Tired of the freakin' emails? I hear ya!
how to keep the good stuff without the overwhelm
You know what’s wild?
Sometimes, I open my inbox and immediately want to crawl under a blanket and pretend the internet doesn’t exist. There are days I can’t even see actual emails from real people (or my utility bill) because they’re buried under newsletters I swear I meant to read.
Don’t get me wrong—I love a good newsletter (obviously, I write one). But wow, it can all feel like way too much. So if you're sitting there, side-eyeing yet another “You’ve got mail” notification and thinking No thank you, you’re not alone.
Let’s talk about inbox overwhelm—and the double standard that no one’s really talking about.
Why are we okay with 17 emails a day from that clothing store, but overwhelmed by one thoughtful note from an actual human?
This part always cracks me up (and yes, I’m calling myself out, too).
We’ll get daily emails from big-name brands with subject lines like “YOU NEED THIS LAMP!” or “Flash Sale Ending in 4 Minutes!!” and just... let them live there. We might even open them! But when a newsletter from a real person—a writer we love, or a post that might actually make us think, reflect, or smile—shows up in our inbox?
Ugh, not another email.
What is up with that?!
Maybe it’s because those human emails ask more of us. They ask us to slow down, to read something longer than a headline, to sit with a thought that might shift our day. And in a world that’s constantly buzzing with urgency and sales and noise, plus our diminishing attention spans…it’s easy to push the nourishing stuff to the bottom of the pile, just like we do when it comes to self-care and hobbies.
But what if we made more space for that?
What if we let our inboxes (and our brains) be filled with fewer “Buy One Get One”s and more reminders that we’re not alone, that we’re doing okay, and that slowing down is not just allowed—but necessary?
Here's how to keep the good stuff without the overwhelm:
Instead of doomscrolling while watching Netflix, how about unsubscribing to all those adverts you get in your inbox while you’re chillin’?
And if you subscribe to more than one Substack, it’s probably time to download the app (it’s free, and unlike your inbox, it doesn’t scream at you).
Follow your favorite writers there (hi, it’s me 👋🏼).
Go into your profile settings and turn off email notifications. Posts will show up in the app, and your inbox can go back to being mostly coupons and doctor appointment reminders.
You can also visit each publication you subscribe to and turn off notifications as well.
TL;DR
You don’t have to be a slave to your inbox.
You’re allowed to unsubscribe, filter, and set boundaries.
And you can still hang out with me on Substack—email-free-ish.
I also made a short video for you in case you want visual instructions (hi, that would be me as well).
Let’s reclaim our digital peace, one less ding at a time.
xo,
Xuan
P.S. I plan on downsizing the number of emails I send out so I don’t overwhelm your inbox. The past couple weeks have been intense, but I was promoting The Cozy Life Retreat (which you can still do!) and my new membership, where you get access to a private podcast and exclusive content. If you’re not already in it, you can upgrade by hitting the button below.