Unsubscribe: How to Lighten Your Inbox and Cure Your Online Shopping Addictions

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We’ve all been there. We are browsing a website for a product we like, just virtual window shopping and that little box pops up asking for our email. It offers us a deal of some sort - free shipping, ten percent off maybe - so we give in and now we are on yet another email list.

Our inbox is inundated. Our senses overloaded. All we wanted to do was look. And now we get reminders almost daily about what we looked at and telling us our deal is going to expire. The next week there are emails about more deals for us. And so on, and so forth, for virtual eternity.

If you are like me and love to engage in retail therapy, you’ve clicked a lot of boxes and given a lot of companies your email. And maybe, dare I say it, like any sort of potentially addictive behavior, maybe there comes a time when not being reminded of it is needed. And now it is time to unsubscribe.

Most places say they make it easy to unsubscribe and some actually make it easy to unsubscribe. You might see a notice at the end of the email message that says “Unsubscribe.” Try this first.

I know that for many of us the hardest part of unsubscribing is FOMO - yes, it is still a thing. Fear of missing out. Fear of missing out on a sale, a deal, a reward, a chance to try the product that you were just glancing at longingly. But, FOMO can be overcome by some positive self talk and for many of us, a glance at your bank account.

We can do the rundown of questions -

1). Do I really need this product?

2). How often would I use this product?

3). Do I have other products like it that I rarely use?

4). What is the likelihood of me actually using this product?

And then perhaps once you ask yourself, and answer for yourself, these questions you will come to the conclusion that no, this product is not a necessity, it is just a want and wants are fine but not always good for us - or our pocketbooks!

You cannot have FOMO about something you do not really need in your life, right? This little psychological self-talk exercise might help you feel ready to unsubscribe and maybe, ready to not just give your email away so freely to every Tom, Dick, and Harry corporation that tells you that you are special or about to be special!

If the emails have no easy to see ‘unsubscribe’ option this means you will have to do some work. Usually I go to the official website, yes, back to the source of temptation, and search for unsubscribe. There’s usually a pathway to it - but it might mean you have to send the company an email, or call them on the actual phone!

You can do it. Things that also help with cutting back on tons of emails in your inbox, and tons of reminders of FOMO regarding products that you might be obsessing over, include also unfollowing them on social media. You might need to take a break from certain tempting products! For me, it is clothing. And it is hard to get away from the constant ads, attempts to hook me, and also, amazing photos and testimonials of people wearing this clothing. But for some it might be cooking products, household goods, or food.

It all comes down to your attention and what you value. Pick products that really benefit you, that are what you need and what you will actually use. Filter out the rest by unsubscribing and unfollowing all of the what-if’s and maybe’s that just leave you feeling FOMO hollow and broke!

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