[Holiday Voices] What I'm Doing Different This Year With Michelle Garrett

This episode is part of Holiday Voices—a special Real Happy Mom podcast series filled with quick holiday tips, uplifting stories, and real-life traditions from moms who get it.

Whether you're a working mom trying to simplify the season, or just looking for ways to reduce holiday stress and be more present, these short episodes are packed with encouragement and ideas you can actually use.

Find all the episodes, links to guest freebies, and more at realhappymom.com/voices

Transcript

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You are tuned in to The Real Happy Mom podcast. I'm Toni-Ann, and this is Holiday Voices. This is a special series where moms share quick tips and meaningful moments to help you trade chaos for calm and make this season a little more like you. So let's jump into today's voice. Hi, I'm Michelle Garrett from Columbia, South Carolina. I'm a content creator, accountability coach, and also the founder of Soul Refresh Stickers. It's a business that grew out of my own journey of needing little reminders of encouragement. Throughout my day, I started creating stickers and journals because I realized just how much a simple word or phrase could shift my mindset out and helped me breathe a little easier, especially during stressful seasons. Over time, soul Refresh stickers became more than just a product line. It became a way to share joy and intentionality with women all over the world who just, just like me, just like you are balancing business, family, and the ups and downs of everyday life. The holidays are one of those seasons that can bring both joy and stress between the shopping, the decorating, the meal planning, and the. Endless to-do list. It's easy to feel like you're always behind or that you're not doing enough. I've definitely felt that pressure in past years. I would get so focused on making everything perfect, the perfect tree, the perfect meal, the perfect family photo that I missed out on just being in the moment. This year, I've decided to do things differently. I'm fo focusing on presence over presents. What that means for me is intentionally putting my phone away during family gatherings so I can be fully present with the people that I love. I don't wanna be half listening to a story while checking my notifications. I don't wanna be so focused on snapping a picture for social media that I forget to enjoy the laughter happening right in front of me. I can tell you from experience when I've done this in the past, even for short amounts of time, the atmosphere changes. The conversations feel so much richer, the connections feel stronger, and I catch the little things, the way my kids laugh at inside jokes, the sparkle in my husband's eyes when he tells a story, or even just the peaceful silence of sitting with my parents and soaking in the moment. I'm a daddy's girl, so I definitely value those moments. These are the memories I treasure, not the perfectly wrapped gifts or the Pinterest worthy decorations. I think so many of us need that reminder that the holidays aren't about having it all together or impressing anyone. They're about connection. They're about being present with people who matter the most to us. So my tip is simple but powerful. Be present. Whether that means putting away your phone, saying no to an extra obligation, or letting go of the pressure for everything to be perfect, give yourself permission to choose presence, because at the end of the season, that's what you'll remember. Not the gifts, not the checklist, but the moments of peace and joy that came from being fully there. That's it for this one. It is short, sweet, and straight from the heart. And if you're loving the series, make sure you follow the show or subscribe so that you don't miss what's coming next. I'll be back again tomorrow with another one of these holiday voices. Until then, take care and with thoughts of love.