fartwithheadphoneson:

but it’s getting to the point where I can’t handle the influx of emails asking me for advice anymore. I literally spend hours answering messages and while I absolutely love doing it, I just can’t keep up anymore.

And it kills me to read messages I really want to answer but don’t have time to, and…

I think people are already happy enough to speak up about their problems to someone. Taking the step to e-mail someone for advice, or just to tell them about their problems and maybe ask for an opinion is already such a huge step into dealing with problems that you shouldn’t feel guilty about not answering if you can’t. Also, when people ask for something, they should accept the fact that they may not be answered (or at least not quickly). What you’re doing is amazing, but don’t force it. I’m sure people will understand :) x

1. theselfhelpdiary said: Outsource. Advice is kind of a tricky thing to outsource, but if you have a small team, or even just one other like minded person to help you sort through and even answer some of the questions, it will certainly make things easier for you.
2. harrypotterandkate said: No you’re not, Michelle! How can you be all ears if you have headphones on? Take ‘em off!! … thank you… :)
3. harrypotterandkate liked this
4. itsgonnabeathing said: I think that’s great! It’s understandable about the time and I ink for the most part people want to be heard. So maybe even have someone help you out.
5. someoneawesome11 said: start charging?
6. redsoxfanatic4life liked this
7. arealhoodrat said: You know…farts could probably help out each other… If there was a way to make like a forum or something, where we could all converse with one another…hmm… *gears turning*
8. jellabyjones said: You give this to me, and I’ll get it taken care of. IN A DAY. “Dearest person, your problem seems to have an easy solution. Head on down to boozetown, population you. No need for thanks, but send me $10. You’re welcome. Sincerest of Sincereties MV”
9. curiouslycinammon said: I’d just like to say thank you xxx
10. thelateaubade liked this
11. merkstar said: Create a robot version of yourself whose primary ambition in life is to answer and sort emails. Or you could get a separate email account. Whatevs.
12. afaceinside said: Politely request that everyone limit the amounts of their sendings and keep their messages as brief as possible. You could Q&A here on tumblr too like Grace does, too. Then others can respond satisfying all parties.
13. grizzliestbear liked this
14. halvemexipoo said: I feel for you. I can’t imagine how many people come to you for help. And I know you’d love to help every single one. Cause you’re tits. Glad you’re adjusting to not let it consume you. You need to help yourself too!
15. ilovetooboogie said: FILTERS! I love Gmail’s filters. And a seperate account would help you, if you have similar questions maybe you could bulk post an answer?
16. halvemexipoo liked this
17. browncoatbynight said: Do you have a sort of filing system for your posts? That way you can just re-post & tag the person you’re posting it for. I know you’ve done that at times. Also, my right ear’s infected & full of blood. So if you’ve a solution for THAT, I’m all ear.
18. braindeposit said: I say have a different topic per week? Like this week we’ll talk relationships, this week we talk about work, etc… that way you can cover a broad subject that might answer a whole bunch of questions at once? But sometimes you gotta take a step back
19. ahprizzle said: 1. Separate email account 2. Set amount of time to spend replying at the end of every week 3. Put all the ones you couldn’t get to that week into an archive 4. Set time aside at the beginning of the week to answer more. 5. Don’t be hard on yourself
20. lespritdelescallier said: Have people send you emails, read them & note common themes/problems throughout. Make videos addressing those problems - multiple birds with one stone.
21. atypicaleccentric said: Create some kind of FAQ? I’m sure a lot of the emails you get deal with similar-ish problems, right?
22. freddashdog said: Do the email, charge a small amount for responses. It will curb people looking for free advice and help you at the same time. Sucks but that’s life
23. freddashdog liked this
24. goonieful liked this
25. pepperminthipp0 said: Clone yourself.
26. thethundercalls said: I say a separate advice email is a good solution. But then maybe people that are coming to you because they want to kill themselves or something and have nobody else to go to can go to an email that you’d check more often? Since it could be urgent?
27. mistermcfeely said: A separate e-mail account seems like a good idea to me. I know that you love helping people become a better person. However, I think it’s good to step back once in a while and have time for yourself so that helping people doesn’t become a burden.
28. highlyinappropriatekw said: Option 1.) Stop being so damn inspirational. Option 2.) Master a cloning process that will duplicate you at your current state, rather than having to start life from day 1 all over again. Option 3.) GET TO THE TARDIS.
29. thejohnblog said: Set up an auto reply that reads. “I would do what your heart tells you.”
30. zawmer liked this
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34. pascaledebom reblogged this from fartwithheadphoneson and added:

    think people are already happy enough...speak up about their problems

35. lovezsilence said: there are lots of good blogs devoted solely too advice that you can maybe put links too on your page like dearabbeyadvice(dot)tumblr(dot)com . (took out the dots because i dont think it lets u put a url) to maybe take some of the load off
36. aprettygoodstart said: Asking for advice about giving advice. Whoa, man.
37. fartwithheadphoneson posted this