is so overwhelming to come home to so many emails. I also think un-subscribing is important. We get on so many email lists we don't want or read.
Yeah, vacation time can really stack things up to an almost overwhelming level. I'll often delete as many emails as possible as they show up in my phone and leave all the other stuff 'til I sit down at my laptop again.
My reading and writing time have been limited lately (guests staying with us, travel, an opportunity for fill-in shifts at the library I retired from, etc.), and my inbox reflects the time crunch. Despite my determination to keep it to twenty or fewer emails, it’s overwhelmingly stuffed again. For now, I’ll just have to content myself with chipping away at it till I get a nice chunk of open time to dig into it. I’m also hoping to finish the video series as time opens up … really enjoyed what I’ve seen so far!
I just read your 'When Bloggers Hurt Each Other,' Linda. It's interesting when people stop interacting online, but I guess I give them grace, assuming life is pulling them in another direction, and so I don't take it personally. Over the past month, I've been traveling each week to help a family member with a new baby and to assist a friend in packing up her house to move to an assisted living facility, so I've been out of pocket myself. I hope people are not offended by my limited online interactions.
It's interesting for me to read that post half a decade later. One of the gifts of Substack has been to enlarge my community of kindred spirits. I've pretty much stopped tracking who's doing what and when and where although if a longtime online friend disappears from view, I'll sometimes shoot her a quick email to see if all is well.
Yesterday, I went through and deleted lots of emails from my Juno inbox. I rarely check my personal email (honest confessions!). I keep up with my author email and read and delete regularly.
If you Google "Startpage" and make it your default browser, and you do not give out your email address to any site, you will only receive emails you want. Startpage removes your info and sends your request out, then sends it to you when it opens. It takes no more time and looks like Google, but it's not. Duck Duck Go is similar. We have used Startpage for many years since we heard about it on Kim Komando' radio computer show and have had no issues at all - just no unsolicited emails unless we have signed up for them unwittingly. Enjoy!
I have multiple e- mails:
1) Work email accounts that I only access on my work laptop because I refuse to install them on my personal cell phone.
2) Personal email accounts that I can check on mobile devices, but the notifications are turned off. Most of my personal emails are not time-sensitive so I don't feel pressured to check or reply promptly. My family and friends know that if they need an immediate response, they need to call me. Ha!
Yes please to notifications turned off!
I've been trying to keep my inboxes cleaned out. Lol. And I do the same I unsubscribed from a bunch of stuff and wow did that ever slow down the emails to make them manageable. I appreciate you sending the anxiety series.
Thanks bunches for sharing the porch with Sweet Tea & Friends this month sweet friend. I'm always so happy you're here.
{{Hugs}}
I hope you're staying cool lately too 🙃
It's like once you start unsubscribing you can't stop! And some of us do need to cut way back on what's grabbing our online attention to keep ourselves sane and balanced. I'm raising my hand on this!
I used to be amazing with the inbox when I worked! Now it's all I can do to keep up with it! Mostly blog comments. Today I finally am mostly caught up apart from a couple of things there as a holding zone so I don't forget to act. (I know that even if I make a file called "holding zone," I will never go there!
You have an incredible following, Jeanie, and I can see how those blog comments must overflow your inbox. You do a beautiful job in keeping in touch with so many people. And yes, I love the idea of calling the inbox a 'holding zone.' It kinda gives it an official title and job description all in one!
Oh, my goodness! One email subscription I will never unsubscribe from is yours. It's a gentle lifeline extended that I let sit until I find uninterrupted time to savor every word. There are certain emails like that from a select few that feed my soul every single time. Those are allowed to take up space in my inbox and they can sit there for however long it takes. I made it through day five of the stronger series, then life got busy, and I am looking forward to completing it. It's absolutely golden and has helped me so much already. Thank you, dear friend. It was so wonderful to visit with you this morning!
Oh you are incredibly generous and kind, Cheryl. We've been through so many ups and downs together along the way and we're still here! God is so awesome, friend.
Thanks so much for sharing Zach’s resource. I’m excited to have another simple tool in my mental health toolbox!
Cathy, thanks for bringing up the simplicity of the wisdom in this little series. Sometimes short and sweet and chock full packs the best punch. Yes, let's keep those tool boxes full and easily accessed!
I am so grateful you shared this series with us - it was FANTASTIC!! I am going to have to go through them again to find a favorite because literally everyone had so many takeaways!! This could easily be an annual rhythm! Thank you!!
Terri, you're right, each one had so many takeaways. And yes, I'd like to create some kind of rhythm with this because I want to re-visit all the goodness packed into those short 5 minute segments.
Thanks for taking the time to let me know this worked for you. I really appreciate it!
I do an inbox clean up about this time of year - especially on a long car ride! So much junk - but yours is the good stuff, Linda!
What a great idea to use those long hours in the car to take care of this kind of (usually) mindless business, Maryleigh. Brilliant. I'm going to remember that in the next few weeks. Thanks!
These are new to me...but I definitely plan to listen to each one. I think the titles that grab my attention most of day one and day nine. But I suppose they go together, don't you think? Thank you for sharing!
Jennifer you're right, they're all linked together in some way. And as we open our hearts, by the time we're done listening we're feeling a bit more healthy and whole.
I'm ready for round 2. You've somehow given me a gentle nudge to listen all over again!
I really need to get on the stick and jump into this with you because what you’ve shared so far is such wisdom! I’m hoping life will slow down soon so I can do just that. Thanks for always being such a wise guide, Linda.
Yep, we're in a wild season right now, aren't we. Choosing what's essential and holding the rest in open hands. Closing down the laptop and getting outside and breathing deep and soaking in the quiet moments.
You continue to show me how to do that, friend. And you'll be happy to know a brand new hummingbird feeder now resides right outside our porch and within a day I had a feathered visitor.
Bliss.
Knowing this makes me so happy, Linda. And excited for you in anticipation of all the joy-studded moments coming your way as you watch the feeder!
Now ... to make the time and space to sit quietly and just be.
Oh Linda. If I told you how many emails are in my inbox, you might break out in hives. :-) I have good intentions of doing something about it, but it must not bother me too much or else I think I would actually follow through. I've watched five of the Stronger videos and am really enjoying them. The one that comes to mind right now is the one about perspective. I loved the story about the two guys in the hospital room.
Dear Lois, for sure you're in a season to let stuff like email (and so much else) go. I love how you're choosing what matters most, what will encourage your spirit and feed your soul.
May you meet God in the viewing of those videos. May you hear Him whisper, 'peace, be still.'
xo
I always go through my emails daily, but when I go on vacation and they stack up, it is so overwhelming to come home to so many emails. I also think un-subscribing is important. We get on so many email lists we don't want or read.
Yeah, vacation time can really stack things up to an almost overwhelming level. I'll often delete as many emails as possible as they show up in my phone and leave all the other stuff 'til I sit down at my laptop again.
And by then 85% of them don't even matter.
My reading and writing time have been limited lately (guests staying with us, travel, an opportunity for fill-in shifts at the library I retired from, etc.), and my inbox reflects the time crunch. Despite my determination to keep it to twenty or fewer emails, it’s overwhelmingly stuffed again. For now, I’ll just have to content myself with chipping away at it till I get a nice chunk of open time to dig into it. I’m also hoping to finish the video series as time opens up … really enjoyed what I’ve seen so far!
When time and space opens up a bit, I'd love to hear what's hit home for you, Lauren ...
I just signed up! I could use a good mental rest right about now.
Janelle, I'm thinking this will be an encouragment to you. Please let me know, ok?
I just read your 'When Bloggers Hurt Each Other,' Linda. It's interesting when people stop interacting online, but I guess I give them grace, assuming life is pulling them in another direction, and so I don't take it personally. Over the past month, I've been traveling each week to help a family member with a new baby and to assist a friend in packing up her house to move to an assisted living facility, so I've been out of pocket myself. I hope people are not offended by my limited online interactions.
It's interesting for me to read that post half a decade later. One of the gifts of Substack has been to enlarge my community of kindred spirits. I've pretty much stopped tracking who's doing what and when and where although if a longtime online friend disappears from view, I'll sometimes shoot her a quick email to see if all is well.
Yesterday, I went through and deleted lots of emails from my Juno inbox. I rarely check my personal email (honest confessions!). I keep up with my author email and read and delete regularly.
Any day with lots of deleted emails is a good day, no matter what email account!
If you Google "Startpage" and make it your default browser, and you do not give out your email address to any site, you will only receive emails you want. Startpage removes your info and sends your request out, then sends it to you when it opens. It takes no more time and looks like Google, but it's not. Duck Duck Go is similar. We have used Startpage for many years since we heard about it on Kim Komando' radio computer show and have had no issues at all - just no unsolicited emails unless we have signed up for them unwittingly. Enjoy!
Elly, thanks! Let's hear it for no unsolicited emails! Now ... what to do with all the spam coming to our cell phones.