The Fear Of A Quiet Inbox
The fear of a quiet inbox is something that every freelancer and business owner dreads and no matter how many times it happens to you it never feels any easier. This month marks my sixth year of running my own business and by now I thought I would have got somewhat used to the emotions that come with a quiet inbox as it’s something I’ve experienced so many times. But, it’s still something that fills me with fear and this is how I deal with all the worry and anxiety that comes with an inbox that isn’t full to the brim with exciting opportunities.
it happens to everyone
I doubt there is a business owner or freelancer out there who hasn’t experienced their inbox going quiet in some way and the first time it happens it’s terrifying. There are so many thoughts that run through your mind and it’s a one way street to self-doubt city but I truly do believe it’s completely normal for everyone to experience quiet periods in their business no matter what it is. It’s impossible to be busy 24/7 all year round and that is something that so many of us don’t tend to focus on in a world where we’re all about the hustle and the grind. There are so many things that come with running any type of business that isn’t glamorous or particularly inspiring which is why they’re so rarely shared. But they’re probably one of the most important things to share so other business owners do not feel so alone and worried and this is one of them.
make the most of the time a quiet inbox gives you
Something that I have to remind myself constantly when my inbox does slow down is that it gives me the chance to focus on other things that are either part of running your own business or the things that you enjoy doing in life. Because when I am busy and my inbox is busy than those things typically have to get taken off my to-do list and I can never quite find the balance when work gets super busy and that’s not something that bothers me as much as it once did. These are the things that I’m trying to make sure I do now I’ve got a little bit more time in my schedule;
Sell the clothes that I’ve decluttered.
Read
Spend more time working on passion projects
Be a better friend and respond to texts in a timely fashion.
Go to the gym.
Spend more time creating content for Instagram.
it’s not the end of your career
Probably the most important thing to take from this post is that having a quiet inbox does not mean your career is over and you need to find a new job as soon as you possibly can. Even though I know that is what you more than likely feel like right now it is more than likely never the end of the world and it will always pick up. When you’re a business owner there are so many emotional ties to your business so it can be easy to take a quiet period personally and it can also make you think you need to change everything that you can in order for things to pick back up. Completely changing what you do is never going to be the answer but it can be something that might inspire you to try something new within your business already which is never a bad idea.
