diff --git a/settings/gui-settings.el b/settings/gui-settings.el
index c3e25bad..0f2e98f7 100644
--- a/settings/gui-settings.el
+++ b/settings/gui-settings.el
@@ -347,7 +347,7 @@ DISPLAY-START: `integer', e.g. 3820"
     ))
 
 (use-package dashboard
-  :defer nil
+  :defer 0.1
   :delight (dashboard-mode "Db")  ;; "\u01F153
   :after (all-the-icons)
   :commands (dashboard-mode)
diff --git a/settings/my-settings.el b/settings/my-settings.el
index 36ebd449..03884a7d 100644
--- a/settings/my-settings.el
+++ b/settings/my-settings.el
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@
          (olivetti-mode 0)))))
 
 (use-package my-org-article
-  :demand
+  :defer 0.1
   :after (org)
   :bind (:map org-mode-map
          ("<f5>" . my-org-article-html-export-to-html-notify-async)
@@ -131,6 +131,7 @@ gnuplot buffer. See also async init file
   )
 
 (use-package my-org-letter
+  :defer 0.1
   :after (org))
 
 (provide 'my-settings)
diff --git a/settings/org-settings.el b/settings/org-settings.el
index 627e5dfa..39031486 100644
--- a/settings/org-settings.el
+++ b/settings/org-settings.el
@@ -1099,6 +1099,7 @@ Uses function `my-org-headline-string-element'"
                'my-org-latex-ensure-clearpage))
 
 (use-package ox-extra
+  :defer 0.1
   :after (org)  ;; defer t is not enough bc/ ox-extra is not loaded by default
   :config
   ;; https://emacs.stackexchange.com/questions/9492/is-it-possible-to-export-content-of-subtrees-without-their-headings