The Sustainable Minimalists Podcast is live: Listen here.
The Art of Saying “No”

The Art of Saying “No”

On this episode of the Sustainable Minimalists Podcast we outline the nuts and bolts behind intentional living. We offer concrete strategies to confront the status quo, too.

The Art of Saying ‘No’. An interview with Jen Panaro.

Interviews are always best in audio. Listen here!


_____

Jen Panaro is the founder of Honestly Modern, an online brand focusing on sustainable living for modern families.

Jen is passionate about pairing her creative pursuits + translating them into actionable habits everyone can employ.

Between family life, a successful corporate career + her roles as Board Member + Treasurer of her local library, Jen inspires modern families to rethink the status quo. 

_____


The episode in a nutshell:

_____

Why is it important to say no? How do we get comfortable saying no?

On today’s episode we discuss how to reject single-use plastics + ‘convenient options’ detrimental to the environment.

We rethink the status quo with regard to overscheduling, commitments, everything mainstream + everything  in between.


“It’s OK to slow down. It’s OK to relax. It’s OK to let some things go.”


Practical first steps:

_____

Take small steps.

Take easy steps.

Look to minimalist gurus as inspirations, not as guides. 

With children:

  • Limit extracurriculars.
  • Adopt the mantra: “Different family have different rules.”
  • Redirect whenever possible.
  • Remember that – sometimes – it’s OK to just say no.

Notable quotes from the episode:

_____

“I give my kids a choice but do so within guardrails that I think are OK.”

“Sometimes I say no; sometimes I say yes.”

“We have a principle in our house: Different families have different rules.”

“Making life changes is like picking fruit from a fruit tree. You start with the low-hanging fruit: you start with what’s easy + over time you move on to the next step + start reaching for the fruit that’s a bit higher. You don’t go for the top apples first.”

“In taking small steps we have the opportunity to reflect at each crossroad + ask, ‘Is this serving me well? Is this working for us? Do we need to make some modifications?'”

“Rethinking the status quo means reflecting on whether or not that’s what you want + whether it’s just the easy answer.”


Want the Show Notes sent directly to your inbox every week? Sign up here. 

2 thoughts on “The Art of Saying “No”

  1. Enjoyed this immensely. Believe me saying no now will mean resilient teens later. My kids get $1 per year of age each fortnightly payday. How they chose to spend it is up to them. But that means if they ask for money in the supermarket they will cop my no loan policy and they have to wait. Now occasionally I will pay for something but there usually is a good reason behind it. I am so glad you are limiting the after school activities. Believe me this is smart. You will save everyone’s sanity including your own. I also work in mental health and I see a lot of teens that are not resilient. Saying no actually helps them grow resilience.

    1. Hi Donna,
      No Loan policy! I love it + am definitely stealing the idea as my children grow. Thank you for offering wisdom that minimalist parenting works with older children!
      Stephanie

Comments are closed.

Comments are closed.

Listen to the Podcast

The Sustainable Minimalists Podcast
Latest podcast:

The Distorted Mirror

Cyberpsychology is an emerging field that examines the ways in which technology influences human behavior. On today's show we discuss what happens to our purchasing habits when psychology, sociology, and 21st century tech collide. Here's a preview: [1:30] Who you think you are is influenced by others (hello, looking glass self!) [8:30] It's human nature to compare and compete: Here's how and why we internalize social media messaging [16:00] 3 reasons why shoppers feel better when they purchase items that contribute to self-repair [20:00] 2 ways dopamine and online algorithms work together and entice us to buy   Resources mentioned/Further reading: The Digital Looking Glass Self (via Psychology Today) Buying: The Effect on Self-Worth Feelings and Consumer Well-Being  Why TikTok Made Us Buy It (via Psychology Today) Stay Free App This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Subscribe

My Story

Hello there, I’m Stephanie. I live a crazy, beautiful life as a full-time wife, blogger + mother to two spirited daughters. I’m on a mission to simplify eco-friendly living so as to greater enjoy life’s sweeter moments.

Want to know more? Read my story.

Sustainable minimalism for home, head + heart.

Join our community of eco-conscious women on a collective journey towards sustainable simplicity.

Join us!