Baby Steps Studio
Summer Session, July 28 to Oct 2
A live morning workshop with Holly Whitaker. Tuesdays through Fridays, July 28th - October 2nd
Join Holly for 9 weeks of co-working, coaching, and community. Four 2-hour co-working sessions per week (8 hours); ad-hoc and monthly coaching; and dedicated community time to gently support you as you take baby steps forward on what you’ve been putting off. .
Find structure. Make progress. Get unstuck. Access guidance from Holly when you need it. Become part of a community of people doing the same thing.
9 Weeks of co-working, coaching, and community to make progress on what matters to you. Baby Steps is for folks who are looking for a container, community, guidance and motivation to start showing up or keep showing up for their creativity, projects, or everyday tasks through the long summer. July 28 to October 2.
Baby Steps 9-week program includes:
Four (4) co-working sessions per week, Tuesday - Friday
Four co-working sessions per week, Tuesday - Friday 9 am -11 am Eastern
Each session includes a breath exercise and then 1 hour and 50 minutes of heads-down time to work on whatever you want to in the company of others; led by Holly
Monthly coaching/AMA call with me (three (3) total)
On the last Friday session of the month, we’ll take the last hour+ for coaching and workshopping participant issues or requests
Dedicated community time
Our co-working room will open ten minutes early most days for casual hangs, questions, resource sharing, coffee drinking
A bunch of other people doing the same thing
Be less lonely! Get motivated working alongside others! Share things if you want! (Active participation not required/shy people welcome)
take a little baby step forward
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take a little baby step forward 〰️
How it works/what you get
Four 2-hour weekly co-working sessions (8 hours per week; 80 hours total). Tuesday - Friday, 9 am to 11 am ET (check your time here). These optional sessions include breathwork at the beginning, check-ins (verbal, chat) and check-outs (verbal, chat). These are dedicated times to work on projects or tasks you tend to put off in the company of other people doing the same. Folks work on a variety of things: establishing new routines; filing back taxes; poetry; working out; writing book proposals or manuscripts; or just showing up to some place regularly while they do their job or every day tasks.
3 hour+ AMA/coaching sessions. Each month we’ll use the last hour of the last Friday for an AMA/coaching/workshopping call (and go over by 30 minutes). Topics may include creativity and productivity, showing up, writing practice, building habits, resistance vs. burnout, ‘downcycling’/’wintering’ and long transitions, working with our nervous systems, re-igniting or maintaining passion for our art or work In This Climate; meaning making, purpose, and apathy and nihilism.
Hang time. Most mornings, Holly will open up the room early for folks who want internet friends. And also because she’s an over-achiever, we’ll likely schedule a dedicated community hang here and there.
Things you could do in 72 hours:
work on a creative project
learn a new skill or craft
your regular job but with strangers watching you
commit to that yoga practice
apply for a writing residency
make a DIY writing or art residency
practice showing up at the same time
create a morning routine
finish a book proposal
your everyday to-dos
set up health insurance
clean out your garage
finally read Infinite Jest
70 hours of meditation
backtaxes!
research your next project
softly re-enter working after time away
train your pet to do something
plan your fall garden
learn a new language
make new internet friends
{insert what you’ve been putting off here}
Cost
$275
There are a limited number of total spaces; all sales final after 48 hours from purchase (48-hour grace period after purchase; email contact@hollywhitaker.com if you have any questions about whether this is right for you.
Baby Steps Summer Session
Your host
Hello! I’m Holly Whitaker, author of: Quit Like a Woman (PRH); 30 Days to a New Relationship with Alcohol (Audible); the forthcoming How to Be Lost Deck (Chronicle), and the forthcoming How to Relapse (Tin House/Zando). I publish the Recovering newsletter on Substack.
I’ve been self-employed, leading Zoom calls, coaching, and teaching online classes since 2015. I created and built a digital/educational behavior-change program used by thousands, and a practical guide to quit drinking that’s been read by over half a million people and is recommended by leading recovery centers and institutions such as the Mayo Clinic, Weill Cornell, Center for Motivation and Change.
Over the past five years, my work has deepened in a different direction. I’ve moved through a long period of creative disruption—struggling with motivation, procrastination, purpose, and showing up consistently—and learning, firsthand, what it actually takes to keep going when your old systems stop working.
I started using co-working online to access body doubling (the practice of working in the presence of others to increase motivation, focus, and accountability), connection, and to help create structure while working on a long and difficult project.
I love holding this kind of space and sharing what I’ve learned (as a neurodiverse self-employed perimenopausal creative in long term recovery) with other sensitive souls who are trying to both pay their bills and make beautiful things during this weird, horrible, and emergent time in history.
I’ll be using the 72 hours together to work on my two ongoing projects.
Other things about me include: I live in a rural location; I am an awkward introvert who loves planting pollinator gardens, organizing drawers, and talking on the phone. My favorite late summer things are taking advantage of sun energy, power gardening, reading, and doing nothing with other people who are also doing nothing.
What the people say
I thought because I'd failed at finding the "perfect routine,” I'd be on the struggle bus for life. This program helped me see I'd caught the wrong bus. Instead of following a set route towards "productivity,” I needed to be curious and explore. But I also needed some guidance and other passengers. Holly provided both. Sure, I get more done, but more importantly, I'm calmer and happier with my time.
—MAGGIE RUSSEL
I went from 25k words in a draft to a completed 75k manuscript during this course, and I felt much more aligned with my own core values. I couldn't be happier with the outcome.
—MEREDITH RODKEY
Since COVID and disruptions in my life, I’d been flying by the seat of my pants—getting things done, but with avoidance, procrastination, and isolation. Baby Steps gave me a structure I could hold onto without feeling overwhelmed. The co-working sessions got me moving, sharing my daily tasks made me much more likely to do them, and seeing other people facing similar struggles made me feel far less alone.
I started cooking and knitting again and completed all of my tax preparation—three areas where I had been completely stuck. I’m also much more willing to approach the things I don’t want to do instead of continually avoiding them. It gave me momentum, practical tools, and, most of all, hope.
—KATHY WEISSBERG
Baby Steps gave me a home for looking at my inner and outer life, with structure and zero bullshit. Holly’s combination of focused work, being human in a shared space, and a simple weekly focus made it easy to keep showing up. I discovered how much baby steps add up—and how much I had missed like-minded people.
—SUZANNAH SNELL
Find structure. Make progress. Start the thing. Finish the thing.
Maybe even thrive.
More details
What are dates and times of co-working sessions?
Co-working sessions are four days a week: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, from 6 am to 8am Pacific and 9 am to 11 am Eastern. Check your time zone here.
What are dates and times of coaching sessions LCoaching sessions will take place the last hour of the last Friday of the month (July 31, August 28, September 25) They last between 60 to 90 minutes depending on group need. (The final session on October 2 will be one hour and fifteen minutes of co-working, and 45 minutes of check out, final Q&A, celebrating.) Check time zone here.
Are scholarships or discounts available?
For this session, there is one price for everyone ($275). I’m not offering early-bird pricing, multiple tiers, scholarships, or discounts. I’ve priced the program as fairly as I can for the amount of live time included.
What if I can’t start immediately?
You can start whenever—this is not a traditional program where there is any kind of catch up, and you won’t disrupt anyone by missing the first week or so.
What is expected participation?
You can use as much or as little of the program as you want. You’re welcome to arrive after the start time, leave before the session ends, or attend only on certain days—you might prefer Wednesday through Friday, or Tuesdays and Thursdays only. There will be opportunities for participants to share, but sharing is never required. You do not have to talk, share, or participate in any way you don’t want to. All offerings are optional.
Can I keep my camera off?
Yes! Although here is my plug for how great it is to see other people doing things! Part of the point of this is body doubling and co-working, so camera on is encouraged, but also this is for YOU so you get to do what feels comfortable, and we’ll all support it.
Do I have to use my real name?
You’ll need to use the name that matches the name you registered under, and you’ll need to register under the name you use in real life (government or non-government; just the name you actually use); no aliases, usernames, fake names. First name and last initial are great. (If this is an issue, email contact@hollywhitaker.com). I’ll also be inviting folks to share pronouns, location, and what they are working on in their Zoom handle.
Is this refundable?
All Sales are final and non-refundable after 38 hours from purchase (if you change your mind 48 hours after purchase). This is because space is limited, and it costs creators when people take a spot they don’t end up using.
Do I need to create a login somewhere?
This is a simple set up meant to be bare bones/low maintenance. No login or additional software/apps required. We use Zoom; Email; and a Notion landing page.
Zoom for all our calls (you’ll need a Zoom account)
Occasional admin emails
Daily reminder emails for sessions
Static page in Notion where you can access all the info sent via email; plus links and other resources (you’ll need a web browser like Chrome)
Is this a recovery/sobriety program, or a space for emotional processing?
Baby Steps is not for emotional processing or addictions/recovery support. Baby Steps is not for emotional processing or addictions/recovery support. Baby Steps is focused on co-working, creative practice, structure, motivation, and making progress on the things you want to do, and includes coaching around these topics: creativity, work, motivation, habits, transitions, and the practical and emotional challenges of showing up. It is not a space for deep emotional processing, crisis support, therapy, recovery support, or ongoing personal coaching. Things may get emotional, but these calls are designed to be light, practical, energizing, and useful—not emotionally exhausting.
Do you have a question not answered here? Email contact@hollywhitaker.com
