Reflections as We Close Out the Year
Hello All,
As we come to the end of 2025 (how are we here so soon!?!), I thought it might be useful to discuss some of the themes that have resonated with me in my conversations with many of you. And while none of these are going to be earth shattering, I think they might be a helpful reminder about how we engage with our money.
But before I get into that, I want to say thank you to everyone who reads these emails, replies with questions, shares your situations, or simply lets me know that something I’ve written was helpful. Many of my ideas for content, videos, and resources come directly from your emails and conversations, and I value it very much.
Without further ado, let's get into 5 of my reflections:
1. The weight of uncertainty
The most common underlying factor behind financial stress (and really, stress in general) is uncertainty. Our brains are naturally wired to try to close loops, but that becomes difficult when we’re overwhelmed or afraid. When that happens, the loop stays open and we remain stuck in uncertainty mode.
The first step, then, is to identify the source of that uncertainty. Making it tangible often helps reduce stress almost immediately and allows you to shift from anxiety into problem-solving.
2. The price of procrastination
I frequently put off work or avoid making a decision, stress about it for hours (or days), and then, once I finally take some action, the anxiety around it largely dissipates. I know this. I should know better. And yet, I still do it.
I’ve seen the same pattern with clients and consultees: putting off bookkeeping, delaying saving for taxes, or avoiding decisions around paying themselves or planning for retirement. The mental rent we pay for that stress is usually far higher than the cost of doing something imperfectly. Mistakes can usually be corrected. Prolonged inaction is simply draining.
3. Not planning for irregular income
I had many conversations this year about irregular income. For a lot of solopreneurs, income comes in waves - higher-income months followed by much quieter ones. This kind of volatility can be deeply stressful. But often the stress comes less from the amount of income itself and more from not having a framework in place to manage the swings.
4. Impact of Money beliefs
You’ve heard me talk a lot about the role our deep-seated and often irrational beliefs play in how we approach money. These beliefs can show up as psychological barriers without us even realizing it.
Fear of doing things “wrong,” guilt around earning, or the belief that you’re not good with numbers are internal narratives that aren’t grounded in reality. Once you start recognizing how these beliefs influence your own financial decisions, it can be a significant step toward feeling more empowered.
I spoke about this in more depth with Lauren on her excellent Naked Truth podcast. You can listen to the full interview with Lauren here.
5. Shiny Object Syndrome.
We are inundated with tools, apps and AI solutions that promise to solve all of our problems.
In practice most of us really only need a handful of tools, that we understand and use well. I've become better at accepting that I have to do some things manually. I still occasionally type numbers into a spreadsheet and my agenda is a notebook that I physically write in. I find that there’s a Zen, meditative quality to some repetitive tasks (as long as they’re not consuming all your time) and not every moment has to be at maximum efficiency.
Ronika
