Have you ever felt that the holiday season brings as much stress as it does joy? With so many expectations and traditions, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, wishing you could enjoy Christmas on your own terms without the pressure. If the thought of holiday preparations makes you anxious, this episode is for you. I’m Dara Thomason, and today, we’re exploring how to create a holiday season that feels meaningful and stress-free.

In this episode, I walk you through how to kick holiday stress to the curb, using powerful insights from neuroscience and personal experiences. Together, we’ll reflect on how to adjust your holiday habits to feel more joy and less pressure. You’ll learn practical tools to help you plan ahead, edit traditions that no longer serve you, and visualize a holiday season that leaves you feeling connected and fulfilled. It’s all about crafting a Christmas that brings peace instead of chaos!

What you will learn in this episode:

• How to reframe your holiday traditions to align with what truly brings you joy
• Ways to set clear emotional goals for Christmas to keep stress at bay
• Simple visualization techniques to prepare for a peaceful and enjoyable holiday

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Resources:

• Emotion Wheel: https://positivepsychology.com/emotion-wheel/
• The Happiness Project: https://gretchenrubin.com/books/the-happiness-project/
• Michael Phelps - The Journey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-mZhvxeK_k
• Science of Visualization: https://www.neurovine.ai/blog/the-science-of-visualization-can-imagining-your-goals-make-you-more-likely-to-accomplish-them

Do you ever feel stuck in your weight loss journey, frustrated by those seemingly endless plateaus? Have you reached a point where the scale just won't budge, leaving you questioning if all your efforts are even worth it? This episode is here to remind you that plateaus aren’t a setback—they’re a powerful place to pause, reflect, and build stability in your progress. Whether you're focused on weight loss or any other area in life where you're hitting resistance, it's time to reframe these "stuck" moments as opportunities for growth.

In this episode, I dive deep into the concept of plateaus and why they’re not the enemy many people think they are. Using real stories from my clients and my own experiences, I unpack how these stages of stability are essential for sustainable progress. Together, we’ll look at how weight plateaus mirror other areas in life, like career or personal goals, where we often feel pressured to keep pushing forward without stopping to appreciate the progress we’ve made. I share valuable insights on shifting your perspective around plateaus to recognize them as essential steps in your journey, allowing your body and mind to fully acclimate before moving forward.

What you will learn in this episode:

• How to reframe plateaus as moments of stability and growth, not failure
• Why understanding your "why" for weight loss or any goal makes all the difference
• Practical strategies to stay motivated and aligned with your goals without falling into self-sabotage

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Do you use food as a treat or find yourself struggling with the temptation of holiday sweets? Many of us see food as a reward, especially during holidays like Halloween, where treats are abundant. Have you ever asked yourself if there’s a healthier, more fulfilling way to handle these temptations? In this episode of the Quilters Coach Podcast, we’ll talk about navigating holiday temptations and exploring the stories we tell ourselves around food. I’ll guide you through shifting your mindset from seeing food as a treat to finding more lasting, internal satisfaction.

In this episode, I share how we unconsciously reward ourselves with food and what we can do to break this cycle. By understanding our relationships with food—whether it’s for comfort, joy, or escape—you’ll gain a clearer perspective on how to make healthier choices without feeling deprived. I also share a story about my personal journey in creating a healthier relationship with food during Halloween and how you can embrace that shift, too. Plus, we’ll look at how the environment and the stories we tell ourselves play a role in shaping our food habits.

What you will learn in this episode:

• How to identify when you’re using food as a reward or comfort.

• Practical tips for navigating Halloween and holiday treats mindfully.

• How to cultivate internal fulfillment without relying on external sources like food.

Grab this week's episode worksheet HERE.

Watch this episode on YouTube.

Checkout other Episodes HERE.