🎙️ Episode 10: Christmas Pressure, Expectations & Entering the New Year

Why the Festive Season Isn’t Always the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

This week on Curveball, we’re talking all things Christmas — and not just the highlight-reel version. From feeling the pressure to be happy, spend money, show up for everyone, and have it all figured out, we’re getting real about why the festive season can feel overwhelming.

We open up about being single at Christmas, navigating family dynamics, being in a relationship for the first time during the holidays, and the emotional load that often comes with it all. We also unpack the pressure of gift-giving, overspending, comparison, and how to protect your energy without guilt.

This episode is about meeting yourself where you’re at, letting go of perfection, and finding ways to actually feel good — not just survive — through Christmas, while gently preparing yourself to step into the new year feeling grounded and aligned.

✨ What we cover:

✨ The pressure and expectations around Christmas

✨ Being single vs. in a relationship during the festive season

✨ Navigating family dynamics and emotional overload

✨ Overspending, gift guilt, and comparison culture

✨ How to protect your energy and set boundaries

✨ Letting go of “perfect” and finding joy where you are

✨ Entering the new year with clarity, kindness, and intention

✨ Timestamps:

01:51: Navigating First Christmases and Family Traditions

05:06: Managing Overstimulation and Setting Boundaries with Family

11:03: The Unique Challenges of Adult Gift-Giving and Christmas Loneliness

13:26: Escaping the Social Media Comparison Trap and Gift Pressure

19:49: Embracing Small Joys and Navigating Grief During Christmas

25:32: Overcoming Body Image Pressure for Festive Celebrations

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Why Women’s Hormones & Cycles Are So Complicated

This week on Curveball, we’re getting real about women’s hormones, menstrual cycles, and the painful reality of endometriosis. From mood swings to energy crashes, we’re sharing our own experiences navigating life while dealing with hormonal chaos.

We dive into the pressure women feel to keep performing, stay productive, and “just get through it,” even when their bodies are working against them. From crippling pain to stigma around menstrual health, this episode is honest, validating, and so needed. HAVE THE NHS AND WOMEN HEALTH FAILED US?

✨ What we cover:

✨ The reality of living with endometriosis

✨ Hormonal highs, lows, and mood swings

✨ How cycles impact mental health, energy, and daily life

✨ Breaking the silence on women’s health struggles

✨ Finding self-love, boundaries, and body positivity

✨ Timestamps:

00:00: Welcome and Diving Deep into Women's Hormones

02:01: Our Personal Journeys with Contraception and Hormonal Impact

04:59: Understanding Your Body: Navigating the Four Menstrual Cycle Phases

10:58: Unpacking Endometriosis: Understanding the Condition and Diagnosis Challenges

14:55: The Unexpected Link: Copper Coils and Endometriosis Experiences

20:4: Navigating Endometriosis Surgery: Personal Story and Recovery Insights

29:16: Debunking Myths: How Men's and Women's Hormones Differ

32:49: Optimising Hormonal Health with Supplements, Lifestyle, and Farewell

This episode is, as always, raw, honest, and deeply relatable. 💛

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We’re back with Part 2 of our body confidence series, and this week our Soph Hughes, confidence expert, speaker, and author of a body confidence eBook course, dives deeper into the practical exercises you can use to strengthen your relationship with your body.

This episode is all about awareness, energy, and action. If you’ve been craving actionable exercises that actually shift how you think, feel, and show up, Sophie guides us through powerful practices you can start using today. From reframing negative self-talk to conducting personal energy audits, this conversation helps you tune into how your thoughts, habits, and environment impact your confidence — and how to consciously reset them.

✨ What we cover in this episode:

• Guided exercises to challenge and reframe negative self-talk

• Energy audits to help you identify what drains vs. fuels your confidence

• Techniques to reconnect with your body in a compassionate, empowering way

• Journaling prompts to shift your mindset and build inner confidence

• Daily rituals to help you feel more present, grounded, and at ease

• Sophie’s favourite, actually-works tools from her eBook course

04:04: Diving into Confidence Part 2: Understanding Your Presence and Energy

07:26: How We Sense Energy and the Art of Working a Room

10:49: Overcoming Overthinking, Phone Distractions, and Self-Doubt in Presence

14:23: Utilizing Micro-Signals to Enhance Your Presence and Confidence

18:08: Kayleigh's Personal Struggle with ADHD, Presence, and a Work Complaint

22:50: Conducting an Energy Audit: Cultivating Self-Awareness for Better Presence

26:40: The Fourth Pathway to Confidence: Embracing Action and Imposter Syndrome

28:34: Conquering Perfectionism and the Fear of Failure Through Action

30:47: Learning from Missed Opportunities and Conquering Public Speaking Fear

34:21; Practical Tools for Action: The 5-Second Rule and Reframing Failure

This episode is practical, uplifting, and full of tools you can return to anytime you need a confidence boost. 💛

💛 Follow Curveball:

Instagram: @curveballthepodcast

TikTok: curveballthepod

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YouTube: @curveballthepodcast

🎧 Listen on:

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💌 Join the community:

Subscribe to stay updated on new episodes, behind-the-scenes moments, and upcoming events.

✨ Don’t forget to follow, like, and subscribe to all Curveball channels!

💬 Love this episode? Leave us a review & share it!

📲 Instagram: @curveballthepodcast

🌐 www.curveballthepodcast.com

#curveballpodcast #bodyconfidence #selflove #mindsetshift #wellness #confidencecoach #bodypositivity #selfgrowth #empowerment

✨ Please dont forget to Follow, like and subscribe to all Curveball channels💥

💬 Love what you hear? Leave us a review and share the episode!

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @curveballthepodcast

🌐 Learn more at: www.curveballthepodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.