Why does September suddenly feel like we’re supposed to get our entire lives together?

In this Yap Session, I’m talking about the pressure to treat September like January 2.0 — new routines, new schedules, new habits, new systems… meanwhile, some of us are still just trying to figure out what day it is.

We’re easing back into homeschool, work, and regular life over here, and instead of immediately trying to optimize everything, I’m trying something different: giving it a minute.

In this episode, I chat about:

* Why September feels like a second New Year

* Still getting our bearings after summer

* The urge to “fix” a routine before we’ve even lived it

* Observing what’s actually hard before changing everything

* Making small adjustments instead of constantly starting over

* Letting September just be September before Hallothanksmas comes for us 😂

Maybe we don’t need another big reset. Maybe we just need a little time to figure out what actually works.

If you enjoyed this episode, leaving a rating or review is one of the easiest ways to support the podcast and help more people find it.

Find me here:

Website

Substack

YouTube

Instagram

xo, Xuan

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit xuanklevecka.substack.com/subscribe

The word “influencer” has always given me the ick, and when a YouTube subscriber called me that (not in a negative way) in the comments, it almost immediately made me want to stop creating content.

Because I never really wanted to be an influencer, I just wanted to make videos and share things I know and love.

Plus, I didn’t want to become the kind of person constantly convincing you to buy more, do more, and optimize your entire life.

But… maybe I can do it differently.

In this episode of Cozy Notes, I’m talking about why I’m leaning into content creation this year, why brand partnerships make sense for my business, and what it looks like to be an “un-influencer” who encourages you to spend less, do less, make life easier, and actually enjoy it more.

More from me:

Join my FREE 5-Day Make Life Feel Easier Challenge

Learn more about my private coaching

Check out my creative content mentoring for artists and coaches

Shop my store

Subscribe to Cozy Notes on YouTube

Follow me on Instagram (yes, I’m back…)

And if you’re a brand or small business, let’s collaborate!

xo, Xuan

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit xuanklevecka.substack.com/subscribe

What if the thing standing between you and the life you want isn’t failure… but your habit of starting over?

After a couple of chaotic months, an unexpected job application, an interview that didn’t feel quite right, and a rejection I was surprisingly relieved to receive, I started noticing a pattern in my life… every time I begin gaining momentum, I get distracted by another path.

In this episode, I’m thinking out loud about self-sabotage, chasing squirrels, and the sneaky way perfectionism can show up as constantly searching for a better path. Maybe we don’t always need to pivot, reinvent ourselves, or start over. Maybe sometimes we just need to stay long enough to see what happens.

If you enjoyed this episode, the best way to support the podcast is to leave a rating or review wherever you listen. It helps more people find the show, and I always appreciate knowing that I’m not just talking to myself over here 😂

Find more from me:

Check out my updated website

Subscribe to Cozy Notes on YouTube

Read my Substack

Follow me on Instagram (yes, I'm back...)

xo, Xuan

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit xuanklevecka.substack.com/subscribe

What if the goal isn’t to escape your life… but to actually like being in it?

In this episode, I’m sharing what this current season looks like for me—navigating uncertainty, rising costs, and a summer that’s not centered around travel—and how I’m shifting my focus back to home.

We talk about why so many of us feel the urge to escape, what it looks like to create a life that feels good to live in, and small, practical ways to make your everyday environment more supportive.

This is a real-life, in-the-middle conversation about slowing down, simplifying, and starting where you are.

Watch the video version here on YouTube.

Let’s connect:

Subscribe to Cozy Notes on YouTube and Substack.

Interested in working with me? You can find out more about my coaching and offers here.

If this episode resonated: Share it with a friend or leave a review—it helps more people find this cozy little corner of the internet.

xo, Xuan

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit xuanklevecka.substack.com/subscribe

Lately, life has felt like a lot… and I’ve been sitting with the why.

In this episode, I’m talking about capacity, maintenance, and the part no one really prepares us for — that most of life isn’t about building something new, it’s about maintaining what we already have.

We’ll get into why everything can start to feel heavy, how we quietly exceed our capacity, and the difference between managing your life and actually living it.

If you’ve been feeling stretched thin or like you’re just keeping things running, this one’s for you.

What we talk about:

* Why life starts to feel like “too much”

* The reality of maintenance (and why no one talks about it)

* How we unknowingly exceed our capacity

* The difference between managing your life vs living it

* Rethinking how much you’re holding

A gentle reminder:

You don’t need to do more. You might just need less to maintain.

Find the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/69WN0RJrd5g

Subscribe to my Substack for more Cozy Notes: https://xuanklevecka.substack.com/

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit xuanklevecka.substack.com/subscribe

I’ve been busy. Really busy.

Posting, planning, restructuring, rethinking… and quietly wondering why I still felt scattered.

This episode is less of an announcement and more of a personal reckoning. A recognition that I’ve been spreading myself thin — across platforms, ideas, expectations — and calling it progress.

If this year is going to mean anything, I want it to mean choosing. Choosing focus. Choosing depth. Choosing what actually fits the life I’m living right now.

This isn’t about doing more. It’s about choosing better.

If you’ve been busy but not moving… this episode is for you.

Reflection Questions

* Where in your life are you spreading yourself thin?

* Are you mistaking motion for momentum?

* What would change if you chose one clear direction this year?

* What are you ready to let go of?

Season 5 of Cozy Notes is a monthly diary… more intentional, more focused, and sharing what cozy living really means.

Thanks for being here.

xo, Xuan

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit xuanklevecka.substack.com/subscribe

The holidays aren’t joyful for everyone — and if this season feels heavy for you, this episode is a gentle place to land.

We’re talking about grief, loneliness, complicated family dynamics, and financial stress, and naming the quiet ways this time of year can hurt.

This isn’t a pep talk or a fix — it’s a compassionate conversation meant to help you feel less alone and more supported as you move through the season in whatever way feels right for you.

✨ If this episode brought you even a small sense of comfort, consider sharing it with someone who might need it or leaving a quick review.

It helps this cozy little podcast reach more people who could use a softer place to land during the holidays.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit xuanklevecka.substack.com/subscribe

If the holidays have started to feel more exhausting than magical, this episode offers a softer way through the season. We’re talking about letting go of the pressure to “do it all,” releasing traditions that drain you, and redefining holiday magic in a way that feels peaceful, grounded, and actually enjoyable. You’ll learn how to simplify your celebrations, choose what truly matters, and create a season rooted in presence rather than perfection.

If you’re craving a slower, more intentional season, my ebook Unrushed: A Cozy Guide to Intentional Living is a beautiful companion. It’s filled with gentle reflections and practical ways to soften your days. https://stan.store/XuanKlevecka/p/unrushed-a-cozy-guide-to-intentional-living

And if this episode brought you a little peace, would you share it with a friend or leave a quick review? It helps this cozy little podcast reach more women who need a calmer way forward.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit xuanklevecka.substack.com/subscribe

If the holidays tend to feel more overwhelming than magical, this is your permission slip to simplify before the season even begins.

In this episode, we’re talking about releasing the pressure to create “perfect” holidays — the matching pajamas, elaborate traditions, and Pinterest-level everything — and shifting toward a season that actually feels calm, present, and meaningful.

You’ll learn how to let go of expectations that drain you, choose traditions that truly matter, set boundaries that protect your energy, and create a holiday rhythm that feels human and sustainable.

Go deeper with Unrushed: A Cozy Guide to Intentional LivingIf you’re craving a softer, slower, more grounded season, my ebook Unrushed is the perfect cozy companion. It’s your gentle roadmap for letting go, simplifying, and building a life that feels calm from the inside out.👉 Grab your copy here

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit xuanklevecka.substack.com/subscribe

If Thanksgiving has started feeling more stressful than meaningful, you’re not alone. Somewhere along the way, the holiday turned into a performance — perfect meals, perfect hosting, perfect attitudes… and a whole lot of pressure.

In this episode, we’re slowing everything down and talking about the real-life version of Thanksgiving: the one where you’re human, your energy is limited, and you’re allowed to enjoy the holiday without performing gratitude for anyone.

This is your cozy permission slip to simplify, let go of perfection, and create a Thanksgiving that actually feels peaceful.

💛 Loved the Episode?

Share it with a friend, send it to someone who needs a gentler Thanksgiving, or take a moment to leave a quick review — it helps this cozy little podcast reach more women who are ready to slow down and live with intention.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit xuanklevecka.substack.com/subscribe