Why do we treat the start of the school year like a sprint… when it’s actually a marathon?

In this episode of Cozy Notes, we’re talking about that frantic back-to-school energy—the supplies, the sign-ups, the packed calendar—and how it leaves so many of us (and our kids) burned out before October even hits. Whether your kids are homeschooled or in traditional school, the pressure to do all the things right away is real.

But here’s the thing: you don’t have to do it that way this year.

We’ll dig into:

* Why we confuse excitement with urgency

* The “good mom” myth that drives us to overcommit

* What really happens when we start the year too hard

* How to build softer, saner rhythms that actually last

✨ This is your reminder that you don’t have to do it all, all at once. Start with what matters most—connection, rest, and rhythm—and let the rest unfold.

🧘‍♀️ Want gentle support as you slow down and create more space this season? Join me for Anchor In, my 6-week guided audio experience. No Zoom calls, no pressure—just cozy, grounding guidance to help you breathe and reset.

👉🏼 Learn more here

If this episode gave you a little sigh of relief, would you do me a quick favor? Share it with a friend who’s already knee-deep in the back-to-school chaos, or leave a review on Apple or Spotify. It helps so much, and I’m so grateful you’re here.

xo, Xuan

If everything in your life feels urgent and high-stakes, this episode is your reminder: it’s not. You don’t have to micromanage every little thing for life to work out. In fact, gripping so tightly often leaves you more stressed and less present.

We’ll explore why we develop this “death grip” on life, how it drains our energy, and what it looks like to care deeply without clinging tightly. I’ll share a personal story about when I had to let go, plus practical steps for easing your hold without letting everything fall apart.

We’ll talk about:

* The cultural and personal roots of over-controlling

* How gripping harder leads to more anxiety, not more success

* Simple mindset shifts to replace force with trust

* What “softer structure” looks like in real life

If you’re ready to breathe a little easier and make space for what really matters, join me inside Anchor In—my 6-week guided audio experience starting August 4. No Zoom calls, no pressure—just gentle, real-life support.

Let's Anchor In together https://www.xuanklevecka.co/anchor-in

Ever feel torn between being the reliable one and actually resting for once? Same.

In this episode of Cozy Notes, we’re talking about that tricky middle ground—where self-care meets community care. Because saying no all the time isn’t the vibe—but neither is saying yes until you’re a shell of a human being.

You’ll hear:

* Why “protect your peace” doesn’t mean cutting yourself off from everyone

* What to do when you want to help but don’t actually have the energy

* Gentle questions to ask before you commit (or decline)

* How slow living helps us find the middle, not the extremes

✨ Let’s stop trying to be everything to everyone. Let’s be real, intentional, and human instead.

⚓ Let’s Anchor In together

Ready to stop overgiving and start living in a way that honors your energy and your relationships?

Join me for Anchor In, my cozy 6-week guided audio experience starting August 4.No Zoom calls, no pressure—just weekly voice notes and a breath of fresh air.

👉🏼 https://www.xuanklevecka.co/anchor-in

Ever feel like the only way out of the chaos is to completely overhaul your life? Yeah, same. But here’s the thing: you don’t need to quit your job, move to a cabin, or declutter your entire house in one weekend to feel better.

In this episode of Cozy Notes, I’m walking you through six small, doable shifts that can help you reset—without setting your whole life on fire. These are the exact themes we explore inside Anchor In, my 6-week guided audio experience designed to help you create space, feel more grounded, and get back to what actually matters.

✨ We’ll talk about:

* Letting go of what’s taking up too much space (physically, mentally, emotionally)

* Reclaiming your time from things that drain you

* Realigning your energy with what really matters

* Simplifying one area of life instead of spiraling

* Savoring the everyday (yes, even the ordinary)

* Choosing rhythms and habits that keep you rooted

No hustle tips. No pressure. Just gentle, supportive ways to feel more like you again.

⚓ Let’s Anchor In together Six weeks. One voice note a day. Zero Zoom calls. Maximum cozy reset.

xo, Xuan

Just because you were taught to do things a certain way doesn’t mean you have to keep doing them like that.

Whether it’s how you clean, cook, parent, work, or live—this episode is your reminder that you get to choose differently.

This one was inspired by a cozy fantasy book, a nostalgic childhood memory, and a jar of small-batch jam. We’re talking about the weight of tradition, the pressure to do things “right,” and the freedom that comes when we let go of big, overwhelming expectations and embrace smaller, slower, simpler ways of doing life.

Because you don’t need to make a giant pot of jam. You just need one good jar. (Metaphorically or literally.)

In this episode, I talk about:

* The quiet pressure to “do it the way it’s always been done”

* A cozy story about jam-making, and how it became a metaphor for life

* Why small is sustainable—and often more meaningful

* How to gently unlearn the belief that things only count if they’re big or perfect

* What it means to live your way—even if it looks different

🪞Reflection Questions:

* What’s something I’ve avoided because it felt too overwhelming or “too much”?

* Where am I holding on to someone else’s idea of how life should look?

* What’s one thing I could try doing my way this week—just a small batch?

🌿 Ready for more small batch shifts that create big impact?

Anchor In is my 6-week guided audio experience on Telegram, starting August 4.

Each week, I’ll send you gentle voice notes to help you slow down, reset, and live with more clarity and calm—on your terms.

No Zoom calls. No pressure. Just grounding, cozy support sent straight to your phone.

→ Learn more and join us here

✨ Let this be your permission to stop overcomplicating everything. You get to do it differently. One jar at a time.

xo, Xuan

What if you’re not unmotivated… you’re just burned out?

What if the problem isn’t your discipline—but the fact that you’re running on fumes?

In this episode, we’re gently calling out the “lazy” label we so often throw at ourselves when we’re actually overwhelmed, overextended, and just plain done. We’ll talk about how to recognize when you’ve hit your limit, why rest is not something you have to earn, and what it looks like to start replenishing your energy—without guilt.

Because you’re not lazy. You’re likely at capacity. And that’s a very different thing.

Reflection Questions:

* Where in my life am I expecting more of myself than I realistically have capacity for?

* What would change if I saw rest as a need, not a reward?

* What does restorative rest look like for me—not just zoning out, but actually filling my cup?

* Who benefits when I call myself lazy? Who am I trying to prove something to?

🌿 Want support without the overwhelm?If you’re realizing that what you need isn’t more discipline—but more space to breathe—I’d love to invite you into Anchor In.

It’s my 6-week guided audio experience on Telegram, starting August 4. Each week, I’ll send thoughtful voice notes to help you gently reclaim your time, energy, and peace—without the pressure to fix everything overnight.

No Zoom calls. No hustle. Just simple, grounding support delivered straight to your phone, so you can move through your days with more clarity and less chaos.

https://www.xuanklevecka.co/anchor-in

Are you really enjoying the moment—or just trying to make it look good for Instagram?We’ve all been there: lighting the candle, pouring the coffee, arranging the throw blanket just so… and then feeling like something is still missing.

In this episode, I’m unpacking the difference between intentionally savoring your life and performing it. We’ll talk about why the aesthetic life doesn’t always equal a fulfilling one, and how to shift from escaping your reality to actually living it—with presence, joy, and way less pressure.

Spoiler: you don’t need to prove anything. You just get to be.

🪞 Reflection Questions:

* When was the last time I felt truly present and content—with no desire to document it?

* What parts of my life am I trying to make look better instead of feel better?

* What would change if I let go of the pressure to “make it look perfect”?

Want to stop performing and start living?

I’ve got a few 1:1 coaching spots open this summer inside Love Your Life, my private coaching experience for women who are ready to slow down, simplify, and finally feel good in the life they’re living.

Together, we’ll clear the noise, make space for what matters, and help you reconnect with the version of yourself who doesn’t need to prove or post her way to worthiness.

https://www.xuanklevecka.co/coaching

When did we start believing that asking for help made us weak?

If your first instinct is to say “I’ve got it!” even when you’re drowning, this episode is for you.

We’re talking about hyperindependence—where it comes from, why so many of us carry it like a badge of honor (hi, it’s me 🙋🏻‍♀️), and how it’s quietly exhausting us.

Spoiler: it’s not always about being strong. It’s often about survival, control, perfectionism, and not wanting to feel disappointed…again.

In this episode, I talk about:

* What hyperindependence really is (and where it often comes from)

* My own journey of learning how to let help in

* The connection between people-pleasing, perfectionism, and control

* What “softening” looks like in real life

* How to start trusting others again—and yourself

🪞Reflection Questions:

* When did I learn that I had to take care of everything myself?

* What do I fear will happen if I ask for help?

* Where am I holding too much right now—and who could support me if I let them?

🌿 Ready to stop doing it all alone?

I have a few 1:1 coaching spots open this summer in Love Your Life—my high-touch coaching program for women who are ready to simplify, soften, and finally feel supported.

We’ll work together to untangle the pressure, clarify your values, and help you feel more grounded in your life—without carrying the whole world on your back.

https://www.xuanklevecka.co/coaching

Ever sit down to relax and immediately think of something you should be doing instead?

Yeah, me too.

If resting makes you feel twitchy, guilty, or like you're somehow falling behind, this episode is for you.

We’re talking about why relaxing feels so hard—especially for women who’ve been conditioned to associate their worth with productivity. I’ll share why rest doesn’t always feel safe, how hustle culture wired us to earn downtime, and what it actually takes to start reclaiming rest (without spiraling into guilt or shame).

This isn’t about fancy self-care routines or a perfect wind-down strategy. This is about unlearning the idea that you're only valuable when you're doing. Let’s begin to believe that being is enough.

In this episode, I talk about:

* Why so many of us feel anxious when we try to rest

* The cultural and personal conditioning that makes rest feel “unproductive”

* My own experience with rest guilt (and what helped shift it)

* Practical ways to start reclaiming rest without shame

* Reflection questions to gently explore your relationship with rest

✨ Reflection Questions:

* What comes up for me when I try to rest?

* Where did I learn that productivity = worth?

* What kinds of rest actually feel good and nourishing to me?

* What would change if I believed rest wasn’t something I had to earn?

🌿 Ready to create a slower, more intentional life that feels good to live in?I have three 1:1 coaching spots open this summer inside Love Your Life.Together, we’ll simplify your days, make space for what matters, and help you stop feeling like you’re always behind.

→ Learn more and apply here

Thanks for being here, and remember: you don’t need to do more to be enough. You already are.

xo, Xuan

We were all handed a blueprint. Go to college. Get the job. Marry someone nice. Buy the house. Raise the kids. Retire.

And if you followed that script, you’d be happy. That was the promise.

But… what if it’s not your dream? What if you’ve been chasing a version of success that doesn’t actually feel like you?

In this episode, I’m sharing a conversation originally recorded for my private podcast feed inside The Cozy Life Circle. It’s about questioning the traditional “American Dream” and asking what happens when we realize we want something else—something slower, quieter, freer… something more meaningful.

In this episode, I talk about:

* Where the classic version of the American Dream came from

* Why it doesn’t reflect the reality—or desires—of so many of us today

* How this narrative can make us feel like we’re failing, even when we’re not

* What it looks like to let go of the old dream and define success on your terms

* Why building a life that feels like home matters more than one that looks good in photos

Don’t forget to check out Stephanie O’Dea’s episode that inspired me.

Journal Prompts:

* What version of the “dream life” were you raised to believe in? Where did it come from?

* Which parts of that dream actually feel aligned for you—and which parts don’t?

* Have you ever felt guilty or “behind” for wanting something different? What triggered that?

* What does your version of success look like—if no one else got a say?

* What would your ideal day feel like (not just look like)?

* Are there parts of your current life that you chose because you thought you “should”? What would you choose differently today?

* What’s something unconventional or nontraditional that you’re drawn to—but maybe afraid to fully pursue?

* Whose dream are you currently living—or trying to live? Is it yours?

* If you could remove the pressure to explain or justify your choices, what dream would you quietly start chasing?

* What’s one small change you could make this week to move closer to your dream life?

If this episode resonates, you’ll love what’s waiting inside The Cozy Life Circle—my Substack membership where I share more cozy, honest, heart-centered conversations like this one, plus a private podcast feed, exclusive reflections, and journal prompts to help you slow down and live more intentionally.

Join us here: https://xuanklevecka.substack.com/podcastdiscount