Week 8: Cultivating a Minimalist Life Year-round
Transcript:
Welcome back to the Cultivating a Minimalist Holiday 8-week online course! This week’s class is the culmination of our 8-week journey to cultivating a minimalist holiday season. We’re taking a deep dive into the days between Christmas and New Year’s – a time I like to call the "reflection window."
This unique stretch of time, when many of us are on break from work or facing fewer responsibilities, offers the perfect opportunity to reflect on what we’ve learned and identify areas for improvement. Whether you’re lounging in your coziest pajamas or savoring a warm cup of coffee, grab your companion workbook because like every week’s class, this one is designed to be interactive.
Let’s start by revisiting the very foundation of our minimalist holiday journey: the intentions and boundaries you set during Week 1. These were your guiding stars, the compass pointing you toward a holiday season filled with meaning and purpose. Now, I want you to take a moment to reflect on these two questions:
Did your actions reflect the intentions and boundaries you set?
If yes, what specific actions supported your goals? If no, what actions can you take during future holidays to better support your goals?
Take a few minutes to jot down your thoughts. Pause this podcast if you need more time. Remember, this isn’t about perfection; it’s about growth and self-awareness.
Once you’ve reflected, the next step is to create a "living list." This list will serve as a tool to help you simplify and improve your holiday season next year. For example, my Thanksgiving list includes tasks like taking family photos, ordering holiday cards early, and remembering to order the turkey.
By attaching this list to a calendar reminder that pops up at the start of your holiday planning season, you’re essentially giving your future self a head start. You’re freeing up mental space while ensuring that the things you value most—like creating holiday magic—remain your top priority.
Over the past eight classes, we’ve explored minimalism as a tool for intentional living, not just during the holidays but as a framework for life. Let’s review the core principles we followed:
Envision the Future You Desire: Not just in terms of circumstances but who you are and what brings you fulfillment.
Determine Your Needs and Wants: Identify what you need and, more importantly, what you don’t need to make that vision a reality.
Routine Check-Ins: Regularly evaluate if your actions align with the future you envision.
These principles don’t have to stay within the confines of holiday planning. They can guide your day-to-day decisions, helping you cultivate a minimalist mindset throughout the year.
With this in mind, ask yourself, “what lessons have I learned that I can take with me into the new year?”
Take some time to reflect on and write down your answer.
One of the goals of this course is a shifted perspective on minimalism.
Traditionally, minimalism gets a bad reputation as being all about deprivation. But as we’ve practiced, minimalism is about gaining – gaining peace, joy, gratitude, connection, and health. By minimizing the things that drain our energy, we create space for the things we value most.
This holiday season, what did you gain? Was it more quality time with loved ones? Less financial stress? A greater sense of gratitude? Whatever it was, celebrate it. These wins are proof that intentional living works.
And with that, we’ve reached the end of this 8-week journey. It’s been an absolute pleasure to guide you through cultivating a minimalist holiday season. But before we say goodbye, I’d love to hear from you. Send me a message on social media or an email to share how you successfully implemented a lesson from this course into your holiday season. Let’s continue the conversation and inspire one another.
Later this week, I’ll be sending out an email asking for your feedback on the course. Your honest input is invaluable. As a thank-you for completing the feedback form, I will send you two gifts:
A printable tool to help you align your spending with your values.
A 30% discount code for a coaching package with me.
If this course resonated with you and you’re ready to dive deeper into minimalism and financial alignment, I invite you to consider one-on-one coaching & decluttering. Together, we’ll create a completely personalized plan to help you jumpstart your minimalism and money journey. You deserve a life filled with meaning, joy, and connection. Let’s make that happen.
Thank you for trusting me with your time and attention. I hope this course has inspired you to simplify, reflect, and thrive not just during the holidays but year-round. Wishing you a wonderful start to your new year!
