Are you making space for what really maters?
Three Painful Decisions to Make as the Year Winds Down
As we wind down the year, I was recently reminded of the power of pruning our digital lives.
Last month, I received an email from someone unsubscribing from my emails.
At first glance, it may have seemed like rejection.
But I understood their decision differently.
This person wasn't shutting me out - they were making room.
For something else that matters to them.
That shift in perspective was powerful.
It reminded me that digital pruning—letting go of things we’ve outgrown—isn’t just necessary; it’s kind.
Sometimes, saying no to what no longer serves us is the most respectful thing we can do for ourselves.
We only have 24 hours in a day.
No matter how much we try to squeeze in, our capacity is fixed.
So as we step into the new year, it’s worth asking: what can I let go of to create space for what really matters?
I’d like to share three “painful” yet liberating decisions we can make to create space for what truly matters.
1. Unsubscribe
The first thing we need to do is eliminate the noise and focus on the signal.
We need to embrace our own limits and get rid of anything that isn't valuable or sparks joy.
There are lots of great blogs, YouTube channels, newsletters, and podcasts out there.
Even if I'm interested in what they have to say, I can't put pressure on myself to consume everything that my favourite creators make.
There are a lot of things I subscribed to a long time ago that I just never bothered to unsubscribe from.
And every once in a while, I get annoyed and ask myself, "Why am I still consuming this?"
If we’re being honest, our tastes change over time.
If something is no longer useful, feel free to cut it loose.
If you’re no longer getting consistent value from the things you consume, consider unsubscribing.
Even this newsletter!
Take a moment to audit your inbox.
Search for “Unsubscribe” in your email app, and clear out what no longer serves you.
Every email you remove is one less thing demanding your time.
And again, this applies to my newsletter!
If it’s not sparking joy or adding value any more, I’d rather you focus on what does.
By doing this, you’ll start to earn a place on your own shortlist—the finite list of things that genuinely enrich your life.
2. Unfollow
We all know that person who lives for social media—constantly curating their life for likes and comments.
Every minor moment becomes content for their followers, shared within hours. It’s exhausting to watch, let alone try to emulate.
Social media can be a relentless noise machine, and not everything you follow is still worth your time.
I’ve gotten to a stage in my life where I’m no longer bending over backward to please strangers who don’t know my favourite song, meal, or colour.
If you’re scrolling through your feeds and feeling drained instead of inspired, maybe it’s time to unfollow.
Follow only connections that bring you joy, not stress.
3. Kill
This one is tough.
We all have projects, ideas, and initiatives we're emotionally attached to.
But instead of letting them go, we hold on.
Why? Maybe it’s pride, maybe it’s fear of failure.
The truth is, not everything we start is meant to succeed—and that’s okay.
In fact, sometimes, the kindest thing we can do is acknowledge when something isn't working.
By letting go of what’s not working, we create room for what could work.
Some ideas or projects are like wilted houseplants: they had promise, but they didn’t grow.
But, we hold on because of the time, energy, and emotions we’ve invested.
So ask yourself: What’s no longer working? What’s draining my energy without adding value?
Letting go isn’t failure; it’s clearing the way for something better.
Are You On Their Shortlist?
Here’s something else I’ve been thinking about a lot lately
Everyone has a shortlist—the limited list of things they care about and make time for.
Whether it’s newsletters, podcasts, or social media accounts, we all have our favourites.
And here’s the key: you don’t need to be the best to make it onto someone’s shortlist.
You just need to be their favourite.
Think about your own favourites.
Are they objectively “the best”?
Or do they just resonate with you on a personal, emotional level?
The good news is, being someone’s favourite isn’t about having the most resources or clout.
It’s about showing up authentically and creating something that speaks to them.
Are you on your own shortlist?
Are you speaking to yourself as honestly as you can?
Now that we’re drowning in endless content, silence is an act of self-respect.
Choose wisely.
Listen deeply.
And most importantly, create space for what truly matters.
To you!
Live courageously.
Dayo Samuel