187. Your annual reminder
This time of year, every year, I like to write about and talk about No-Vember and what it means to me, my planning and my winter season.
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Transcript
Hello darling heart and welcome to this episode of the Drink Less, Live Better podcast.
-:This is the podcast that helps you to see that drinking less doesn't need to be stressful, lonely or boring.
-:I'm your host, Sarah Williamson, and I decided to have a year alcohol free as a little life experiment and haven't looked back.
-:I'm a best selling author, expert speaker, corporate workshop facilitator, and life coach.
-:I'm here to support you with your alcohol free or drink less adventures.
-:Follow me on Instagram drink less, live better.
-:Find resources on my website, drink less, live better.com, and buy my book, drink less, live better.
-:It's available in all the places you might buy a book.
-:I hope you enjoy this podcast episode. Let's get straight to it. Your annual reminder.
-:I'm one of those people who loves the autumn, not the pumpkin spice stuff.
-:I've actually never bought a pumpkin spiced drink of any sort, but the colours.
-:I go wild for the colours of this season.
-:I love November, December and January too for their sheer winteriness.
-:I really enjoy the cold weather, the woolly jumpers, the log burner, the crunch of leaves and frost underfoot.
-:November holds a special place in my heart. It's where the scaling down happens.
-:If you've been around in my world for a few years, you'll know what's coming next. I write about it.
-:I talk about it every year at this time.
-:November, n o, vember, no, no November.
-:My status quo is status no for the next month. I flex this muscle really hard.
-:This time of year is perfect because, as it happens, there are plenty of seasonal or Christmas activities to consider, but
-:also a squillion drinking opportunities that I no longer feel the same about as I did a few years ago.
-:November is a month we might get invited to lots of December activities or feel obliged to start attending lots of events.
-:Now, I'm not suggesting you say no to everything.
-:If you get an invite and it feels like a full body pull towards a hell yes then go for it.
-:Yes please, I'd love to come to that thing, spend time, energy and perhaps money doing something that fills my heart with
-:joy, then that's an obvious yes, of course, but if an invitation feels like a 'maybe' or an 'mhmm, I'm not sure' then pause.
-:Think about whether you really do want to go or not.
-:Think about, 'If that event was tomorrow, would I be really excited about getting ready?' So use your yeses and your noes wisely this month.
-:It's november and you are allowed to exercise your right to say no where and when you want to.
-:Hopefully, you'll have a diary for the end of the year that then feels expansive, cosy, restful and fun.
-:Well, unless you want manic, exciting and crazy fully booked, then do that.
-:I value winter rest, log fires at home, and long walks in cozy hats and scarfs, the opposite of overwhelm.
-:If you value more extrovert activities then go for it, shoot for the moon.
-:Maybe this episode isn't for you and that's okay.
-:Here are 3 ideas you can gently say no to this month if you would enjoy a slower placed December that feels less overwhelming. Number 1, overcommitting or people pleasing.
-:It's okay to decline that event, whether it's friends or family, if it's causing you stress. Say no to overloading your schedule.
-:Don't hesitate to say no to unnecessary stresses. Prioritise your mental and emotional well-being.
-:Focus on what's truly important to you and those closest to you. Number 2. Excessive shopping.
-:Say no to impulse purchases and the pressure of holiday shopping. Make thoughtful, meaningful choices.
-:If you love the buzz of the shops, still go out and enjoy the music, the lights, the displays, and the good cheer.
-:Maybe visit a Christmas market for a hot chocolate and then mooch around with some friends. Number 3, comparing yourself to others.
-:Say no to the habit of constantly comparing yourself to other people and what they are doing.
-:Embrace the uniqueness of you and your loved ones.
-:Focus on your own journey and progress, your own way of enjoying the next few months.
-:If your family doesn't all have matching pyjamas and Christmas Eve boxes, maybe that's because your family doesn't want or need them. Let's see.
-:Now, what can we try that will help us Say no. No.
-:We cannot come to your Christmas neighbourhood drinks this year.
-:We have another engagement, but thanks for asking anyway.
-:They don't need to know that your other engagement is watching a Christmas movie in your PJs and drinking hot chocolate. No.
-:I cannot bake 2 dozen mince pies for the school fair this year.
-:Instead, I'm going to man one of the stalls for an hour on the day. I'm really looking forward to that. There we go. That's a nice compromise. No.
-:I cannot host Boxing Day lunch this year. I don't want to. Bold. I know. Right?
-:But how liberating to just say I don't want to. Can you try it?
-:I don't know if I can to family, but I definitely can to some friends.
-:Every year at this time, I go through my diary, and each weekend, I block out a day and an evening that says busy.
-:I do this in our family desk diary and in my online calendar.
-:Busy means don't book anything, and busy means I'm busy doing nothing. This space is protected. Enjoy this beautiful month.
-:Use some of these gentle invitations if they sound good to you, and if you want to do the month a different way, then that's all good too.
-:Make the right choices for you, the choices that matter. Thank you for listening in today. Come back again next week.
-:If you'd like to work with me one to 1 between now and the end of the year, drop me a DM.
-:Please subscribe, rate, and review the podcast if you love it, and if you don't love it, I'm surprised you're still listening.
-:Check out the show notes for a link to the hidden podcast episode that will help you with your 5 PM cravings and details about
-:my one to one life coaching and sober coaching programmes, and PS, I believe in you.
