logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2024
25m 23s

418: Holiday Essentialism

TONYA LEIGH
About this episode

From Overwhelm to Calm: Redefining Your Holiday Season

The holiday season often brings a whirlwind of activities, expectations, and societal pressures that can lead to feelings of overwhelm and stress. However, by embracing the concept of holiday essentialism, you can transform your experience into one that is joyful and fulfilling. This approach encourages you to focus on what truly brings you joy while letting go of obligations that do not serve you.

Inspired by Greg McCowan's book "Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less," which encourages focusing on fewer but more meaningful activities, Tonya challenges listeners to ask themselves three key questions:

  1. What truly brings them joy during the holidays?
  2. What activities they do out of obligation?
  3. What memories they want to create?

She discusses the societal expectations that can turn what should be a joyful time into a marathon of obligations. Tune in to discover how to shift your mindset and focus on what truly matters this holiday season, embracing the simple joys and calm instead of the chaos.

Talking Points:

01:09 - Holiday Overwhelm and Societal Pressures 02:13 - Fear of Disappointing Others  04:36 - What is Essentialism? 05:39 - Question 1: What Truly Brings Me Joy? 06:34 - Question 2: What Am I Doing Just Because I Think I Have To? 07:50 - Question 3: What Memories Do I Want to Create? 08:33 - Shifting from Excess to Intention 09:55 - Editing Ruthlessly 14:06 - Mindfulness and Being Present 17:02 - Secret Santa and Charitable Giving 18:04 - Simplifying the Holidays 23:10 - Setting Boundaries for Social Commitments 24:03 - Prioritizing Connection Over Perfection 24:13 - Setting Intentions for the Holiday Season

Quotes:

"If holidays are not your thing, especially around this time of year, I challenge you to skip it altogether."

"The shift in mindset with holiday essentialism is to move from access to intention and from pleasing others to cherishing moments."

"Just because you've done something for years doesn't mean you have to continue doing it."

"The holidays are not a performance and you don't have to be performative."

"Shed the souffle. Seriously, let her go. You don't need to do it."

"What people remember is how you made them feel."

Useful  Resources:

Click HERE for my FREE Calm Meditation 

Click HERE to join the Membership 

Click HERE for a FREE download 

Click HERE to sign up for our newsletter, The Edit

 

Connect with Self-Image Coach Tonya Leigh:

Click HERE to follow our Instagram

Click HERE to visit our website

Click HERE to visit our Facebook group

Click HERE to follow our TikTok

Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel

 

Up next
Today
455: Summer Series - My Work Philosophy
Transforming Your Work Mindset: From Scarcity to Abundance Success is often viewed as an unending quest for more—more money, more recognition, more achievements. However, as discussed in the podcast episode, true success goes beyond these conventional metrics. It is about discove ... Show More
37m 40s
Aug 13
454: Summer Series - Having Your Own Back
10 Traits of a Woman Who Supports Herself Through Life's Challenges In the journey of personal growth and well-being, the concept of "having your own back" is pivotal. This idea encompasses three essential traits: self-trust, self-compassion, and emotional resilience. Each of the ... Show More
26m 52s
Aug 6
453: Summer Series - How to be Full of Life
Awakening Your Inner Spark: Steps to Reignite Your Passion To truly embrace life, one must be open to experiencing a full range of emotions, both positive and negative, as they are essential to the essence of being alive. This idea is central to this podcast episode with host Ton ... Show More
36m 9s
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2025
How MC Hammer Lost $33M: The Money Lessons You Need to Know
MC Hammer went from being worth $33 million to filing for bankruptcy with over $13 million in debt—just six years after his peak. But his story isn’t just about parachute pants and wild spending; it’s a cautionary tale for all of us about the dangers of lifestyle creep, overspend ... Show More
39m 40s
May 2
30 Is Not the Deadline: Kate Berski on Beating Financial Anxiety and Growing Real Wealth
Feeling like you’re running out of time to “get it together” financially? You’re not alone—and more importantly, you’re not behind. In this episode of Everyone’s Talkin’ Money, host Shari Rash sits down with author, entrepreneur, and creator of The 30Phobia Project, Kate Berski, ... Show More
43m 21s
Jan 2025
13 Money Secrets You Were Never Taught (But Need to Know Today)
Let’s get real: no one teaches you the real secrets about money. You’re expected to just figure it out—and that’s total BS. So today, we’re fixing that.In this vault episode, I’m sharing 13 powerful money lessons that will change the way you think about earning, spending, and sav ... Show More
40 m
Jan 2025
Shatter Money Myths: It’s Never Too Late to Build Wealth
Do you ever catch yourself thinking, “It’s too late for me to learn about money,” or, “I’ll never get out of debt”? Maybe you’ve convinced yourself that earning more money is the magic solution to happiness. These limiting beliefs about money are all too common and can keep you s ... Show More
51m 14s
Jun 10
444 - “Do Not Buy A House!” - DO THIS to Build REAL Wealth Instead with Ramit Sethi
What if everything you’ve been taught about money is wrong? In this real talk conversation, bestselling author and financial expert Ramit Sethi reveals why buying a house might be the worst investment you can make — and what to do instead to build real, lasting wealth. You’ll lea ... Show More
1h 23m
Mar 2025
The One Money Habit That Changes Everything
What if making more money isn’t the answer to your financial struggles? In this episode, I chat with Germaine Foley, money coach and creator of the Do Both Method, to explore the emotional and psychological side of money management—especially for women.They discuss why so many su ... Show More
45m 6s
Jan 2025
225. Jeffrey Panik | Your Future Is Now: A Guide to Understanding Your Finances and Gaining Independence
The World’s #1 Personal Development Book Podcast!  In today’s episode, we have the pleasure to interview Jeffrey Panik, author of “Your Future Is Now: A Guide to Understanding Your Finances and Gaining Independence.” Jeff is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and financial advi ... Show More
41m 26s
Mar 2025
Raising Money-Smart Kids Through Entrepreneurship & Real-World Lessons | Rachel Rodgers EP 926
Don't miss the Make Money Easy Book Tour! https://lewishowes.com/moneyyou Check out the full episode: greatness.lnk.to/1745"If you want something, are you willing to put some sweat equity into it so you can have it? Teaching them that I think is a core money principle." - Rachel ... Show More
6m 9s
Mar 2025
217. Recovering Financially After Divorce (What We WISH We Knew Before Getting Married) with Kristin Sweeting
Divorce can be one of the most emotionally and financially challenging experiences of a person’s life. And yet––so many of us walk into marriage without truly understanding the financial implications of merging (and potentially untangling) our lives. In this episode, I sit down w ... Show More
1h 2m
Feb 2025
Stop Feeling Guilty About Money—It’s Keeping You Broke
Let’s talk about something that too many women struggle with—feeling guilty for wanting financial security. If you’ve ever hesitated to negotiate, felt like you’re constantly over-giving, or tied your self-worth to your bank account, this episode is for you.I’m sitting down with ... Show More
43m 21s