🎧 PERSONAL Life Update: What's Working (And What's Not...)
A podcast-style recap: my intentions for fall, small business aha moments, my new work out routine, & OFFICIALLY weaning from breastfeeding, oh my!
Ahhhhhh… ‘tis the season to be fall-y. 🍂
(Pity laughs not required, but are encouraged)
To be honest, I am normally not that excited for fall. Ya girl LOVES sunshine and genuinely does NOT like pumpkin spice flavoring— gasp!
….but this year feels different. I am truly trying to embrace this autumn season.
From crisp mornings & warm sweaters to cozy beverages and watching the leaves turn, I love how the season is an invitation to turn inwards and reflect on where I’m at and where I’m going.
And that being said, today I’m going to be sharing a podcast-style life update — reflecting on summer and really digging into how I’m feeling going into Fall 2023 (the only Fall 2023 we’re ever going to get…how ✨magic ✨ is that??).
Life stuff, health stuff, motherhood stuff, business stuff, why this past summer was my fave EVER (like, ever ever), what I’m learning, what I’m working on, what’s going well (and what’s not…), we’re getting into it all today.
I genuinely love sharing updates this way; it feels like we’re snuggled up on my couch with our respective beverages of choice (cheers!). So pull up a chair, grab yourself a refill, and press play on the podcast at the bottom of this post. Can’t wait to share this with YOU.
But Kate, I’m a visual learner…
No worries, my friend. Don’t have time to listen? While the juiciest stuff (and ALL the details) will be in the episode, I did want to share a bullet point list of what I’m going to be chatting about so you can stay in the loop.
BIGGER LIFE UPDATES:
POSTPARTUM, BREASTFEEDING, & RECLAIMING MY BODY: After nearly 2 beautiful years of pre-conception prep, being pregnant, and 14 months of breastfeeding, I have OFFICIALLY weaned my sweet boy from nursing. I talk all about that experience here, how it felt, how I knew it was time, and what I’m hoping for now that my body is “mine” again.
MY CAREER: A huge reason why this summer and fall have felt different, and that is because I work for myself now (still so surreal). I’m feeling really aligned in my career lately— both in terms of the college course I teach and my small business. Overall, this has me feeling so excited and at peace and DRIVEN moving into fall. To dig into this more, I talk about how I “pace” my small business in the different seasons of the year. (And how I absolutely planned my entry into fall business mode TERRIBLY, *nervous laugh*)
PROTECTING MY ENERGY & LEAVING “OPEN SPACE”: In the episode, I give a “forecast” of what fall has in store, but pro tip: I COMMITTED to leave one weekend per month with absolutely *no* plans to preserve my energy. It can be hard to say no to fun opportunities, but I know future me will be thankful for that free space.
3 THINGS I’M LOVING LATELY:
Ambiance, babyyyyyyy. Lighting candles, burning incense, warm cups of tea, etc. — in the episode, I share my favorite ways to welcoming fall into my home through ambiance (and not pumpkin throw pillows).
Making my own carbonated water with this nifty machine that Adam got me for my birthday. I know this isn’t the most *exciting* update, but don’t deny that having fresh sparkling water ready at the drop of a hat is SO FUN. It’s a bit spendy, but 1) it tastes SO good, 2) it’s incredibly easy to use, 3) I think it has already paid for itself instead of buying copious amounts of sparkling water from the store, and 4) it looks very cute on the kitchen counter, haha.
… the things I already own: As you may know from my Spending Freeze post, 2023 was my year of less. I have gotten rid of SO much stuff, and I am TRULY feeling lighter & more clear & more abundant than ever. I dig into this more specifics in the episode— but in general, this experience of purging my belongings has shown me I don’t need more, I just need to use what I have better.
3 HEALTH HABITS I AM LOVING:
From my exercise routine of the moment to my FAVORITE way to unwind at night and the supplement I’ve been prioritizing, I dig into 3 healthy habits I’ve been loving lately.
3 THINGS I AM WORKING ON:
NEW WORK OUT ROUTINE: Remember that exercise routine of the moment I just mentioned above? Well, it worked great for summer, but I am craving an upgrade. I share the specific ways I plan to switch up my work out regimen this fall.
Finding MY rhythm as a work-from-home mom: One year in, and I am realizing that I haven’t really defined what being a “working mom” looks like for ME. I’m beyond proud that I’ve created this career for myself, but with the flexible hours comes a little ambiguity when it comes to when I’m “on” and when I’m “off.” I'm just kind of trying to find that blend — and it’s tricky! I dig into this muuuuch more thoroughly in the episode. (It felt like a therapy session for me to process verbally, tbh)
Firmer work/life boundaries: Going off of the above, I’m trying to really get clear on when I’m working and when I’m not. Sounds simple, but can be SO tricky. Many of us wear a lot of hats, and if we’re not careful, it’s so easy to be “on” all day. In the episode, I share some concrete ways that I am creating firmer work-life boundaries and making time for rest.