Every year, right after Thanksgiving, I embark on my annual unsubscribe-a-thon. This is where I unsubscribe any emails no longer serve my needs or interests. This has been a tradition of mine for at least the past 15 years. It’s a great way to declutter your inbox and cut down on the amount of email you get.

This year, zipping through my inbox I was hitting the unsubscribe left and right. In doing this, it got me thinking about how this exercise is actually a pretty good metaphor for business. Like email inboxes get cluttered with irrelevant messages, businesses can also get bogged down. Unnecessary processes and things that are no longer relevant to your goals – remove them.

So, just as I do every year at this time, it’s time for a little spring cleaning in the business world. It’s time to hit the unsubscribe button on those things that are no longer serving us and make room for new growth in the year ahead.

Out with the Old, In with the New

One of the best things about starting fresh is getting rid of all the old baggage that’s been weighing you down. When it comes to business, there are a lot of things that can fall into this category. Maybe you’ve been hanging onto outdated processes or methods that are no longer effective. Maybe you’re still using software or tools that have since been superseded by newer, better options. Or maybe you’re hanging onto employees who are no longer a good fit for your company culture or whose skills are no longer relevant to your needs.

Whatever it is, now is the time to hit the unsubscribe button and get rid of it. Unsubscribing from these things will free up valuable resources — time, money, energy — that you can then invest in more productive pursuits. It will also declutter your work life and help you focus on what’s really important. So take a good hard look at what’s dragging you down and commit to getting rid of it.

Making Room for What Matters

Now that you’ve hit unsubscribe on all the things that are no longer serving you, it’s time to make room for new growth in 2023. This is where you get to invest in all the things that will help move your business forward in the coming year. Maybe there’s a new process or tool that will help increase efficiency or productivity. Maybe there’s a new marketing initiative that will help reach more customers or grow revenue. Or maybe there’s an employee development program that will help attract and retain top talent.

Whatever it is, now is the time to invest in it—both financially and emotionally. Doing so will set you up for success in 2023 and beyond.

Conclusion

The holidays are a great time for reflection, both personal and professional. As we close out one year and prepare for another, it’s important to take stock. What’s working and what isn’t in our businesses. That’s why I always take some time after Thanksgiving to do a little spring cleaning in my inbox. This year, it got me thinking about how this exercise is actually a pretty good metaphor for business as well. Just like our email inboxes can get cluttered with irrelevant messages, businesses can also get bogged down with unnecessary processes and things that are no longer relevant to our goals. If you’re feeling like your business could use a refresh heading into 2023, why not try doing your own annual unsubscribe-a-thon? You might just be surprised at how rewarding an email unsubscribe event is!