How to create a simple habit of unsubscribing

Recently I read that one of my favorite retailers had fallen on hard times and was offering steep discounts on their website. Since I was looking to replace an old pair of shoes, I decided to visit their website to see if I could find a reasonable replacement. Along with their discounts, they were offering an additional 20% discount if I provided my email address. It seemed like a no-brainer since I planned on buying the shoes.

Within two days, I had received three marketing emails from this retailer. On the third day, I received two more.

Years ago, before discovering and practicing Minimalism, I received 30+ marketing emails each day. I spent lots of time scanning and deleting these unnecessary emails, most of which were designed to make me want to buy more.

In 2019, 117 billion consumer emails were sent per day.

But it wasn’t just the time spent managing the emails that bothered me—The more engaged I was with a sender, the more email I received. New senders were coming out of the woodwork, hijacking my day with “limited” promotions. My inbox was taking on a life of its own.

Credit: NBC Universal Media, LLC - Parks and Recreation

So I did something drastic. I unsubscribed from everything, and I stopped giving out my email to retailers and anyone else trying to sell me something.

Grocery store rewards program— NIX.

20% off at the time of checkout— NAY.

Freebie at the fair— NEVER.

Once I realized how these emails impacted my time and energy, it became easier for me to guard my personal email for what it was—personal. Learning how to say “no, thank you” was empowering, and in most cases, it was accepted without a second thought.

But what about those emails that had already infiltrated my inbox?

Is there a trick to unsubscribing quickly?

In my opinion, no.

The most thorough way to unsubscribe from emails is to scroll to the bottom of the sender’s email and look for the unsubscribe link. There are programs and apps out there that will search through your email, batch your subscriptions, and unsubscribe your address with just one click. But I’ve found that those apps are clunky, and guess what? Now you have another app cluttering up your device, and it only made your life marginally easier. If your junk emails range in the thousands, you may be the right candidate for those types of tools.

Many email providers, like Google, offer the ability to add senders to your junk/spam/promotions folders with just one click. However, we all know that important emails tend to find their way into those folders, too. That means you won’t be able to purge your junk/spam folder without taking some time to make sure you’re not deleting something important.

The magic is in the practice.

There is one significant benefit to manually unsubscribing: The more you practice unsubscribing, the more mindful you will become about providing your email address in the future. Your email address is valuable. Most of us do not treat it as such. Just like getting rid of unnecessary clutter from our homes, we need to face our digital clutter head-on, so we know where to make adjustments in the future.

Let the cream rise to the top.

I don’t unsubscribe from EVERYTHING.

Blogs, newsletters, and important business updates are terrific forms of email communication. I still receive these types of emails, though the list is carefully curated. I may not read everything I receive, but I stay subscribed because I know that when I do read them, it adds value to my life. When our inboxes are bombarded with advertisements, valued communication gets lost.

A business should leave a good impression, not a full inbox.

If a business leaves a positive, lasting impact on your life, they shouldn’t need to flood your inbox with reminders that they exist. Think about your favorite retailer or business. If you suddenly stopped receiving emails from them, would you forget about them? Probably not. Promotions that are offered through email are also usually provided through other digital avenues, such as social media. If you need something, trust that they will be there when the time is right.

To my subscribers: I want to thank each of you for subscribing to my blog & newsletter. I work very hard to provide inspirational and relevant content. I believe strongly in practicing intentional digital engagement. The time we spend online should enrich us. Your time and attention are valuable, and I want you to know that I appreciate it!

-Aimee Olson, Life Done Simply

Aimee Olson of Life Done Simply is a Productivity and Organizing Coach and is a member of the National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals (NAPO).