Thursday Press #53: Where are your chickens?
[3 NOV 2022] non-BS self-care tips to keep you grounded this season
Hey bestie, when's the last time you took a sip of your water? Took a deep breath? Stretched out of your hunched-over-the-laptop-like-a-gremlin pose?
That's what I thought.
Straighten up and shake it out with me while you read this email.
Between keeping up with regular work, planning for Black Friday promotions, and trying to get ahead so you can actually enjoy the holidays, the energy online lately feels a bit like this:
It's what my family of Southern farmers calls running around like a chicken with its head cut off…
And it's very much not the vibe I'd like to take into the rest of 2022.
That's why today I'm sharing how I protect my time and energy as a business owner. Because if I need the reminders, I'm sure you can benefit from them, too.
1. Turn off all IG notifications
This is something that I put off doing for a while, but now I'll never go back. I used to get so distracted during the work day (and even at night) by every like, comment, and message.
As people, I think we're undeniably wired to seek validation, and social media makes it a vicious cycle. Now, I have much more control over when I choose to engage with Instagram, respond to comments, and check my DMs. It's honestly freeing.
2. Make liberal use of the “send later" features on Slack and Gmail
Emails are the bane of my existence. Inbox zero is a distant dream. When life gets crazy, emails are usually the first thing I avoid, which only contributes to the snowball cycle of stress and avoidance.
So instead of forcing myself to answer emails during working hours (when my creative energy is better spent on client work or content creation), I'll answer whenever I feel capable.
And, most importantly, schedule them to send during business hours. This helps me respect both my clients' and my own time and boundaries. No one wants a business email at 10 p.m. when you're watching the newest episode from your current Netflix obsession.
3. Say “no" if it doesn't feel right
It's taken me a lot longer than I'd like to admit to get out of the “must take every opportunity” mindset. But helping everyone and spreading myself thin doesn't benefit anyone.
Saying no even if it's a cool opportunity but I don't have the time or the expertise has been invaluable to keeping my cool this season. And as someone who still struggles to say “no” sometimes, I have an email template that makes it a lot easier.
I even fill it in ahead of time with other Pinterest service providers to refer to inquiries that aren't a good fit. It's not necessary, but it makes me feel better!