“Women need real moments of solitude and self-reflection to balance out how much of ourselves we give away.”
–BARBARA DE ANGELIS, American consultant & lecturer
Between the endless Slack notifications, that group chat planning a bachelorette party, and your mom asking why you haven't used the air fryer she got you (it's still in the box, isn't it?), when was the last time you actually sat with your thoughts? Not the running mental tab of tasks, but real, intentional reflection about your financial future?
The Power of Purposeful Pause
The research is clear: intentional pauses transform our decision-making. Studies show that taking just 10 minutes before making a purchase can reduce the urge to buy unnecessary items by up to 50%.¹ And it's not just about curbing spending – people who actively track their finances save an average of 20% more than those who don't.²
The pause is an invaluable daily tool. When shopping online, I keep multiple tabs open on my browser so that I can pause, walk away, and reevaluate. And when I shop with my daughter, we pause before checking out, going through the cart one item at a time, reconsidering our picks and comparing against our agreed budget.
Your Financial Rituals
The Solo Money Date
Create a cozy space. Light that fancy candle you've been saving. Open your banking app. Just you, your goals, and maybe that air fryer manual (kidding, but seriously, unbox it). Take 20 minutes of uninterrupted time each week for financial self-reflection. No phones, no podcasts, no distractions. Just you and your money goals having a heart-to-heart.
Pro tip: Use the habit stacking method from Atomic Habits. Example: "After I make my morning coffee and before I check social media, I will spend 20 minutes reviewing my financial goals.
Vision Board Workshop
Your "Future Me" Pinterest board might actually be onto something. Combine manifestation with measurable goals: bring magazines, your favorite playlist, and zero judgment about your financial dreams.
Vision boards aren't just aesthetic Pinterest sessions – they're powerful goal-setting tools backed by research: Dr. Gail Matthews at Dominican University found that people who wrote down their goals were 42% more likely to achieve them than those who didn't.³ Goal-setting theory tells us that specific, challenging goals lead to higher performance than vague "do your best" intentions. Need more inspiration? Here's Everything You Need to Know to Make a Vision Board That Actually Works
Weekly Reflection Prompts
What financial habits am I ready to outgrow?
Where am I giving away my financial power?
What would my relationship with money look like if no one was watching?
The quiet moments of reflection are where your financial transformation begins. Your relationship with money deserves the same intentional care you give to everything else in your life.
¹ Hoch & Loewenstein, "Time-Inconsistent Preferences and Consumer Self-Control," Journal of Consumer Research, 2018
² Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, "Consumer Insights on Managing Spending," 2019
³ Dr. Gail Matthews, Dominican University "Goals Research Summary," 2015
Sources cited are available upon request. Studies have been summarized for clarity.
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