Podcast Summary: “The Joy of Missing Out (Encore)”

Nothing Much Happens: Bedtime Stories to Help You Sleep
Host: Kathryn Nicolai
Date: November 20, 2025

Overview

In this encore episode titled “The Joy of Missing Out,” Kathryn Nicolai invites listeners to embrace rest as an act of self-care amidst the holiday rush. Through a soothing, reflective narrative, she encourages indulging in the simple comforts of home, letting go of obligations, and granting oneself—and others—permission to slow down and recharge. The story is read twice, each time at a slower pace, fostering a gentle transition to sleep.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Relentless Pace of the Holidays

• The story opens with a sense of time hurtling from Halloween to Thanksgiving, and straight onto Christmas and New Year’s ([06:00]).
• Kathryn describes feeling “like a mad gallop rushing from October to the New Year,” a pace familiar to many.

2. Recognizing and Honoring Burnout

• She realizes, over morning coffee in bed, that she feels depleted:

  “I just didn’t have the energy to do today, and at first I resisted it…” ([07:22])

• Upon acceptance, tension releases:

  “I hadn’t even realized that I’d been wearing my shoulders like earrings, tensing against the day.” ([08:32])

3. Permission to Rest

• Kathryn cancels her plans without guilt or regret, experiencing relief and self-kindness:

  “I would make no plans today and I would cancel the ones I did have.” ([09:04])

• Listeners are reminded that rest is necessary, not indulgent, and that communicating needs is healthy.

4. Cozy Retreat and Nostalgia

• She nestles back into bed, soaking in the warmth and watching the frosty morning light:

  “I burrowed in till just my head was out. There was frost on the window this morning and I spent some time just looking at it…” ([10:05])

• Nostalgic reflections on childhood—learning to read on a similar morning—add warmth and perspective.

5. Rituals of Comfort and Replenishment

• Embracing traditions, she reads a favorite autumn novel despite other books waiting:

  “…Once it felt crisp and the leaves turned, I plucked this one from the shelf and treated myself to a long dip into its world…” ([12:14])

• She describes the sweet, grounding rituals of making coffee with cinnamon and indulging in aimless activities like old movies, puzzles, or simply doing nothing ([15:00], [17:40]).

6. Impact on Others

• Kathryn notes that by expressing her needs, she enables others to do the same:

  “That’s the thing about just being honest about what you need. When you do, you give others permission to do the same, and we all get a little closer to having those needs met.” ([16:54])

• This ripple effect encourages a collective slowing down.

7. Making Rest a Resolution

• She frames planned rest as an ongoing resolution to be renewed throughout the busy season:

  “Every now and then, when I felt the need, I would politely absent myself from the busy world and remember how to rest.” ([18:53])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Accepting Rest

  “I realized even if I did, I wasn’t likely to find the joy. I could put one foot in front of the other but couldn’t put an honest smile on my face. No, I needed a deep factory reset, and in the moment I surrendered to that, I felt myself relaxing.”
  — Kathryn Nicolai, [07:58]

• On Childhood Memories

  “I thought of little me smiling at her book all those years ago and felt so tender toward her and grateful as I was still turning pages and enjoying stories all these years later.”
  — Kathryn Nicolai, [11:37]

• On Giving Permission to Others

  “When you do [express what you need], you give others permission to do the same, and we all get a little closer to having those needs met.”
  — Kathryn Nicolai, [16:54]

Timeline of Key Moments

• [06:00] – Diary-like account of the overwhelming holiday season.
• [07:22] – Admitting exhaustion and the urge to resist rest.
• [08:32] – Physical release of daily tension upon choosing rest.
• [10:05] – Description of the cozy morning retreat.
• [11:15] – Childhood memory of learning to read.
• [12:14] – Ritual of re-reading a favorite autumn book.
• [13:00] – Drifting into sleep amidst peaceful imagery.
• [15:00] – Gentle wake-up and observation of neighbors decorating for the holidays.
• [16:54] – Affirmation of how honest rest inspires others to do the same.
• [17:40] – Listing possible restful activities for a day of “missing out.”
• [18:53] – Embracing intentional rest as a personal resolution.

Tone & Style

Kathryn’s signature warmth and gentle cadence pervade the episode. The language is nurturing, patient, and quietly affirming, with repeated imagery of warmth, comfort, and small joys. Her storytelling is sprinkled with nostalgia and self-compassion, inviting listeners to emulate that kindness toward themselves.

Usefulness for New Listeners

This episode will deeply resonate with anyone feeling the strain of busy seasons or the pressure to always “do.” It models restorative rest without guilt and encourages honest communication about personal needs, illustrating how this gentleness can ripple outward. Kathryn’s evocative storytelling and deliberate pacing make the episode just as effective for sleep support as for emotional self-care inspiration.