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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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How to Kill Email Anxiety, Avoid Distractions, and Get Real Work Done
13 mins
Brief summary
"Unsubscribe" by Jocelyn K. Glei is a productivity book that explores the importance of disconnecting from digital distractions to increase focus, creativity, and overall well-being. It provides practical advice for managing email overload and prioritizing meaningful work.
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Unsubscribe
Summary of 6 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 6
Addiction to email checking is keeping us from attending to what’s important in life.
How many times per day do you stop to check your email? Do you try to avoid it altogether or are you one of those people who hits refresh again and again, waiting for the next message?
Even if you know you’re a little obsessive, you may be more addicted than you think. Just consider this unsettling statistic: the average office worker checks their inbox 74 times a day.
This isn’t because people are given a ten-minute deadline to reply; it’s because the very act of checking email is addictive.
Perhaps you think that an inbox overflowing with unread emails is a daunting task waiting to be tackled. But that’s not exactly the case. Each of these unread messages holds out the promise of a pleasant surprise – of some interesting or fantastic news. So even if the thought of getting back on top of your post-weekend messages gives you the jim-jams, you’ll still be drawn to the task. We get addicted to the jolt of joy that some messages give us.
Our addiction comes from a primal impulse that seeks out positive rewards. It’s this impulse that drives us to check our inbox over and over, even though we’re unsure when the next reward will arrive. It keeps us sifting through the endless junk mail and boring work and family messages to find those rare gems that make us feel excited and alive – whether it’s an email from a long-lost lover or a near-forgotten friend.
However, email affects our psychology in more ways than one. It also provokes a progress paradox.
When we put off doing important tasks by opening each email message at the moment it arrives, we’re tricking our brain. On the one hand, we feel productive because we’re reducing the number messages in our inbox, but, on the other hand, we’re accomplishing next to nothing.
Nonetheless, getting that number of unread emails to zero is an almost irresistible reward since it triggers the same response we get from accomplishing an important task. But any email that can be swiftly discarded is generally insignificant and has no impact on our long-term goals.
So don’t let this feeling of false progress fool you. There are more important things you could be doing with your time.
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What is Unsubscribe about?
Unsubscribe (2016) puts our unhealthy relationship with email under the magnifying glass. Our lives are busy enough as it is, so it’s high time to stop wasting precious hours catching up on emails and responding to unimportant messages. With the help of this practical guide, you can organize your inbox and your life.
Unsubscribe Review
Unsubscribe (2016) by Jocelyn K. Glei is a thought-provoking book that explores the challenges of managing our ever-increasing digital distractions. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- Packed with practical strategies and actionable advice, it offers a roadmap to regain control over our attention and focus in the digital age.
- Glei combines research-backed insights with real-life examples to provide a comprehensive understanding of the impact of technology on our productivity and well-being.
- With its engaging anecdotes and relatable storytelling, the book transforms a potentially dry topic into an intriguing exploration of our relationship with technology.
Best quote from Unsubscribe
Like it or not, email breeds a curiously strong sense of obligation.
—Jocelyn K. Glei
Who should read Unsubscribe?
- Readers who feel overwhelmed by work
- Business executives
- Freelancers who need help with time management
Categories with Unsubscribe
Book summaries like Unsubscribe
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Unsubscribe FAQs
What is the main message of Unsubscribe?
Unsubscribe teaches us how to create more focus, space, and peace in our lives by letting go of constant busyness and embracing the power of saying no.
How long does it take to read Unsubscribe?
The reading time for Unsubscribe varies, but it typically takes a few hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Unsubscribe a good book? Is it worth reading?
Unsubscribe is a valuable read for anyone overwhelmed by busyness. It offers practical insights and strategies to reclaim your time and find more balance.
Who is the author of Unsubscribe?
The author of Unsubscribe is Jocelyn K. Glei.
What to read after Unsubscribe?
If you're wondering what to read next after Unsubscribe, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- The Distraction Addiction by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang
- The World Beyond Your Head by Matthew B. Crawford
- Uncommon by Mark Divine
- Don't Overthink It by Anne Bogel
- The Humor Habit by Paul Osincup
- Change Your Brain, Change Your Life by Dr. Daniel G. Amen
- Eat That Frog! by Brian Tracy
- The 5 AM Club by Robin Sharma
- The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir
- The 12 Week Year by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington