Take a moment to set your space. Think about what you might do to make this experience just a little more intentional.

Light a candle, grab some water, tidy clutter, close tabs, put your phone on do not disturb, ask loved ones for 90 minutes without distractions, etc.

Our environment has such a huge impact on our mood and ability to practice intentionally.

Deep breaths into the present moment. You chose to be here and to show up.

Today you can make a choice to be the type of person who is focused.

The type of person who participates and is willing to be seen.

The type of person who does the work.

Breathe in self love, exhale judgment, breathe in expansion, exhale limitations, breathe in permission, breathe out imposter syndrome, breathe in gentleness, breathe out criticism.

• I am a healthy person with healthy habits
• I deserve my time and attention
• Anything I can dream of I can create
• I am a good person
• I am worthy of a life that feels good
• I am right here, right now
• I am committed to me

Make a list of things that happened in November. Feel free to use your calendar or planner to look back and acknowledge your experiences.

This exercise will set a foundation for our reflection and to refresh our minds of all that we experienced this month.

Danika’s Examples:

• Billie’s first Halloween (10/31) as an avocado and pumpkin
• 6 Years with Billy (tomorrow)
• Lots of time away from home – half the month with family, half the time in the RV
• Started a co-working childcare space
• Saw lots of friends at Ali’s baby shower and while in Newport
• Keynote for Leadership CA
• Finally got my toe surgery 
• Made a lot of Sourdough
• Retried the gym daycare and getting back into strength training
• Billy started his new job
• Thanksgiving with loved ones

What worked well in November? What can you celebrate?

Danika’s Examples:

• We took a risk to rent our home for a lot of time and while it has plenty of challenges, it was also a way to make money and to try new things and be on a family adventure
• Continuing to try out options for support with Billie
• Strength Training
• Billy going back to work
• Inspiration for YouYear and building the program
• RV living reminding us that we don’t need much to be happy

Reflecting on your experience this month, what would you do differently moving forward?

Danika’s Examples:

• While I’m grateful for the income and experience with renting our home, I know well how I might do it differently in the future to make it feel more nourishing. Less rentals more infrequently but for more money. Ideally building a place on our property to stay instead of paying to stay elsewhere. 
• Having some structure around my food choices. Nourishing my addictive nature around sugar by building the supports that help me thrive
• Make time alone non-negotiable. Allow in the support that I have available to me.
• Strength training
• More consistent self-care in all areas

As we head into the final month of the year, make a list of some things from 2022 you feel gratitude for.

Example:

• I’m grateful, more than anything, for the arrival of my daughter Billie. She has cracked me open in the most beautiful ways and I love her more than I have words to describe
• Thank you for SCS. Teaching classes and guiding workshops required me to do this work that I may not have otherwise shown up for in this hard season of life. I needed it so much.
• Thank you for my coach and our work together and feeling the support in such a transitional year
• I’m grateful for the journey of Model Meals. Building something I was proud of and eventually saying goodbye and closing the chapter
• Thankful for all the time (nearly a decade) that I got to spend with Kingsley. I miss him deeply.

In the final month of 2022, is there anything you’d like to do, complete, feel, or experience?

Make a list. Feel free to look back at your YouYear 2022 desires list if it would be helpful.

Danika’s Examples:

• Decluttering – I would LOVE to go into a new year having gotten rid of all the things we don’t need that take up space

• I’d like to feel ease, spaciousness, and slowness. In my busiest time of year, I’d like to ensure I make time to slow down and be (and to remind myself of just how productive that is)

• Home – I just want to be home. Grounded. Settled. 

• I’d like to go into 2023 feeling super clear and inspired, and with a plan for continuing to build all I dream of.

With the holiday season can often come extra stress, challenging relationship dynamics, money concerns, and so much more.

If you were to create a vision for your ideal holiday season, what would it look like?

DB Examples:

I’ve taken the time to get everything done ahead of time. My YouYear workshops are ready and I’m adding exciting content to them every day as I get moments of inspiration. Family is visiting but we’ve also set boundaries for alone time to support what we need, especially after so much time uprooted the last few months. I ate really mindfully because it was so important to me to feel good, clear, and present as I witnessed Billie’s first Christmas…

In one of the most stressful times of the year, what can you do to nourish yourself more deeply?

Make yourself a list of self-care practices that can serve as your holiday tool kit.

DB Examples:

• Plan ahead, don’t procrastinate – save yourself the stress

• Daily mindfulness – meditation, journaling, SCS to nurture my inner world

• Get out in nature every day

• limit social media – set stronger boundaries for the role this plays in my life

• spend intentionally – pause before purchasing

• keep strong boundaries in all things

In one of the most stressful times of the year, what can you do to nourish yourself more deeply?

Make yourself a list of self-care practices that can serve as your holiday tool kit.

DB Examples:

• Plan ahead, don’t procrastinate – save yourself the stress

• Daily mindfulness – meditation, journaling, SCS to nurture my inner world

• Get out in nature every day

• limit social media – set stronger boundaries for the role this plays in my life

• spend intentionally – pause before purchasing

• keep strong boundaries in all things

As you think about the new year ahead, allow yourself to write in a stream of consciousness, letting whatever pops up spill out onto the paper.

We’ll begin writing some goals in the next exercise so this one is all about free writing whatever vision you have for next year and not censoring or organizing yourself.

Consider this a YouYear Appetizer. 

Example:

I am so excited for 2023. This past year was really challenging. I don’t know if I realized just how challenging it was while I was in it but looking back I’m like, damn! 2023 feels like a clean slate and I’m committed to being the version of me that really thrives. I know how to care for myself and go after what I want, it’s simply a matter of taking action and receiving the support to get there. I’m excited to be able to focus on building Self-Care Society and to create more structure…

Do a desire dump for 2023. This will be a great starting point to the in-depth work we’ll do in YouYear to clarify our intentions and make actionable plans and systems to stay accountable to them. 

I’d love for you to just let this flow but if you find yourself getting stuck, you might use categories to guide you. Some of those might include health (mental, physical, emotional, spiritual), relationships, career, financial, expansion, purpose, etc.

Example:

• rent our home out mindfully

• spend lots of time at home and exploring our city

• live in my healthiest body/mind/soul possible

• consistent strength training

• create more structure and support

• connect with local women entrepreneurs

• build a casita on our property