We’ve researched and tested hundreds of desks with eco-friendly and nontoxic materials — these are our top picks for a sustainable home office.

We’re upgrading our desks to maximize our productivity and comfort, and we think you might be too. If you’re also on the hunt for a new desk that is a step up from IKEA, check out these sustainable and nontoxic options with local manufacturing, responsibly sourced materials, and low or neutral carbon emissions. Top it off with a comfy and eco-conscious desk chair, and you’ll be good to go.

Why choose a desk made with eco-friendly and nontoxic materials?

You might opt for a wooden desk or one made with nontoxic and sustainable materials for a few reasons — aesthetic appeal, durability, safety, and sustainability being at the top of the list. Unfortunately, many conventional desks are treated with toxic chemicals like formaldehyde, phthalates, flame retardants, and wood preservatives to prevent surface defects, which can wreak havoc on the air quality of our home and health. That’s why choosing a nontoxic desk made with all natural and nontoxic finishes is so important, especially when most of us spend the majority of our days at our desks!

The natural beauty of wooden desks offers a timeless appeal and can easily complement other furniture in your home. High-quality materials are also made to be sturdy and durable, especially when made from hardwoods — meaning your furniture will stand the test of time. Best of all, many sustainable wood desks are made with wood from sustainably managed forests, or reclaimed wood, which is better for our environment.

Our criteria:

Our editors have filled their homes with sustainable and nontoxic furniture for years. We’ve relied on our first-hand experience, corresponding with the top brands, and reading thousands of customer reviews to make our selections. The options on this list are all nontoxic, eco-friendly, and will enhance the comfort and overall look of your workspace. We’ve even included at least one more affordable option on the list. We regularly update this list with new favorites that meet the following criteria.

• COMFORT & DESIGN | All of the nontoxic desks on this list — whether you’re looking for solid wood, bamboo or something else — will elevate your space.
• SUSTAINABLE & ECO-FRIENDLY | The brands below use reclaimed or responsibly sourced materials to ensure your desk is good for the earth and good for you too. You’ll find options that are FSC certified, Climate Neutral, and registered B Corps. These high quality materials mean your desk will last for years to come, too.
• NONTOXIC | Not only are these nontoxic desks made with natural materials, they’re never treated with any hard chemicals that could disrupt your health while you work. Most of these come with reputable certifications that indicate low-to-no emissions.
• AFFORDABLE | Investing in your workspace can be steep. We’ve included at least one option that is lower cost for smaller budgets.

And, of course, if these desks aren’t your style, consider renting or going secondhand. Be sure to add on these nontoxic rugs and sustainable office chairs for a cozy and conscious upgrade to your workspace!

Best Overall | Avocado, $3,499+
Most Affordable | Flexispot, $290+
Best For Small Spaces | Work From Home Desks, $699+

1. RLDH

American made

Budget friendly

Made to order

Natural materials

Small business

Nontoxic Materials | Baltic birch plywood
Features We Love | Made-to-order, carbon-neutral shipping
Starting At | $129

Rodolfo Lozano launched RLDH in Southern California after seeing his design dreams come to life on his renovated home, his son’s crib, and a successful Kickstarter. Today, RLDH’s scaffolds and standing desks are made-to-order using high-quality maple and birch, tailored to your specific height and computer. Consider one of these desks or scaffolds if you’re not quite ready to purchase a new desk but want to switch to standing work. (And enjoy carbon-neutral shipping!)

Customer Review | “Love how it works standing or sitting. Perfect height for me – simple without moving parts. Exactly what i was looking for. As well, it doesn’t take up a lot of real estate on my desk” – Radiant Roots (Read all reviews.)

2. Work From Home Desks

American made

Natural materials

Recycled materials

Warranty offered

Nontoxic Materials | Birchwood ply
Features We Love | EPA certified birch, EPA certified for low emissions
Starting at | $699

Work From Home Desks is the ergonomic, easy, and effective setup you need to get right to work, wherever home is (without any tools!). Crafted just outside of Los Angeles with EPA certified birch timber, each adjustable desk is slim and simple yet exceptionally sturdy, holding up to 100 pounds of equipment. You can also find larger or kid-sized desks and accessories like a laptop lifter or shelf to best fit your needs.

Customer Review | “This small desk fits nicely in an alcove near our kitchen. The additional shelf holds the monitor at the correct height. I did not want a “serious” piece of furniture, but I did want a practical, stable, attractive work area. The small desk checked all my boxes.” – Ilene K. (Read all reviews.)

3. Avocado

1% for the planet

American made

B corp

Climate neutral

FSC

Greenguard certified

Handcrafted

Natural materials

Warranty offered

Nontoxic Materials | Solid walnut wood, solid maple wood
Features We Love | Climate Neutral certified, GREENGUARD Gold certified, FSC certified, sustainable solid wood, nontoxic materials
Starting At | $3,499

Avocado’s Mid-Century Modern Desk is here to elevate your office space with its angular silhouette, soft-close drawers and timeless charm. Made with responsibly-sourced solid wood (for its long-lasting and resilient appeal) in Avocado’s FSC-certified Los Angeles woodshop, this desk is designed for longevity and durability for years to come. Safety is of utmost importance, with the desk being Formaldehyde-Free Claim Verified by UL, meaning no VOC’s and phthalates. For environmentally-friendly living, you can’t get any better!

4. Flexispot

Budget friendly

Eco friendly packaging

FSC

Gives back

Natural materials

Recycled materials

Warranty offered

Nontoxic Materials | Solid wood, bamboo, chipboard
Features We Love | FSC certified, recycled materials, natural materials, gives back
Starting At | $290

Flexispot’s commitment to wellness and productivity in the workplace is seen through their line of ergonomic desks and workstations. The brand carries a large selection of height-adjustable, drawer and L-shaped standing desks in a number of sizes, materials and prices that fit any budget. Made from recyclable, recycled and upcycled materials including wood from sustainably managed forests, Flexispot ensures they limit their carbon footprint even when producing premium products. We especially love the high-tech desk control options that display your favorite height settings and the embedded charging ports for ease of use.

Customer Review | “I recently purchased E7 pro standing desk from flexispot and I’m truly amazed by the build quality. It is designed really well and motors inside the legs don’t make much noise compared to other standing desks. The solid warranty flexispot offers, it’s a great and a safe buy. I can safely 100% recommend this product to anyone looking to buy a good standing desk.” – Farhad K. (Read all reviews.)

5. Sundays

Eco friendly packaging

FSC

Natural materials

Plant trees

Warranty offered

Nontoxic Materials | European oak, MDF, oak veneer
Features We Love | Sustainably sourced & FSC-certified wood, BIFMA compliant
Starting at | $1,290

Sundays desks are built to be everyday heroes in your space — stylish, sturdy, and made to last. The Everyday Desk lives up to its name with a clean, timeless design crafted from solid European oak. It’s got a soft-close drawer for storage, a hidden grommet for cable management, and a matte lacquer finish that’s water- and stain-resistant. On the flip side, the Form Desk brings a softer silhouette with rounded edges and a minimalist, hardware-free look. It offers four push-to-open soft-close drawers for all your essentials and even features protective glides to keep your floors scratch-free. Simple, durable, and effortlessly good-looking!

6. orbit anywhere

American made

Eco friendly packaging

Handcrafted

Natural materials

Recycled materials

Small business

Nontoxic Materials | Baltic birch
Features We Love | Responsibly sourced, some recycled materials, water-based adhesive, title VI & CARB compliant
Starting at | $495

orbit anywhere crafts wood desks that are all about smart, sustainable design with serious style. Handmade in the USA from responsibly sourced Baltic birch and finished with safe, high-pressure laminates, these desks are built to last and look good doing it. Whether you’re into sleek Scandinavian vibes, timeless mid-century modern, or the fun, wavy energy of their popular squiggle desk, there’s something for every aesthetic. The best part? orbit desks are modular and super easy to put together or take apart — perfect for your home office, studio, or on-the-go workspace. They even welcome custom requests if you’ve got a unique combo in mind.

Customer Review | “This is my second purchase with orbit & they do not disappoint! Bruce has amazing customer service and their products are so impressive. I love my Updesk!” – Nay (Read all reviews.)

7. Oakywood

FSC

Handcrafted

Natural materials

Plant trees

Warranty offered

Nontoxic Materials | Solid oak or walnut wood
Features We Love | FSC-certified hardwood sourced from the USA and Poland, handcrafted by certified craftspeople in Poland, gives back to environmental initiatives
Starting at | $769

Oakywood is the kind of brand that makes you want to completely reset your desk setup. This Polish company blends traditional woodcraft with modern technology to create beautifully handcrafted wooden desks that are built to last a lifetime. Every piece is made from responsibly sourced solid oak from Poland or premium American Black Walnut, and is backed by a 5-year warranty, with a promise to plant a tree with every purchase. Their bestselling Standing Desk Pro pairs a sleek steel frame with a solid wood top and assembles in just 10 minutes — proving sustainability and innovation can absolutely coexist.

Customer Review | “Absolutely fantastic desk! After using a whole bunch of cheaper desks I was looking for a “for life” kind of desk and this is definately it! Build quality is astonishing and the desk is sturdy as a mountain even with 40kg of load on it. Its also beautiful to look at, the wooden oak desktop is a work of art.” – Jonas (Read all reviews.)

8. MasayaCo

FSC

Handcrafted

Made to order

Natural materials

Plant trees

Recycled materials

Small business

Warranty offered

Nontoxic Materials | Solid hardwood
Features We Love | Sustainably harvested wood, plants more trees than they harvest via their Seed to Seat process, eco-friendly production
Starting At | $895

MasayaCo is an FSC-certified sustainable furniture brand from the heart of Nicaragua. With a focus on thoughtful design, artisan craftsmanship, and reforestation, the brand has planted over 1.3 million trees to date, keeping part of their reforestation projects untouched to allow nature to thrive on its own. The minimalist desks come in two wood swatches, all of which are handmade to order by their trained in-house artisans. So not only are these desks gorgeous, but they’re an intentional investment in communities, too.

Customer Review | “The walnut desk is a sharp and modern piece in my study. It came well-packaged and protected during shipping. The desk is a comfortable height with spacious desk space. The stain is a little thin, however, and needs to be protected from scratches and chips.” – Brandon (Read all reviews.)

9. Urban Natural

American made

FSC

Family owned

Handcrafted

Natural materials

OEKO-TEX® certified

Recycled materials

Small business

Vegan

Warranty offered

Nontoxic Materials | Solid wood
Features We Love | USA-made options, ethically-sourced, handcrafted by artisans, sustainably-sourced wood
Starting At | $787

Urban Natural’s mission is to offer safe, heirloom-quality furniture for a healthy home. The marketplace partners with local craftspeople that build sustainable desks from ethically sourced and non-toxic materials. Each desk is handcrafted by fairly compensated artisans using eco-friendly methods, ensuring that the furniture is built to last and can be passed down through generations. With their extensive options at various price points, you’re sure to find the desk of your dreams!

Featured image from Sundays

The post The 10 Most Sustainable Wood Desks (2026) appeared first on The Good Trade.

“I liked having a sense that there was a force of good greater than me, watching out for me and guiding me forward.”

My parents were entrepreneurs, active in the community, making things happen. Instead of passively listening to God, I had an example of what you could build with a combination of action and trust. In fact, I was probably more comfortable with the action part than the trust part.

After graduating college, I knew I needed to make my sense of spirituality my own. Decide which parts of my religious upbringing resonated with me, the way I understood them personally, and what I could leave behind. Spirituality had become something I’d intellectually understood and hoped was real, but I wanted to have my own relationship with it. I wanted to feel it. For me, understanding is always a body knowing more than a thought. So I started my own exploration, and my biggest questions were about myself.

I’d always had a sense of the bigger spiritual picture. But what about me? Why was I here? Which parts of me were authentic and which were conditioned? And what was I supposed to do with this precious life?

“I’d always had a sense of the bigger spiritual picture. But what about me? Why was I here?”

What is my purpose? became my biggest question. Now that I was out of school and could pursue whatever career, lifestyle, or creative endeavor I wanted, I needed to make sure they were all moving me toward my bigger purpose. I was afraid that I might squander my time on earth if I didn’t find it.

Around this time, I started working for a company that sold workshops on manifestation. There was a big focus on “making your list” — getting specific about what you wanted so you could unblock what was standing in your way, say no to things that might ask you to settle, and make empowered choices to move you toward your goals.

But I was stuck. I felt like I had all these examples and blueprints of how to “get what I wanted,” but I didn’t know what I wanted. And I didn’t want to arbitrarily decide before I was ready. So I sought out 1:1 support from astrologers, human design readers, and energy workers to see what they could tell me about me. To see if they could tell me what my purpose was. After all, if I just knew what it was, I would gladly do it.

“I felt like I had all these examples and blueprints of how to “get what I wanted,” but I didn’t know what I wanted.”

They were able to tell me some things about my energy and personality — things I mostly already knew. That I was independent, entrepreneurial, here to build something, here to be seen, a leader. All the information I knew intuitively, but that still didn’t tell me what to do with myself.

A freeing reframe

In my mind, “my purpose” would manifest as a singular idea, company, or mission that I could build and work toward. The thing that, if I channeled all my energy into it, would be my big moment. It would glorify all my potential and bless the world.

“In my mind, ‘my purpose’ would manifest as a singular idea, company, or mission that I could build and work toward.”

I thought my purpose was one thing. Until one reading completely shifted my perspective.

It came during a human design session. Human design is a personality system that maps out how you’re wired — similar to astrology, but more specific. I’d had my chart read before, but this time the reader pointed out something I’d never noticed: a number in my chart that supposedly represented my life’s purpose. It’s called the sun gate personality.

But it wasn’t the number itself that mattered to me. It was what the number represented.

She explained that this part of the chart doesn’t point to a specific career, company, or mission. It points to an energy. A quality you’re here to embody and express. Not something you find once and build your entire life around. Something you can show up as every single day, in a thousand different ways.

Purpose wasn’t a destination. It was a frequency.

“Purpose wasn’t a destination. It was a frequency.”

And I could embody it anywhere, whether I was working in marketing, making coffee, or just showing up for a friend. And so could anyone.

A barista, a CEO, a mom, an artist, a waiter. Purpose wasn’t about what you were doing; it was about the energy you brought to whatever you were doing.

And when I started showing up in that energy, everything shifted. I felt aligned. And I started attracting more opportunities that matched it.

Making the concept work for you

Back to Human Design for a second… if you’re curious about your own “sun gate personality,” here’s how to find it:

• Generate your Human Design chart… I love Jenna Zoe’s website and app for this
• Your Sun Gate Personality is the first number in your “incarnation cross” and Jenna’s chart specifically lists it as your most important gift
• Your gift points to your purpose… not a thing to achieve, but an energy you bring to everything that makes it feel full of meaning and magnetizes more of the right stuff to you
• I love Jenna’s app “Align” for a full audio breakdown of your chart, including your most important gift

Mine is gate 21, which she describes as “a natural instinct for how to control resources.” Meaning if there’s a budget, I know how to manage it. If there’s a team or a project, I know how to build it. If there’s time, I know how to use it… all in service of the people around me. And lately I’ve been sitting with the idea that “resources” can also be internal. That sometimes I don’t need to BE the resource… but I can help people find the resourcefulness already inside themselves. That reframe felt huge for me.

“It’s like finally having a sense of the genius you naturally bring to the table, in anything you do.”

That’s the thing about purpose as an energy vs. purpose as a destination. It’s so much more freeing. It’s like finally having a sense of the genius you naturally bring to the table, in anything you do.

Even if Human Design isn’t your thing… take the concept. Purpose isn’t a singular pursuit. It’s a quality to be embodied. And I can’t tell you how big of a relief this was for me.

“Purpose” had felt really heavy. Like an impossible order I might get wrong. Something I was waiting for that I could accidentally miss… and my inner critic was constantly scrutinizing how I spent my time, whether it was “aligned” or moving me forward. Every decision felt loaded. Every pivot felt like a potential detour from my destiny.

“Purpose isn’t a singular pursuit. It’s a quality to be embodied.”

And I don’t think I’m alone in this. So many of us are walking around with this low hum of anxiety that we haven’t found it yet. That we’re running out of time. That everyone else seems to know what they’re here to do and we’re still figuring it out. The pressure to find your purpose has somehow become just another thing to achieve.

But what if it’s not something to find at all… what if it’s something to remember?

Deciding to live your purpose, now

Especially if you feel like you’re not on your path, or like things aren’t working out the way you wanted them to… try to move away from that narrative and into the energy of your purpose right now. Not when everything is figured out. Not when the right opportunity shows up. Now, with whatever is in front of you.

So what does this mean for moving forward? It doesn’t mean we stop being ambitious. It doesn’t mean we stop pursuing the projects that light us up, building the businesses we believe in, or going after the things we want. Please keep doing all of that.

“Stop waiting for the big reveal before we allow ourselves to feel like we’re on the right track.”

But it does mean we can stop holding our breath until we “arrive.” Stop waiting for the big reveal before we allow ourselves to feel like we’re on the right track. Stop treating every detour like evidence that we’ve lost the plot.

Because here’s what I’ve noticed: The people who seem the most purposeful aren’t necessarily the ones who have it all figured out. They’re the ones who show up fully to whatever is in front of them. They bring their whole energy to the small stuff… the conversation, the project, the email, the creative idea at 11pm. And those compounding moments? They’re what lead to the bigger things. They always do.

Purpose isn’t waiting for you at the finish line. It’s in how you show up on the way there.

“Purpose isn’t waiting for you at the finish line. It’s in how you show up on the way there.”

So instead of asking “What is my purpose?” try asking: 

• “How can I bring my best energy to what’s right in front of me today?” 
• “What is the quality I most want to embody this week?” 
• “Where can I show up more fully as myself?”

Start there. And watch how much more aligned everything starts to feel. 

That’s where I’m at with all of this, anyway. Still figuring it out, still evolving… but feeling a lot less pressure about it than I used to. 

I hope this gives you a little relief, too.

Grace Abbott is a LA-based freelance Brand & Marketing Strategist and a Contributing Editor at The Good Trade. She has a degree in Graphic Design from Parsons School of Design and is the founder of How To Go Freelance — a brand dedicated to empowering creatives to monetize their skills and build personal brands. Beyond work, she’s always studying a new spiritual modality, painting her bedroom a new color, practicing Pilates, hosting friends, or going on a nature walk with her chihuahua, Donnie. Find her on Substack or Instagram.

The post I Had To Let Go Of Searching For My Purpose To Actually Find It appeared first on The Good Trade.

From business casual to corporate wear, we’ve researched and personally worn pieces from the top sustainable fashion brands — these are our go-to picks for an ethical and professional wardrobe.

Like many folks, I’ve been working from home ever since COVID. Both as an on-staff writer and a full-time freelancer, my work uniform in recent years has looked a lot like sweatpants and sweatshirts. Maybe exactly like sweatpants and sweatshirts. 

But six months ago, I started a new full-time copywriting job that took me back into the office. And I couldn’t be happier to be there — I didn’t realize how much I missed chatting with coworkers by the water bubbler, and it’s just as refreshing to actually dress up to leave the house each morning.

Needless to say, my workwear wardrobe needed a refresh. So I was thrilled for the opportunity to test out workwear pieces from some of TGT’s favorite sustainable clothing brands. 

Why shop for sustainable office wear?

Made with eco-friendly fabrics using ethical labor practices, sustainable office wear can help minimize our carbon footprint, promote fair working conditions, and support the ethical treatment of garment workers. Office wear made from natural and sustainable fabrics are biodegradable, use no pesticides, and use minimal water during production, making them better for us and the environment. These fabrics also tend to be of higher quality than conventional fabrics, lasting longer thanks to their durability and craftsmanship techniques. Clothing made from upcycled and/or recycled fabrics also reuse existing clothing, diverting it from landfills and minimizing fast fashion waste. By choosing to go sustainable with your everyday workwear, you’ll take a stance for environmental and ethical responsibility in the fashion and corporate space.

What are the best fabrics for sustainable work clothes?

The best fabrics for sustainable work clothes are natural fabrics like cotton, wool, silk, and linen. We look for organic cotton, specifically, since it’s grown with significantly less water and little to no pesticides compared to conventional cotton. Linen is also one of the most sustainable fabrics out there, made of flax that needs very little water — and it uses the whole flax plant so there’s not much wasted material. Wool is another great natural, biodegradable material that’s comfortable and breathable (though not as breathable as cotton or linen!); we look for third-party certifications that ensures a brand’s wool (merino or cashmere included) is farmed sustainably. And silk is natural, soft, and high-end feeling — you’ll find some washable forms of silk throughout this guide. We also occasionally dabble in synthetics, as long as they’re made of recycled polyesters or are sourced from natural fibers like Tencel.

What are the relevant certifications?

We look for third-party certifications to ensure our fabrics are actually organic and/or ethically made. GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) is one of the gold standards, as is OEKO-TEX, which ensures a final product has been thoroughly tested for harmful contaminants. We keep an eye out for labels like Fair Trade that prove a brand uses only ethical factories, and we love a brand that makes its clothing here in the US. And B Corp certified brands have proven to operate with the highest level of transparency and sustainability.

Our criteria:

When choosing work clothes, I lean towards neutral colors so I can mix and match, and androgynous silhouettes with occasional feminine touches like lace detailing. I chose pieces that filled gaps in my wardrobe, that have longevity (rather than fitting certain trends), and that can be worn outside the office, too. Versatility is top of mind when I’m choosing sustainable work clothes.

• ETHICAL/ECO-FRIENDLY | Each of these sustainable office wear brands tout ethical and eco-friendly clothing made ethically with natural, recycled, and/or sustainable fabrics.
• LONGEVITY | Our office wear can go through a lot, especially if we’re wearing it five days a week or more. Each of these sustainable clothing brands craft their pieces to last long and wear well through multiple uses and washes. Longevity to me also means choosing timeless pieces that outlive trends.
• VERSATILITY | Maximizing how much I wear the (sometimes expensive!) clothing on this list is super important to me, so I look for pieces that I’ll wear again and again in lots of different scenarios.

Whether you’re working from home or heading to the office, these professional styles will leave a lasting impression — on Zoom or IRL!

For a full workwear upgrade, don’t forget to pick up some sustainable shoes and ethical jewelry. And if you need a tote or purse for your work supplies, these eco-friendly purses and handbags are sure to do the trick!

PRICING GUIDE

   $ | Typically under $50
$$ | Typically $50–$100
$$$ | Typically $100–$150
 $$$$ | Typically $150 or more

Table of Contents

Best affordable luxury | Quince, $–$$
Best capsule wardrobes | ADAY, $$–$$$
Best for key high-end pieces | Sézane, $$$–$$$$
Best sustainable separates | EILEEN FISHER, $$–$$$
Best quality office-to-casual-wear | Everlane, $$–$$$$
Best American-made tees, sweaters, collared shirts | Buck Mason, $$–$$$$
Best outerwear, coats, jackets, and blazers | Reformation, $$–$$$$
Best for bright colors and patterns | Boden, $$–$$$$
Best dresses and matching sets | Tradlands, $$

1. Quince

Budget friendly

Natural materials

Recycled materials

Best For | Washable silk, affordable cashmere, capsules
Size Range | XS–XL
Price Range | $–$$

SF brand Quince makes affordable and sustainable workwear clothes, perfect for the office or for working from home. The brand keeps costs down by shipping directly from its factories, cutting out the middleman and excessive packaging. As for fabrics, eco-friendly materials include recycled polyester, organic cotton twill, and washable silk (a workwear staple if you ask us!).

Our Editor’s Review | “Perfect for a winter weather wardrobe refresh, the Quince pieces I tried included the Cotton Cashmere Ribbed Long Sleeve dress, the 100% Cotton Fisherman Cropped Cardigan, and the 100% Washable Silk Skirt. The dress is a classic sweater dress — warm, fitted but not tight, and great for the office and cold weather holidays alike. The sweater has a really heavyweight, high-quality feel to it, and it’s super warm, making it a perfect layer to add to my summery tanks. And I love how unlike wool or synthetic sweaters, I can throw it in the dryer. The washable silk skirt is a midi length, it’s not too fitted or too swingy, and I love how it has a zipper rather than an elastic waist, so it looks nice and high-end. Note that it came super creased, so plan to wash before your first wear!”

Shop Quince

2. ADAY

B corp

Cruelty free

Recycled materials

Vegan

Woman owned

Best For | Capsule wardrobes, comfortable WFH apparel
Size Range | XS–XL
Price Range | $$–$$$

Technical. Seasonless. Sustainable. Those are the core tenets for ADAY. We love this brand for its gorgeous workwear staples but also for the sustainably minded production processes and responsible fabrics (all cruelty-free, majority vegan, and some recycled). The company also prioritizes OEKO-TEX and Bluesign-approved partners to ensure that the chemicals used to treat the fabrics aren’t harmful to the environment.

Our Editor’s Review | “I don’t typically go for synthetic materials, even more sustainable ones like those that ADAY uses. However, I was really impressed by the quality and feel of the That’s a Wrap top and the Straight Up pants. The top is a fantastic, versatile work-to-night-out piece, with snaps along the waistline and the wrists so you can give it a more fitted, chic look. And the pants had the look of trousers while feeling as comfy as athleisure — they were definitely more comfortable to sit at my desk in all day than the black jeans I so often wear. Both pieces were really lightweight, making them great for someone who runs hot or who lives in a hot climate (and moisture-wicking can be a huge plus!). And I’m impressed by ADAY’s sustainability specs, too — the high-stretch fabric used in both pieces is made of 73% recycled nylon at a solar-powered factory in Europe.”

Shop ADAY

3. Sézane

B corp

FSC

GOTS certified

Natural materials

OEKO-TEX® certified

Recycled materials

Best For | Blouses, skirts, work dresses, shoes
Size Range | US 2–14
Price Range | $$$–$$$$

Looking to spruce up your spring workwear collection with a gorgeous flowy skirt or an intricately knit blouse? Sézane may be a great fit! This Parisian brand is our go-to for sustainable staples, and we love that these garments can be styled for the office, date night, or weekend brunch. In addition to giving back, Sézane focuses on responsible and eco-friendly production.

Our Editor’s Review | “I got to try out two Sezane pieces — their Matheo Trousers and their Will Jacket. You’ll see them pictured here with a plain white tee from a different brand that I already owned. I loved the trousers — but note that I ordered a size 2 and they were a tiny bit tight on me. They’re 100% wool yet lightweight and stretchy, and their unlined finish adds to their comfort. If you’re in the market for a pair of wide-leg trousers, these are a little bit pricey, but, in my opinion, incredibly worth it. The jacket, which I got in camel suede, had a similarly impressive high-quality feel — made of nothing but 100% suede leather, it has the most universally flattering color and cut. In terms of quality and style, it doesn’t get much better than this iconic French brand. And they were one of the only brands that didn’t send the clothing in any plastic — it came wrapped in tissue paper in a (perfumed) cardboard box.”

Shop Sézane

4. EILEEN FISHER

B corp

Circular fashion

Fair trade

Natural materials

Second hand

Size inclusive

Woman owned

Best For | Tops, pants, dresses, jumpsuits
Size Range | PP–3X
Price Range | $$–$$$

EILEEN FISHER has been redefining workwear since 1984 with its signature mix of simplicity, sustainability, and inclusivity. What started with four timeless shapes has evolved into a full system of easy-to-style pieces that are as versatile as they are eco-conscious. Today, the brand is a certified B Corp and offers a range of minimalist, mix-and-match staples that make it easy to dress up or down for the office — and beyond. With inclusive sizing from XXS to 3X and a focus on circular design, many of these pieces transition effortlessly from work to weekend.

Our Editor’s Review | “I tried out Eileen Fisher’s Utility Cotton Arch Pants and Organic Cotton Stretch Corduroy Jacket, so note that these are also pictured with a white tee from my closet. True to its name, the jacket is comfortably stretchy, so I was surprised to learn it’s only 5% spandex. It’s versatile, cute, and perfect with jeans (no more Canadian tuxedos with the jean jacket I was wearing almost daily), and I couldn’t love the color more — it goes with everything. The pants are a great comfortable yet polished workwear option, with a heavy weight denim-like feel that feels much softer and more broken-in than new cotton denim. Note that I tried the XS, and they were surprisingly large on me! Size down on these.”

Shop EILEEN FISHER

5. Everlane

GOTS certified

OEKO-TEX® certified

Recycled materials

Best For | Capsule wardrobes, trousers, blouses, accessories
Size Range | XXS–XXL
Price Range | $$–$$$$

Everlane always tops our lists for denim and office dresses, so it’s no surprise that it’s a favorite for general workwear too. We’re looking to this brand for everything from tapered trousers to chic button downs, comfy but professional flats, and showstopping totes. We love how easy it is to see the impact of each piece right on the site, and their sustainability page that outlines all of their programs and environmental initiatives provides the kind of transparency that makes us feel good about stocking up on these chic looks.

Our Editor’s Review | “One of my favorite brands already, Everlane did not disappoint. Their Must-Have Linen Shirt is a new wardrobe staple for me. It works as well for a summery brunch as it does at the office, and has a heavyweight without being stiff — it feels broken in on first wear. And barrel pants are a style that Everlane has completely owned for years, so I was excited to try the Utility Barrel Pant. It’s made of medium-weight cotton and has a denim feel. It’s easy to dress up with heels or down with sneakers, and the size 0 fit me like an absolute glove. And the Oversized Blazer in Wool pleasantly surprised me with its warmth — it’s heavy enough to work well as an outer layer in the fall or winter, instantly dressing up any look to a workwear level (and keeping you warm if you work in a chilly office).”

Shop Everlane

6. Buck Mason

American made

Natural materials

Recycled materials

Best For | American-made tees, sweaters, collared shirts
Size Range | XS–XXL
Price Range | $$–$$$$

For easygoing wardrobe staples you can dress up or down, we recommend Buck Mason. Their easy crewnecks, cotton sweaters, and collared shirts are easy to mix and match for a style that’s classic, but can be elevated to be made uniquely yours. Most items are crafted locally in Buck Mason’s knitting mills in Pennsylvania, with each garment spun using premium USA-grown cotton for a comfy, structured feel. Transition from the office to happy hour or your after work activities in ease and comfort!

Our Editor’s Review | “Buck Mason is perfect for laid-back yet elevated looks, and I tried out two pieces that are easy to dress both up or down. The Featherweight Silk Cashmere Tee is a soft, lightweight, short-sleeve sweater with a relaxed yet elegant vibe, and its made of mostly merino wool with a bit of silk and cashmere. Note that the white color is a little see-through — you can see my white bra underneath — and it’s not super stretchy so I’d recommend sizing up if you don’t want a close fit. The Paperweight Cotton Poplin Pant is made of a 100% cotton poplin that’s cool, crisp, and comfortable to the touch, and its drawstring waist adds to the comfort (I love feeling like I’m in loungewear while looking work ready) — it has a zipper and clasp like normal pants, but its interior drawstring let me adjust it to my own measurements. I also liked how its barrel legs hit just above the ankle.”

Shop Buck Mason

7. Reformation

Climate neutral

OEKO-TEX® certified

Recycled materials

Woman owned

Best For | Outerwear, coats, jackets, and blazers
Size Range | XS–3XL
Price Range | $$–$$$$

Whether you’re hopping from Zoom to school pick up, or the board room to dinner with friends, the piece that can most instantly transform an outfit into a professional look is the jacket. Reformation knows that it’s this top layer that can really make all the difference. Pop one of their sustainable Tencel blazers, elegant wrap dusters, or premium recycled wool coats to tell the world that you mean business. We love that you can easily mix and match with suggested trousers to create versatile suits too.

Our Editor’s Review | “I think of Reformation for resort or party wear. But don’t sleep on them for versatile work clothing! Their Olina Linen Pant are probably the best linen pants I’ve ever put on — they have a fairly heavy weight, a comfortable drawstring waist, and a full length that makes them look as great with pointed toe kitten heels at the office as with sandals at the beach. I paired these with the Andy Oversized Shirt, a buttery yellow button-down made with 98% organic cotton. Note that it’s quite oversized — it might pair better with a more fitted pant. I’m wearing it here with the Miller Knit Top, which I absolutely loved. Made of half organic cotton and half Tencel Lyocell, it’s the perfect blend of comfy yet elegant, with a boat neck and bell sleeves.”

Shop Reformation

8. Boden

Budget friendly

Recycled materials

Best For | Bright blouses, patterned skirts, & dresses
Size Range | 0–22
Price Range | $$–$$$$

Boden’s workwear collection comprises of bright colors and bold patterns, while being tailored to perfection. Founded over 25 years ago, the company is a longstanding member of the Ethical Trading Initiative, which requires its suppliers to meet minimum standards relating to working conditions, as set out in the ETI Base Code. Whether you’re looking for a cozy spring cardigan or bootcut pants, Boden has a wide range of pieces ideal for the business-casual workplace.

Our Editor’s Review | “It was so hard to choose between all of Boden’s adorably cheerful yet chic blouses and sweaters — but I’m thrilled with both tops I received: the Flora Lace V-Neck and the Button Mariner Breton. The former, made of 100% cotton, is the perfect work-to-night-out top, with gathered sleeves and a V-neck for a silhouette that’s elegant in an “I’m not really trying” way. And I’ve been wanting a mariner top forever — they’re such a French girl chic wardrobe staple — and Boden’s didn’t disappoint, with a medium-weight 100% cotton makeup that feels cozy and breathable and a slightly oversized fit that I’ve been loving paired with my more fitted pants. I also tried their Belgravia Cords and was thoroughly impressed with their natural waist rise and 100% cotton makeup that made them feel almost as comfy as sweatpants. I found Boden’s clothing runs a tiny but big, so size down if you like a closer fit.” 

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9. Tradlands

Natural materials

Size inclusive

Small business

Woman owned

Best For | Dresses and matching sets
Size Range | XXS–4X
Price Range | $$

Founded by Sadie Roberts in 2012, Tradlands is on a mission to make pieces you’ll wear 50 times over, instead of just a handful. The brand creates effortless looks and garments while using a slow and sustainable process. Tradlands pieces are made with natural fibers, crafted within two trusted family-run factories in small batches. Check out its Wear It Well Series for style inspo.

Customer Review | “I was very hesitant about purchasing one of these sweaters. To be honest, the price point made me nervous, but I ended up loving the sweaters so much that I already bought another one in a different color. The quality, weight, and fit are all great. They feel like wearing a blanket so that said if you want a snugger fit, I recommend sizing down.” – Jessica N. (See all reviews.)

Shop Tradlands

Natalie Gale is a Boston-based freelance journalist. Since 2022, she has been reviewing the top sustainable home, wellness, fashion, and beauty products, sharing her honest opinion on the best finds. When she’s not writing about art, food, or sustainability, you can find her biking to the farmers’ market, baking, sewing, or planning her next Halloween costume. Say hi on Instagram!

The post 9 Sustainable Work Outfits For 2026 — Editor Review appeared first on The Good Trade.

We’ve carried these sustainable handbags and purses everywhere from errands to dinners out — these are our top picks for materials, construction, and price.

As consumers, we’re passionate about knowing whether the people who make our clothes and accessories earn fair wages and work in safe, ethical conditions. Below we’ve compiled a list of our favorite brands that check those boxes — and make gorgeous, eco-friendly totes, handbags, and weekenders for everyday use, summer travels, and beyond.

Why carry ethical handbags?

Carrying ethical handbags isn’t just about being trendy — it’s about making a statement with your style. When you opt for ethical handbags, you’re saying no to unethical practices like animal cruelty and exploitative labor. Plus, you’re supporting brands that prioritize sustainability and fair trade practices through conscious fashion choices.

Some of our listed bags and purses are American-made, while others are upcycled. The list includes vegan totes and artisan-made handbags, too! (And for second-hand designer bags, check out Vestiaire Collective!)

Our criteria

Our editors have worn, researched, and scoured thousands of customer reviews to select the best brands for sustainable handbags. We regularly update this list with emerging favorites that meet the below criteria.

• SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS | Each of these handbags is made with sustainable materials, including upcycled leather, recycled fabrics, and eco-friendly materials, while minimizing waste and excess production in their manufacturing.
• CONSTRUCTION | Artisan craftsmanship and heritage techniques are employed in the making of many of these handbags, ensuring they are durable and long-lasting while looking and feeling luxurious.
• AFFORDABILITY | If you’re on a budget, you’re in luck. We’ve included affordable, sustainable handbag options on this list.
• ETHICS | Each of these sustainable brands is intentional in sourcing and manufacturing their handbags, employing cruelty-free practices, and ensuring safe and fair working conditions for their employees.

If you’re looking to update more of your wardrobe, check out our fair trade clothing guide, our roundup of sustainable shoe brands, and our ethically made jewelry guide!

Best Overall | Best Vegan | Most Affordable 

1. HYER GOODS

Eco friendly packaging

Gives back

Handcrafted

Natural materials

Plant trees

Recycled materials

Second hand

Small business

Woman owned

Best For | Upcycled leather
Price Range | $165–$355

HYER GOODS was founded by Dana Cohen, a longtime fashion insider who became increasingly aware of the industry’s waste problem. Instead of contributing to the cycle, she set out to design a brand rooted in circularity—one that transforms what already exists into something beautiful and lasting.

Each HYER GOODS piece is crafted from luxury leftovers—high-end surplus leather and textiles that would otherwise go to waste. After moving its entire supply chain to Italy last year, the brand now works with some of the world’s most skilled artisans and finest leathers, combining meticulous craftsmanship with a commitment to sustainability. The result: limited-edition accessories that feel both elevated and ethical, where every cut tells a story of renewal. HYER GOODS has also built giving back into its business model, donating 1% of monthly profits to organizations including Everytown for Gun Safety, the Malala Fund, and Transanta. It’s a thoughtful reminder that true sustainability extends beyond materials. Read our full review of the brand here.

HYER GOODS Review | “I am so glad I got this bag, and it’s perfect for a day or night out. I love that you can change the length and look with the added belts. The quality itself is so beautiful: it’s so soft yet durable. Debating about getting other colors and sizes! Love it!” – Annie (See all reviews)

2. Cuyana

Natural materials

OEKO-TEX® certified

Recycled materials

Woman owned

Best For | Elegant styles, monogramming
Price Range | $128–$548

Cuyana lives by a simple mantra: “Fewer, better.” The brand believes that style is more important than fashion, and quality trumps quantity. You’ll rarely see our editor without her caramel Easy Tote from Cuyana. (She’s always been a proponent of big bags, and is glad they’re back in style and so, so chic!) Cuyana creates artisan leather bags for the modern person, with soft neutral colors and enough space for just what you need. The brand also believes in one of our favorite concepts — the Lean Closet — and provides a free shipping label (available internationally!) with every domestic online order, so that you can fill a box with used clothes and receive a credit. Be more intentional, sustainable, and live by “fewer, better.”

Cuyana Review | “Just received this bag today. As a writer and teacher, I am always looking for a bag that can carry a book, journal, pens, and whatever else I need to carry. This bag is perfect. While my 13-inch pro laptop fits, the computer’s industrial weight feels too heavy to carry in this purse — let alone any purse. I am glad I settled on this shoulder bag, even though I had been needing a crossbody. However, when I tried on the bag today, the longest shoulder strap length fits comfortably as a short, close-to-the-chest crossbody. I am so glad that I purchased this. It solves all the issues that I had kept encountering as I was looking for the right bag for over a year.” – Natalie (See all reviews)

3. Allégorie

American made

Cruelty free

Fair trade

Natural materials

OEKO-TEX® certified

Small business

Vegan

Woman owned

Best For | Vegan, plant-based leather
Price Range | $198–$575

Vegan leather made from … food waste? We’re listening! Allégorie creates beautiful wallets and bags from plant-based food byproducts, saving the landfill from an excess of GHG emissions. Materials include apple, pineapple, and cactus, which provide the beautiful texture and feel of leather without harming any animals (or using petroleum-based plastics!). The small batch, women-owned brand makes all their goods in NYC, offering fair wages and full compensation with benefits to their workers in Queens. In addition to their ethical practices and eco-friendly materials, their bags are gorgeous.

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4. Sézane

B corp

FSC

GOTS certified

Natural materials

OEKO-TEX® certified

Recycled materials

Woman owned

Best For | Bucket bags, raffia bags
Price Range | $160–$475

Sézane creates timeless pieces that also respect the planet and its people. This certified B Corp uses majority natural and sustainable materials, including raffia, chrome-free leather, and cotton, for its gorgeous collection of bags, wallets, and baskets. (Many can also be personalized!) Throughout production, the team’s efforts are powered by renewable energy and sent in eco-friendly packaging (ships internationally). To date, Sézane has gifted more than five million euros to support education and equal opportunity for children.

Shop Sézane

5. Quince

Budget friendly

GOTS certified

Natural materials

Vegan

Best For | Affordable leather bags
Price Range | $40–$130

Quince makes “affordable luxury” a reality. Using certifications — like OEKO-TEX, BSCI, and GOTS — as well as sustainable packaging whenever possible, the team refuses to sacrifice ethics and sustainability for affordability. You can find Italian leather and vegan crossbody purses, belt bags, totes, and even toiletry bags and travel jewelry cases to help keep you organized all day long. Ships to the US.

Quince Review | “Great quality product, the leather is really soft. Very versatile, I can see this going with many outfits. it’s big enough to fit all the essentials and still very elegant.” – Emily B. (See all reviews)

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6. Pixie Mood

1% for the planet

BIPOC Owned

Budget friendly

Cruelty free

Plant trees

Recycled materials

Vegan

Woman owned

Best For | On-trend vegan bags, wallets
Price Range | $36–$137

Pixie Mood’s handbags are socially responsible, sustainable, and stylish. Since 2010, this brand has crafted functional and fun bags made from recycled and solvent-free vegan leather. Based out of Canada (shipping available to Canada and the US!), Pixie Mood has gained worldwide recognition for its standout products — RFID-equipped wallets and cases, monogrammed pouches, and chic crossbodies. With dozens of styles and every color of the rainbow, you’ll be sporting one of these pieces for years to come.

Pixie Mood Review | “I love my new crossbody bag—perfect size for my phone, a small wallet, and a couple of small misc items. The color I chose, blueberry wrinkled, is fun and great for day-to-day wearing. Thanks, Pixie Mood, for making fashionable vegan bags!” – Kim E. (See all reviews)

Shop Pixie Mood

7. Baggu

Budget friendly

FSC

Recycled materials

Vegan

Woman owned

Best For | Durable, everyday bags
Price Range | $14–$78

To give you a sense of how much we love Baggu, our Senior Editor uses a Baggu crescent bag daily and totes a reusable Baby Baggu within it. We love the brand’s thoughtful attention to the materials, production, and design (read more here). Baggu’s reusable totes are cut from a continuous piece of nylon material, and then the waste is used to make handy carrying pouches. Its factories in China are audited yearly by a third party, ensuring safe, fair working conditions. You can even send your bag back to be recycled! This is our go-to bag for just about everything — grocery shopping, beach days, road trips, laundry hauls. Hot tip: It makes for the most fun (and affordable!) gift. Worldwide shipping available!

8. ABLE

B corp

Natural materials

Recycled materials

Best For | Handcrafted leather bags
Price Range | $48–$398

Handcrafted with durable leather in Brazil (and a few upcycled leather options as well), ABLE’s versatile handbags, purses, and backpacks are made to last a lifetime. Available in a number of sizes and styles, these bags are designed with organization in mind, helping you stash your must-haves in the available front pockets and interior slots — it’s perfect for your keys, wallet, phone, and makeup. Choose from premium pebbled leather, in a variety of colors for a touch of sophistication to any outfit.  

ABLE Review | “Love This Bag!! Soft leather, unique knotted handles, long strap option. It’s the perfect size and a casual stylish shape, has useful pockets, smooth zippers. It’s my daily bag! People ask where I got it and I love the opportunity to share the ABLE brand with new supporters.” (See all reviews)

9. Stella McCartney

FSC

Recycled materials

Vegan

Woman owned

Best For | Designer vegan totes & shoulder bags
Price Range | $550–$2,650

Since Stella McCartney launched 20+ years ago, the team has never used leather, fur, or any animal byproducts in its luxury line. So while these handbags have the style and sheen of leather, they’re made with solvent-free alternatives instead (and some are woven from sustainable raffia!). Many of the handbags are styled with the recognizable Stella logo, though you can also find chain-lined totes, simple wallets, and printed designs here, too. It’s all luxury for a lifetime. The brand ships internationally.

10. VIVAIA

BIPOC Owned

Budget friendly

Recycled materials

Woman owned

Best For | Patterned totes
Price Range | $49–$129

Since 2020, VIVAIA‘s been crafting classy, one-of-a-kind crossbody bags and totes that do good for both you and the planet. Made with recycled plastic bottles, each bag is made without any excessive waste, is mindfully designed to help you stay organized, and is machine washable! These bags look luxe and won’t break the bank, with the highest-priced bag maxing out at $129. Worldwide shipping is available.

VIVAIA Review | “Delighted with the product! Much better quality than I anticipated for the price. I bought it for an overseas travel tote (I put my purse AND little dog in my bag, and use it for shopping!). Lightweight but durable and folds neatly down to put in a suitcase. Lovely pale green/blue color.” – Kristy M. (See all reviews)

The post 9 Sustainable Handbags And Purses We Love For 2026 appeared first on The Good Trade.

I administered spelling tests, practiced times tables, and read books with them all. Weird? Maybe. But was I cementing my learning by practicing it in a creative space? Absolutely.

As the years went on, I continued to crave knowledge. How do you balance in chemical equations? Why am I being taught how to manually score a bowling game? What makes a poem…a poem?

After graduating college, I naively assumed I’d just keep learning. I did for a while; I learned some basic HTML and CSS, read books on communication and habit-building skills, and dabbled in FIRE (financial independence/retiring early). I dipped my toes into some Coursera and MasterClass sessions, although they never really stuck. Life happened, I got busy, and my structured learning waned.

“After graduating college, I naively assumed I’d just keep learning…but life happened, I got busy, and my structured learning waned.”

This year, and inspired by TikTok and YouTube trends I’ve seen circulating, I want to get back in the game by creating my own personal curriculum (stuffed animals and dolls beware). But what does that even look like when you don’t have someone prescribing it all to you? How do you know what you don’t know, and then pursue it?

And my biggest question: How do you pursue curiosities that aren’t related to work?

Here’s how I’m approaching this next chapter of learning, even when there are no pop quizzes or grades involved.

What is a personal syllabus?

Before we dive in though, it’s helpful to know what it means to have a curriculum — and how that’s different from a syllabus.

Think of a curriculum like alllll the things in a chef’s repertoire. Sweet, savory, experimental, global, hyper-local — a good chef can probably make something tasty no matter the genre. When you open a restaurant, though, you want to find a specific menu that keeps you focused (and frankly, keeps you marketable). This is your syllabus — the specific, cohesive details that let you dive deeper into one aspect of your curiosities.

Or, just think of it like this: A curriculum is your degree, or the general courseload that gets you the education you are working towards. A syllabus contains all the coursework, reading, and tests that outline one single class in your path towards completing your curriculum.

Getting started: Find your inspiration

“I’m so interested in anything that crosses my desk, or my mind, that I have trouble getting started in one direction.”

Many of us want to keep learning throughout the rest of our lives — but what if you don’t know what you want to learn? I’m personally so interested in anything that crosses my desk, or my mind, that I have trouble getting started in one direction.

“The secret is to lower the stakes — you are not choosing for the rest of your life,” notes Unordinary Mind on YouTube. “You are just choosing for this season.” So don’t worry about putting too much pressure on finding the exact right thing; just focus on choosing the next thing.

For me, this looked like doing a brain dump of everything I’m interested in, including things and places that fascinate me, big questions I have about the world and my life, and things I’d like to try. I didn’t do this without prompts though, I sought some inspiration:

• My saved folder on Instagram
• Old pins I’ve saved on Pinterest
• Movies, books, and shows I return to frequently (both fiction and nonfiction keep things rounded out)
• Places I’ve been on my travels
• Pain points — and delights — in my day-to-day life
• Journal entries from years past
• Daydreams and aspirations I’ve held quietly about my future
• Taking online quizzes (like this Coursera career quiz)
• Going to museums, concerts, events, or whatever catches your fancy

Remember, this doesn’t have to be about work. Too often, we’re tempted to improve ourselves or increase our knowledge in order to make our work lives more lucrative. Monetization creeps its way into every corner of self-growth, even when it’s just following our own personal curiosities. Lay aside the dollar signs, and follow what sparks your heart.

Planning & implementing your curriculum

Once you’ve identified where your interests lie, it’s time to find the connective tissue between them. My list was long, but I came away with a few themes — my interests in fiber arts, influential women creatives, and civil rights movements led me to consider how women’s creativity has influenced social movements throughout history.

Similarly, my interest in meditation, spirituality across cultures, and emerging research in the neurodivergence space led me to consider learning how to develop greater clarity of self and purpose. Lay out your themes and consider which ones feel most timely, most interesting, and most accessible to your energy levels right now. Start with the theme that sticks out!

Next, you’ll want to develop your courseload. What books, podcasts, movies, or events might help further your knowledge about this topic? Sometimes you don’t know what you don’t know, and that’s okay — we have a world of information at our fingertips online, and it just takes a bit of curiosity and persistence to find the next steps. Here’s where I look to find learning resources:

• Search for courses and syllabi online that might already be publicly available
• Identify relevant research papers on Google Scholar, JSTOR, PubMed, ScienceDirect, or other reputable sources and follow the citations for further reading (Psst — you don’t have to read them right now, save the URLs in a doc for when you’re ready to dive in!)
• Reach out to folks online who talk about these themes — do they have a reading list? Can you reach out to them to ask?
• When in doubt, ask a librarian; they’re masters (literally) of discovering relevant information
• Tell your friends what you’re intending to learn; they may surprise you with some handy resources
• Look for local events in adjacent spaces — I’m beginning to look for knitting meetups and fiber arts exhibitions where I might make new acquaintances with recommendations for further exploration

In your search, be open to writers or resources that contradict your existing point of view. In fact, dissenting view points or accounts might even be helpful as you form a more robust perspective of your own. Approach this with a critical eye — learning exclusively from the loudest voices in a space can lead you into an echo chamber where you only parrot a prescribed point of view. Look, also, for marginalized voices and commentary by folks who don’t share your identity or worldview. Challenge yourself with a broader perspective, and you’ll be all the better for it.

Store what you find in a central Google doc or Notion workspace, listing resources that range from quick to read to one with deeper time commitments. This way, you can dip your toes in — or dive all the way in — depending on how much time you have on hand.

“What books, podcasts, movies, or events might help further your knowledge about this topic? Sometimes you don’t know what you don’t know, and that’s okay.”

Decide your ideal outcome

The beauty of self-directed learning is that it doesn’t have to culminate in a thesis, or a presentation, or a capstone project. The only stakes are the ones you impose on yourself! Your final “project” might just be having read a few more books on a topic you care about, or it might be a trip (if you’re studying history or learning a language), hosting a themed dinner party (to share your new knowledge with friends), or going to a concert (or performing in one if you’re studying music!).

“What is it that you want to do once you’ve learned more? Or, in other words, why are you following this particular branch of knowledge?“

You might want to jump ahead and put together a month’s worth of learning on a topic, but I prefer to start with what I’d like to learn and then build the timeline from there. Learning a language might take years, but learning the basics of knitting might only take a month. It all depends on the depth of knowledge you want to build, and what your intentions are after you’ve begun your studies.

And that brings me to the most important aspect of building a curriculum you’ll actually stick with (if you’re like me and you don’t tend to finish things you’ve started): What is it that you want to do once you’ve learned more? Or, in other words, why are you following this particular branch of knowledge?

It very well could be for progressing your career, but it also might be to connect you with your partner, your neighbors, or deepen your civic engagement. You might want more context behind your favorite historical dramas, or to be able to speak more confidently with your in-laws about their favorite subjects. (Although, I’d recommend focusing your most in-depth research on subjects you personally want to learn more about. Introduce your in-laws to those and teach each other new things!)

Thanks to many of our chronic online-ness, we’re absorbing so much information every day. But, a TikTok education is only going to scratch the surface, which is where this intentional planning comes into play.

Now, in the comments below — tell me what you’re learning! And of course, drop your recommendations for books and movies that might help me deepen my own knowledge of the history of fiber arts and activism. 😉🧶 I’ll see you at the library!

Emily McGowan is the Editorial Director at The Good Trade. She studied Creative Writing and Business at Indiana University, and has over ten years of experience as a writer and editor in sustainability and lifestyle spaces. Since 2017, she’s been discovering and reviewing the top sustainable home, fashion, beauty, and wellness products so readers can make their most informed decisions. Her editorial work has been recognized by major publications like The New York Times and BBC Worklife. You can usually find her in her colorful Los Angeles apartment journaling, playing with her two cats, or crafting. Say hi on Instagram or follow along with her Substack, Pinky Promise.

The post How To Create A Personal Curriculum You’ll Actually Stick To appeared first on The Good Trade.

A friend had shared the idea years ago. She and her family go away at the start of each year to reflect, set goals, and make vision boards. As a Virgo and lifelong planner, I knew I wanted to make this a tradition. Our simple agenda was to find somewhere scenic and peaceful to rest, reflect, plan, and dream for the year ahead. Here’s how it went.

Reflect

I love vacations, but I especially love finding the perfect place to stay. For this trip, I knew we needed a place that was peaceful and comfortable, but somewhere that also lent itself to creativity and dreaming. With a baby, we also needed a kitchen and a bathtub. Since we were going to the mountains during winter, a fireplace was a bonus.

We stayed in a small cabin managed by KindCabineer, a company dedicated to sustainability and supporting local communities. I love that a portion of our staywent to local organizations, including the Big Bear Alpine Zoo, which we visited on our way out. Knowing our stay helped fund local wildlife care and conservation through Visit Big Bear Lake’s Every Stay Gives Back program with Kind Traveler made the visit feel even more purposeful.

After unpacking, we spent the first few hours looking back on the year. What worked, what didn’t, what we felt proud of, and what we were ready to leave behind. We talked through challenges, obstacles, and moments that shaped us individually and as a family. 

It was a big year for us, and we had a lot to reflect on and process. After four years of IVF and fertility treatments, we welcomed our daughter in June. We took parental leave, my husband navigated a major career transition, and we lost our dog of fourteen years. In the fall, my grandmother passed away. 

For your own retreat, I recommend bringing a journal and spending an hour or two alone reflecting. Then come together and share. We kept the conversation going over dinner, which made it feel natural. Next year, I also want to go through my photos, videos, and notes on my phone to catalog memories and clean out my devices. I can’t wait until my daughter is old enough to join these conversations and share her own reflections on the year. 

Helpful prompts:

• What are you most proud of this year?
• What felt hard, and how did you feel supported? What additional support could you have used?
• What do you want to remember, and what are you ready to leave behind?
• How did you grow?
  

The goal is simply to notice and name — saying farewell to the past year and honoring everything you moved through.

Dream

The next morning, we made coffee and sat down to dream. The plan was vision boards, but in my postpartum packing haze, I forgot the supplies. We improvised.

I made Pinterest boards instead to capture my mood and colors, and to create a visual of how I want this year to feel. We put on music, let our daughter roll around on the floor with her toys, and jotted down our dreams and goals. Mine: Finish my manuscript and grow my podcast, garden more, spend time outside, travel often, nurture our home as a creative and warm space. My husband’s: Biking and swimming every day, and taking our daughter on outdoor adventures.

We talked about what support looks like and how we can help each other follow through. For example, I want to finish my manuscript by April, so I need to write for at least an hour, five days a week. To do this, I need my husband’s help watching our daughter during that time, and I need him to hold me accountable so I don’t miss my writing window.

Plan

Planning is when it all started to feel tangible. But first, lunch and naps. Priorities.

We reconvened in the afternoon with a long to-do list that ranged from mapping out our big trips for the year to updating family passwords. I’m a big believer in eating the frog, so we handled the boring tasks first and saved the fun part — booking our spring trip to Portugal — for last.

We divided and conquered. My husband updated the bank account logins while I added birthdays and doctor appointments to iCal. We looked at the childcare schedule for the next few months, blocked off weekends for camping trips, and signed up for a pediatric first-aid class and infant swim lessons. Oh, and we reviewed the dreaded streaming subscriptions and went over the budget. Let’s just say “coffee shops” had its own Excel column.

As newbies to this retreat, we didn’t give ourselves nearly enough time, so a few things moved to the at-home list. Next year, we’re blocking off a full day for planning.

If you try this, come in with a short list of both big plans (like vacations) and logistical ones (like scheduling your annual physical). Utilize your calendar apps or bring a fresh paper calendar you can tack to the fridge at home. And reset your passwords! 

Rest

Finally, rest. I cannot stress this enough: Don’t pack the trip so tightly that you forget to slow down and be with your family. We cooked breakfast together, lingered at the table after meals, went on nature walks, read by the fire, and — most crucially — slept in.

Yes, we planned and dreamed, but the real point was to slow down and reconnect. It also felt like a reset, a reminder of how we want to live when we get back home. A little slower. More intentional. Good food, long conversations, music playing in the background. 

It’s been a few weeks since the retreat, and I feel grounded heading into the year. Taking time to reflect and close out the past year felt especially important after such a season of change.

That said, this retreat isn’t about controlling the year or mapping out every outcome. Life rarely follows the plan. Babies get sick. Things change. Hard seasons are inevitable. My goal with these getaways is to gain clarity and create a roadmap for my year, while accepting that life happens and we must stay flexible.

So, if you want to try your own mini retreat, my recommendation is to start small. You don’t have to spend a lot of money or go somewhere faraway and fancy (honestly, you could do it at home!). The purpose is to create space for honest reflection, plans, and dreams. Bonus points if you remember to bring the supplies for vision boards.

Happy retreating x

Kayti Christian is a Senior Content Strategist at The Good Trade. With an MFA in Nonfiction Creative Writing, her work has appeared in TODAY, Shondaland, and The New York Times. Since 2017, Kayti has been uncovering and reviewing the best sustainable home brands and wellness products. Her personal journey through four years of fertility treatments has inspired her to write extensively about women’s healthcare and reproductive access. Beyond her work at The Good Trade, Kayti is the creator of phone notes, a Substack newsletter with 7,000 subscribers, and the cohost of the FriedEggs Podcast, which delves into IVF and infertility.

The post Why I Begin Each Year With A Mini Intention Retreat appeared first on The Good Trade.

Penny is not our first Basset-mix — our first baby was William, a gorgeous, loving, perfect “bassador” that looked exactly as if you’d taken a full-grown yellow lab and swapped out his limbs for the paws and ankles of a sturdy lion. Both dogs’ dominant trait is friendliness, but they also share a distinct wariness about the world around them that causes the occasional problem.

They are always watching, seemingly on the lookout for danger, even from their safe and comfortable domain on the living room couch. In fact, they are the most prone to panic when they are lying down — which is, like, all the time. When prone, it’s easy for them to get stuck. This puts them constantly on the defensive, wary of the moment when a cozy, loving cuddle with their people makes them feel suddenly trapped and vulnerable to attack.

Let me show you them, so you can get the idea.

“These defensive behaviors are instincts designed to keep them safe from whatever perceived danger triggered their fear.”

In both cases, we learned about this the hard way: William nipped my husband on the forehead during a snuggle when Aaron got too close to his face. Penny tried to bite my boot off when I held out a leg to keep her from getting hit by the front door. In both cases, the dogs were lying down — a position that takes them, on a good day, half a minute to ease out of into standing (picture a fat seal trying to take off in a sprint and you get the idea). We never learned William’s backstory, but we knew that Penny’s back leg had been crushed in a door by young children years back, an accident that was bad enough to warrant surgery. It is no wonder that she’s particularly skittish around doors, especially when she’s lying down. 

When dogs are threatened, they display clear defensive behaviors: vocalizations (barking, growling, whining); body language signals (freezing, hackles raising, baring teeth); even full flight or avoidance. These defensive behaviors are instincts designed to keep them safe from whatever perceived danger triggered their fear. 

As it turns out, humans are not so different.

Why we get defensive (and the many forms it takes)

Like animals, our brains are wired for survival. As we go about our lives, our brains are coding our experiences and triggering a hormonal response that might, for example, reward us with a sense of accomplishment or trigger us into self-preservation. Every time it repeats, the grooves of these neural pathways deepen, all in the hopes of keeping us safe and prolonging our survival.

When our brains code an event as a threat, it happens like this: The amygdala signals our hypothalamus to flood our systems with adrenaline and cortisol, preparing the body to confront or flee from danger — aka, fight-or-flight. This is called the stress response, and it’s an automatic survival mechanism that can happen well before conscious thought. 

“Defensiveness is also automatic, but unlike the stress response — a physiological phenomenon — defensiveness is a psychological and behavioral response.”

It is also a somewhat faulty and obsolete system for our contemporary lives, where the perceived “dangers” are often not dangerous in the least. Like when we get a flurry of emails all at once and our bodies respond as though we were just confronted by a grizzly bear. 

Defensiveness is also automatic, but unlike the stress response — a physiological phenomenon — defensiveness is a psychological and behavioral response. 

In other words, defensiveness is a learned reaction to the stress response, for instances when we feel threatened or unsafe. Not grizzly-bear-confrontation-type threats, remember, but something more along the lines of criticism. 

Defensive behavior in humans doesn’t look all too different from how we see it in dogs: vocalizations like denial, arguing, accusing, and making excuses; body language that looks aggressive and charged, possibly even escalating to violence; fleeing the situation by refusing to verbally engage or even with physical avoidance. 

Like most behaviors that are driven by fear, the intent (to protect the self) and the impact (psychological or emotional harm) don’t always add up here. 

So often, we receive criticism — whether at home, in our social circles, or at work —  as an attack. Maybe we feel misunderstood, or like our actions were unfairly interpreted. Maybe feeling like we disappointed someone or didn’t meet their expectations triggers a bone-deep fear about our self-worth. Or maybe we simply weren’t prepared to hear something hard, and our defensiveness is a reaction to being uncomfortable.

Defensiveness in the face of criticism and feedback about our behaviors, performance, or actions might feel like a natural response, but it almost always does more harm than good — both to our relationships and also to ourselves. After all, we are responsible for our behaviors, words, and actions. It is appropriate to be held accountable to them, and we should want to improve in these areas, right? 

“Defensiveness in the face of criticism and feedback about our behaviors, performance, or actions might feel like a natural response, but it almost always does more harm than good.”

Here’s the truth: We will all do and say things in every area of our lives that will require redirection. It is unreasonable to expect that we — or anyone else — will always do the exact right thing at the exact right time in the exact right way. If indeed we want to do, say, and be “perfect” in every scenario, the irony is that we have to expect that we won’t be, while continuing to try anyway. 

And then we have to actively invite the feedback we need to help us improve. 

Learn to be self-aware, not self-conscious

Self-awareness and self-consciousness might sound similar, but they are crucially distinct. Understanding the difference between them is the first step in developing a healthy relationship with our personal growth and curbing the defensive mechanisms that can keep us stuck. 

Self-awareness is the ability to observe and identify your emotions, characteristics (like perceived strengths and weaknesses), and motivations — without judgment. 

Self-consciousness is observing and identifying your emotions, characteristics, and motivations with a critical eye, through the lens of external perception. 

When we assess ourselves, we can take the role of a curious observer, or we can be the mean girl from every high school movie in the early aughts (raise your hand if you’ve felt personally victimized by the Regina George living in your head). Curiosity invites questions and helps us to think more deeply beyond our first or even second reactions to situations. Judgment stokes doubt, fear, and a preoccupation with negative outcomes. 

Self-awareness is a practice that brings clarity and helps us to truly know ourselves; self-consciousness brings anxiety, making us stuck in a loop of worrying about ourselves. 

“Self-awareness is a practice that brings clarity and helps us to truly know ourselves; self-consciousness brings anxiety, making us stuck in a loop of worrying about ourselves.”

Sometimes, we can redirect our self-talk in the moment, taking a self-conscious thought like “I can’t wear this dress to work, everyone will think I’m looking for attention,” and turning it into a moment for introspection: “The idea of wearing this dress to work is making me feel nervous, I wonder why?” Other times, we might need to take the time to engage more deeply. 

Mental practices like mindfulness and meditation can help build up the skills that will slow down the knee-jerk defensive responses and habits that we might need to rewire. Redirecting our attention to the present moment, identifying the observable facts of a situation, and focusing on our breathing can help us learn to be with our thoughts and feelings without having to act on them right away. Dialing back the urgency will make it all the easier to let ourselves be for long enough to observe what’s happening, and to identify what we’re seeing with calm, unbiased curiosity. 

Keeping a journal, talking to a therapist, or developing an interpretation practice like Tarot can help hone the ability to dive even deeper into understanding the roots of our emotions. Understanding our triggers, patterns, and tendencies with an open mind and compassion can help us build better habits for preparation, support, and reflection. 

Make friends with failure 

One of the greatest disservices we have done to ourselves as a culture is stigmatizing failure. Any perceived failure in our lives can feel like a badge of shame, something heavy and cumbersome we’re trying to keep hidden. If someone happens to see it, we do whatever we can to protect ourselves, grasping the first defense mechanism we can reach.

Would we still behave this way if failure weren’t considered so bad?

It’s all too easy to think of success as a zero-sum game, as if success happens instead of failure, rather than as a result of many failed attempts. But as any artist or scientist or athlete can attest, every major masterpiece, breakthrough, or triumph is built on a pile of failed efforts they made to get there. 

Failure is not intrinsically negative, but we have coded it that way. Sure, failing on some levels is harder to handle than others, but even the worst-case scenarios can take on a more generative meaning with the right framework. Getting fired, for example, feels terrible — but so does staying at a job that’s a bad fit.  

“Failure is not intrinsically negative, but we have coded it that way.”

If we can reframe our relationship to failure from the ground up, how might this help us grow? 

Imagine if we included an expectation for failure, and how our relationship with failing might shift? What would it mean to fail if the associated shame and embarrassment never came? 

The writer Sonia Feldman reframed her relationship with failure by flipping the goal of getting published in a literary magazine on its head: Instead of focusing on trying to get an acceptance, she focused on getting 100 rejections. By doing this, she reduced the emotional toll of the inevitable rejection that’s part of the process of submitting work for publication, and prevented the demoralization that could stop her from continuing to try. In other words, she incorporated the certainty of failure into her process. 

Her debut novel, by the way, comes out this summer. 

Own your “weaknesses” and work on them, publicly

I struggle with a desire to appear competent to others. I want to be taken seriously, and I want to be given credit for my skills and talents in a way that has been described as “showoffy” or “attention-seeking” at various times in my life. 

I could deny these tendencies, or try to rationalize them — in fact, I tried that approach for most of my adult life. But that defensiveness, which in theory was supposed to protect me from harm, had the effect of making me distinctly vulnerable to it.

Seeking the praise and admiration I craved, I’d become a bulldozer in projects, ignoring everyone else so I could secure the center of attention. If this backfired, I’d become sulky and taciturn, drawing the sort of attention that only compounded my embarrassment and shame. If I couldn’t look at myself honestly, it was absolutely unbearable when other people did. 

“If I couldn’t look at myself honestly, it was absolutely unbearable when other people did.”

When I tried owning these characteristics and stopped treating them like fatal flaws and more like the silly little quirks that they are, everything changed. 

It was easier to shift course when these behaviors showed up. I could call myself out and redirect, and it became easier for others to do so as well. I noticed that by facing these “weaknesses” head-on and owning them out loud, I didn’t make myself more vulnerable at all, but less — in fact, I became impervious to the usual maelstrom of feelings that would accompany any associated feedback completely.

“Stephanie, I think you’re dominating the project a bit in these areas — why don’t we give someone else some airtime?” was the kind of comment I could have lost months ruminating about. Now, all I had to do was make a little more room in the spotlight for someone else, no drama required. Because it wasn’t a surprise to hear that I was taking over the project, nor that other people had noticed. I knew this about myself, and I had owned it to others. All I had to do was go “Whoops!” and then shift back into my own lane. Then we could all move on.

Working on this transparently also had the consequence of building trust in my teams, making it more likely for them to offer positive feedback and affirmation to me organically. I was getting everything I wanted so badly without wasting a moment despairing about it — and all I had to do was be brave enough to face the possibility of being a little uncomfortable.

Get a house gnome

TikTok is a real grab bag of content, and I’m in no way advocating that we mine social media for our life advice. Every once in a while, however, the algorithm delivers something worth trying out. Of the thousands of videos I’ve seen on the app, there is one that has actually reshaped the way my husband and I manage the inevitable friction that builds up between anyone sharing a home together: Allow me to introduce you to The house gnome.

The house gnome is an invisible, mischievous creature who’s always up to minor hijinks and creating little inconveniences at our home. The house gnome might leave the milk out on the counter all day, for example, or set a pair of muddy boots in the middle of the entryway. I would never do that, and neither would my husband, so it must have been the gnome. He also turns the back porch light back on after I distinctly remember turning it off, and sometimes he takes my husband’s empty seltzer cans and leaves them on my clean dresser. He’s always trying to get us in trouble with each other, but we’re on to him!

“The house gnome is an invisible, mischievous creature who’s always up to minor hijinks and creating little inconveniences at our home.”

The house gnome has saved us an untold amount of unnecessary grief over things that are ultimately just not that important. But when you’re stressed and tired, sometimes the most innocuous “friendly reminder” can send you straight to the armory, ready to launch every defensive tactic you’ve got. “Hey honey, I thought you said you’d turn out the porch light?” might as well be an invitation to a duel. 

But the house gnome takes the brunt of it instead. Because we know we’re all trying our best here, and it’s hard to be perfect all the time, and even harder to laugh it off when you’re depleted and exhausted already. Especially when you have a house gnome coming along and causing trouble. 

In other words: Find whatever silly ways you can to take yourself less seriously. It’s much easier to remember what’s more important than defensiveness. 

Why we should invite and embrace feedback

As an artist and writer, I am no stranger to criticism. Critiques where peers and mentors offer (mostly) constructive feedback on work we have carefully and obsessively poured ourselves into might be familiar to me, but it’s an experience that never really gets any easier. It’s hard to hear what others think about you — even when you have explicitly invited them to tell you. 

“Just because I’m uncomfortable, doesn’t mean I don’t need to know what they’re telling me.”

But here’s what I’ve learned in more than 20 years of subjecting myself to formal circles of critiques: Just because it’s hard to hear in the moment doesn’t mean it’s not useful, important, or relevant. Just because I’m uncomfortable doesn’t mean I don’t need to know what they’re telling me. 

The other thing I’ve learned? I can take it. 

I might feel those urges rise up — a desire to defend myself, or to explain what I really meant, or argue the point until I can change their mind — but giving in to those urges not only prevents me from learning something that might help me grow, they also usually become unbearable sources of embarrassment in the aftermath.

I can be held accountable for my actions, behaviors, art, and words. I can handle being uncomfortable. I can survive listening to something that’s hard to hear. 

We all can. Because we are more than any one thing we said or did. We’re still learning, still growing, still getting to be better bit by bit, with experience, time, and new information. Even my first basset-mix William, who lived with us for six years, learned to relax if I put my face in his ruff while he was lying down. By the end, I was even able to kiss his regal, wrinkly brow without him even batting an eye.

We’re still working on Penny and her concern about the door, but we have time. We’ll just keep showing up and talking it through until one day she might see that she is okay, and there’s no danger here.

Stephanie H. Fallon is a Contributing Editor at The Good Trade. She is a writer originally from Houston, Texas and holds an MFA from the Jackson Center of Creative Writing at Hollins University. She lives with her family in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, and she is the author of Finishing Lines, where she writes about her fear of finishing, living a creative life, and (medical) motherhood. Since 2022, she has been reviewing sustainable home and lifestyle brands, fact-checking sustainability claims, and bringing her sharp editorial skills to every product review. Say hi on Instagram or on her website.

The post How To Embrace Feedback (Without Getting Defensive) appeared first on The Good Trade.

If you’re new to affirmations, think of them as ways of envisioning and creating positive feelings around a matter, or in this case, cash flow. Being rooted in worth, eradicating poor money habits, cultivating a sense of joy around money, and feeling comfortable with wealth are all important elements of the process. 

“Take this as your sign — it’s time to invite a life beyond financial limitations.”

We’re lovers of using language to positively shape our daily realities but we’ll be the first to admit that establishing these habits takes some consistency. Whether you have financial goals set or are simply open to more abundance, money affirmations may gently guide you to areas of your financial life that will benefit from some extra inspiration.

These affirmations can be recited as part of a daily routine or simply called upon when needed. They’re reminders that become embedded into our approach to life, money, and a sense of worth. Eventually, healthier conversations around money within yourself and your community will become an integrated part of life. 

Here are 99 money affirmations for stable financial wellbeing in 2026. For our favorite money mindset Substacks, check out Healthy Rich and Money Mindset Mastery.

Share a money affirmation that resonates with you in the comments! And if you want to invite more positivity into your life daily, our list of positive morning affirmations pairs beautifully alongside the phrases below.

Acknowledging your worth

1. I am worthy of having everything I desire.

2. I welcome impeccable financial wellness.

3. I am in charge of my earning potential.

4. Living life fully is my right.

5. I define my worth and deserve all the good things coming my way.

“I define my worth and deserve all the good things coming my way.”

6. I invite a joyful existence where my funds transform my vision.

7. I am pleased to have created a life of high self-worth and ease.

8. I have always been a person worthy of a financially secure life.

9. Wealth chooses me.

10. I deserve to receive large sums of money.

11. Prosperity clings to me, it always has.

12. I am wise enough to manage my wealth wonderfully.

“My time is incredibly expensive.”

13. I am worthy of a financially abundant future.

14. I am worthy of adding another 0 to my hourly rate.

15. My time is incredibly expensive.

16. I don’t have to overwork to receive more money.

17. I am worthy of rest.

18. Wherever I land, my income is deservedly high and I live extremely comfortably.

19. I choose more for my heart space and finances.

20. I see myself as powerful and capable of manifesting unthinkable amounts of money.

21. There is nothing to become, I am already abundant.

22. My skillset is valuable and gives me access to more wealth than I have ever known.

Manifesting an abundant life

23. I am living in my most financially successful season yet.

24. My life is rich in opportunities.

“My life is rich in opportunities.”

25. I am comfortable living life abundantly on my own terms.

26. I receive abundantly and so I give abundantly.

27. I am a thriving and highly wealthy person.

28. I inspire others to live life fully, without fear.

29. I always attract success and money in all areas of my working life.

30. I am in the habit of effortlessly attracting money every day.

31. I am grateful to be surrounded by abundance.

“I am limitless.”

32. All of my dreams manifest in perfect timing.

33. I am limitless.

34. I attract financial stability.

35. I effortlessly live a life that is aligned with my purpose.

36. I choose to make money in ways that perfectly affirm my values and beliefs.

37. I have plenty of space to increase and expand in all areas of my life.

38. I am a powerful manifester.

39. I intentionally call in a life that is mine.

40. I am thankful for my multiple, successful income streams.

41. I invest in myself and future reality.

“I am a powerful manifester.”

42. In this very moment, money flows into my life.

43. I can afford to live the life of my wildest dreams.

44. Money often comes to me in wonderful and unexpected ways.

45. I make money in my sleep.

46. I know that what is mine is already waiting for me.

47. I am surrounded by opportunities to make more money in loving environments.

48. I know wealth and abundance well.

49. I spoil myself and my loved ones with my money.

Relinquishing fear of money 

50. It is my sacred duty to heal unhelpful money habits so I can flourish financially.

51. I have incredible financial autonomy.

52. I’m amazed by how rapidly I have enhanced my financial wealth.

“It is my sacred duty to heal unhelpful money habits so I can flourish financially.”

53. I am financially educated beyond belief.

54. I adore making money.

55. I release all resistance to earning high.

56. I am an example of overcoming fearful money behaviors for the highest good.

57. There is never a mystery around money, I have incredible amounts of financial intelligence.

58. It is safe for me to be wealthier than I ever have been before.

59. I am in a new era of calling in monetary abundance into my immediate reality.

“I am in a new era of calling in monetary abundance into my immediate reality.”

60. I wholeheartedly trust that I am healing from harmful thought patterns.

61. I wake up every day more enriched and in alignment with wealth.

62. I am proud of myself for breaking poor money narratives.

63. I have a positive relationship with saving money.

64. I have a positive relationship with spending money.

65. I release scarcity mentality, in its place I have rich money habits.

66. I lack nothing.

67. Everything I give returns to me.

Attracting happiness

68. I am ecstatic to be able to provide myself with limitless financial freedom.

69. I am living a life of my choosing.

70. I love my life entirely.

“I speak positively about my financial journey.”

71. I speak positively about my financial journey.

72. I am delighted every time I check my bank accounts.

73. I love seeing my wealth multiply.

74. It brings me great joy to be financially safe to rest, travel, and do what I love.

75. I release money worries and claim my most abundant, stress-free life.

76. Money is one of the many things that brings me peace.

77. I meditate on the love frequency to attract benevolence and increase.

78. I enjoy taking care of my finances.

“I am grateful for the income I already have.”

79. I am grateful for everything I have and I’m excited for the abundance that is on its way.

80. My earning potential is endless, just like my joy.

81. Money loves my company.

82. I am grateful for the income I already have.

83. I am grateful for my magnetism.

Discovering new avenues and possibilities

84. This stage of my life marks the most abundant one yet.

85. I welcome money-making that causes no harm to others.

“I welcome money-making that causes no harm to others.”

86. I welcome new ideas and fruitful investments.

87. Financial freedom is a part of my current reality.

88. I am a magnet for innovative ideas that align me with the financial increase.

89. Money is pouring into my life.

90. It is easy for me to acquire money and wealth.

91. My wealth is irreversible and I am greatly thankful for this.

92. I am financially free.

93. I attract success everywhere I go.

“I willingly receive all the wealth life has to offer me.”

94. I willingly receive all the wealth life has to offer me.

95. Financial independence is limitlessly available to me.

96. My actions lead to financial prosperity.

97. I unlearn debt and confidently manage my money.

98. I am rich in all areas of my life.

99. I hold no limits on the amount of money that I can make.

Amara Amaryah is a Jamaican essayist, author, and wellness and travel writer born in London. Her life writings are interested in voice — often voicelessness — and reclamations of identity through definitions of home. Her freelance journalism explores health, joy, self-knowing, and more. Amara now travels and lives slowly in her favorite places around the world. She writes the “Life Is In Love With Me” newsletter.

Psst! Google launched a new feature that lets you choose “Preferred Sources” — so your searches highlight trusted, values-driven outlets instead of clickbait. To add The Good Trade, tick the box beside our name. That’s it — our stories will be waiting whenever you search. Read more about it here.

The post 99 Money Affirmations To Attract Abundance In 2026 appeared first on The Good Trade.

I’m a brand marketer who works at the intersection of storytelling, marketing, community-building, and helping founders find their voice. I’ve always been able to see other people’s magic — and translate it into a message, an offering, a brand that resonates with and finds the people who need to hear it.

“When would I have the courage to put myself out there, and share my own talents, ideas, and creativity with the world?”

But after a decade of telling other people’s stories — and watching their success expand because of it — I started to have this nagging feeling. If I can do this for others, why am I not doing it for myself? When would I have the courage to put myself out there and share my own talents, ideas, and creativity with the world?

Around my 30th birthday, these questions stopped being theoretical. I was frustrated and shrinking into the background of operations — telling myself that if I could just figure out what I wanted to build, say, or share, then I’d finally start. Once I knew what it was, putting myself out there would feel obvious. But the truth was: Waiting for clarity had become another way of hiding.

You might be familiar with the concept of a “Saturn return.” It’s that period of time in your late twenties when the universe taps you on the shoulder and says, gently but firmly: It’s time to stop living on potential and start taking responsibility for the life you actually want. Whether or not you believe in astrology, this maturation point between 28–31 usually illuminates everything you’ve been avoiding, and asks you to let go of any conditioning that’s not serving the authentic expression of your gifts… and this happens again between 57–60, when life asks you to evaluate if you’re happy with how things are unfolding mid-life.

In the throes of my questioning, I connected with a new friend. She was at a crossroads in her career — burned out on agency life and craving more freedom. Because I’d taken an alternative path as a career freelancer, my advice came from the very real way I’d navigated my own work: Helping her see her value as a creative, understand her marketable skills, and identify brands she could offer them to directly so she could make more money on her own terms.

I didn’t see this advice as anything special. I was just helping a friend by sharing a perspective that felt second nature to me. But when she implemented what I suggested — and saw immediate, tangible success — she reflected it back to me clearly: You have to teach other people how to do this.

“I was ready to put my energy somewhere — to finally build something of my own — so I followed the ping and started down the path.”

At first, I thought it was a boring idea. Teach people how to freelance? I was looking for something more exciting. But I was ready to put my energy somewhere — to finally build something of my own — so I followed the ping and started down the path of creating an e-course.

Excited by the process, I wrote lessons, recorded audio content, designed my brand, and came up with fun marketing ideas. I poured myself into the project for the next eight months, and just when I thought I was nearly ready to launch, it hit me. Now I needed to put myself out there if I really wanted to build this brand… and that felt really, really scary.

I stumbled across a video by an inspiring woman building a business around upskilling the corporate workforce. She shared her journey from zero to thousands of followers after committing to a daily value-forward social media experiment. I related to her background and was motivated by her story, but I remember lying in bed thinking, I would sooner die than put videos of myself on the internet.

And it wasn’t because I wasn’t outgoing or confident. It was because I was afraid of what other people would think of me.

Some of the worries and doubts that tried to hold me back included:

• What if I’m cringey or seem like a try-hard?
• What if nobody cares or engages at all?
• What if I’m not actually good at this?
• What if I run out of things to say?
• What if I can’t follow through and fail in front of everyone?
• What if I just don’t want people thinking about me at all?

But underneath all of those fears was a bigger, heavier question: What if I stayed silent and never shared at all? What would it cost me to keep my work — and myself — hidden? 

And what might be possible if I were brave enough to try?

If any of this feels familiar, you’re not alone. Whether you’re an artist, writer, entrepreneur, leader, coach, professional — or simply someone with lived experience and ideas you want to share — the fear of being seen shows up for all of us. Especially when the work is personal. Especially when it matters.

Pushing through that fear isn’t just about confidence or self-expression. It’s about honoring what’s inside you. It’s about allowing your work to find the people it’s meant to serve. And it’s about opening yourself up to new opportunities, meaningful connections, and conversations that can only happen when you let yourself be visible.

“It’s about honoring what’s inside you. It’s about allowing your work to find the people it’s meant to serve.”

Since that moment of panic lying in bed, I’ve done the thing anyway. I launched. Over the last 12 months, I’ve shared hundreds of videos across social platforms, stayed consistent with my Substack, and started mentoring other founders, creatives, and leaders on how to put themselves out there in a way that actually feels aligned.

Being brave enough to share has led to clients, speaking engagements, brand partnerships, features, sales, new friends, and community. Best of all, I feel proud when I look at my growing body of work and know it’s offering real value to people.

So if you’re ready to step into the light and start sharing, here are the lessons that helped me.

Sharing your work is not showing off — it’s creating visibility

Sharing your work isn’t about showing off — or even about followers. It’s about creating visibility for yourself so you’re top of mind when opportunities arise, or when people need the services, skills, and perspective you can offer.

For a long time, I thought creating content and being visible meant making myself the center of attention. I even judged myself for wanting that. I’ve spoken to so many people who avoid sharing altogether because they don’t want to be self-aggrandizing, egotistical, or show-offy.

What I’ve learned is that visibility isn’t about drawing attention to yourself. It’s about letting your work circulate without trying to control how it’s received. Visibility isn’t vanity. It’s distribution.

“Visibility isn’t vanity. It’s distribution.”

You also get to control the tone of your output. If you’re not a show-offy person, you don’t suddenly become one by sharing your work. You can show up quietly, generously, and with the simple intention of letting the right people find what you’ve made.

When you share what you do, you’re not imposing — you’re offering

Here’s the simple part we often forget: If you don’t tell people what you’re doing, you can’t expect them to know. I had a friend who finally shared her freelance writing services and Substack on LinkedIn to her professional network after years of resistance — and in 24 hours, she got 2 new inbound clients and 75 subscribers… it could be that easy.

“If you don’t tell people what you’re doing, you can’t expect them to know.”

So many people have talents, services, creative projects, or businesses they hope will lead to clients, sales, or opportunities — but they haven’t even told their immediate circle what they’re working on. Meanwhile, people are looking for resources all the time. They’re trying to solve problems. They’re asking for recommendations.

When you share what you do, you’re not imposing — you’re offering. You’re giving people a chance to remember you when the moment is right. That’s not self-promotion. It’s a service. And when done thoughtfully, it’s a win-win.

You don’t have to have it all figured out — clarity unfolds over time

When you’re starting off, begin with a few simple intentions: share your work, provide value to others, and stay consistent — even if consistency, for now, means once a month.

As you put things out into the world, you’ll start to receive feedback on what you create – through messages, comments, and conversations. Pay more attention to the qualitative signals than the vanity metrics.

“When you let yourself start before you feel ready, your work begins to take shape in conversation with the world instead of in isolation.”

Try not to judge your work or over-strategize too early. Give yourself at least ten pieces (posts, articles, videos) before deciding what’s working. You’re still getting your bearings — learning what feels good to create, noticing who’s on the other side, and understanding what you want to build by paying attention to what energizes you.

When you let yourself start before you feel ready, your work begins to take shape in conversation with the world instead of in isolation.

What I’ve learned is that clarity is a byproduct of movement, not a requirement for it. I didn’t find my voice by thinking harder in private. I found it by showing up, sharing what felt true that day, and noticing what resonated.

You don’t have to pretend to be an expert; share from your experience

We don’t need more people pretending to have it all figured out. We need more people willing to be honest, relatable, and open enough to let others walk alongside them.

“We need more people willing to be honest, relatable, and open enough to let others walk alongside them.”

What’s often more compelling than the final result is the journey itself – the micro-moments that shape you along the way. The mistakes you’ve made. The challenges you learned from. The times you took the long, circuitous route. The moments when things unexpectedly worked out, or when you met someone who shifted the trajectory of your life.

Instead of trying to polish everything into “content,” start sharing what’s already present for you:

• What have you been thinking about lately?
• How did you make whatever you’re sharing?
• What are you learning in real time?
• What’s something you wish you knew before that now feels like a no-brainer?
• How do you feel about sharing your work?
• Who do you hope it reaches?

Sharing what’s alive in you today is where authenticity and connection stem from. You don’t need to position yourself as an expert. Being just 10% ahead of someone is 100% valuable to them.

It’s all material for your growth

Whatever feelings arise for you around this process — note them. They are not trying to stop you from moving forward… they are just ready to be felt so that you can move to your next level. 

Whether it’s imposter syndrome, self-doubt, shame, embarrassment, self-judgment… see them for what they are: opportunities to release something that’s been holding you back, instead of roadblocks to what you want.

“Someone out there is looking for exactly what you have to offer. “

You don’t have to become an influencer, over-expose yourself, or suddenly feel completely fearless. The only goal is to take one step at a time — to share what’s already inside you and trust that the path will reveal itself as you keep moving.

Start where you are, and let yourself be seen a little more than yesterday. Someone out there is looking for exactly what you have to offer. 

So if there’s something you’ve been wanting to say or share, consider this your permission slip. I’ll be cheering you on.

Featured image is by Andrew Parsons

Grace Abbott is a LA-based freelance Brand & Marketing Strategist and a Contributing Editor at The Good Trade. She has a degree in Graphic Design from Parsons School of Design and is the founder of How To Go Freelance — a brand dedicated to empowering creatives to monetize their skills and build personal brands. Beyond work, she’s always studying a new spiritual modality, painting her bedroom a new color, practicing Pilates, hosting friends, or going on a nature walk with her chihuahua, Donnie. Find her on Substack or Instagram.

The post How To Create Visibility For Your Work When You’re Afraid To Be Seen appeared first on The Good Trade.

Simply put, a vision board is “a visual representation of your goals,” media and life coach Zakiya Larry tells Oprah Daily. And it’s slightly different from a mood board. Instead of focusing solely on aesthetics, a vision board concentrates on bigger-picture life ambitions. But you can feel free to make your vision board as aesthetically engaging as you like.

“[Vision boards] can help you take the time to actually think about what you want, something that many of us don’t do,” says Suzy Rosenstein, Master Life Coach & Midlife Mentor. “Creating the life you want doesn’t happen by accident.”

Countless thought leaders and life coaches, like Eckhart Tolle and Deepak Chopra, endorse this technique of visualizing your desires each and every day too — as part of the effort to achieve your dreams.

“Studies show how vision boards serve as powerful visualization tools, which actually help us achieve our goals.”

Likewise, studies show how vision boards serve as powerful visualization tools, which actually help us achieve our goals. According to Psychology Today, visualization as a cognitive tool can help folks work through anxiety, prepare for a big work event, or bring certain life goals to fruition. 

Visualization works by helping your reticular activating system (RAS), your brain’s filter, stay on top of which messages to filter in and out. “The more you keep your goals ‘top of mind,’ the more your subconscious mind will work to reach them,” explains Ruben Gonzalez, four-time Olympian and author of “The Courage to Succeed,” in an interview with “Entrepreneur.” “That’s why writing your goals down every day, visualizing your intended outcome, and regularly saying affirmations is so important.”

So if you want to finally start your own business, learn yoga, go on your dream trip to Zanzibar, or maybe learn to restore your own furniture, looking at inspiring images can actually help you reach those goals.

If you’re ready to roll up your sleeves, follow this quick guide to head off into your bright future.

How to make a vision board

1. Brainstorm your vision board

Grab a pen and paper and ask yourself a few questions about how you see your life. Here are some sample questions to help you get started:

• What values are most important to you?
• What career/financial goals do you have for the next year?
• What are you saving up for?
• What are your dream travel destinations?
• Do you have any wellness goals?
• What do you want your home to look like?
• What’s your vision for your relationships with others?
• What’s your vision for your relationship with yourself?
• What do you want to bring more of into your life?
• Think of any inspirational quotes that are important to you.

Jot down the answers to your favorite questions above. Now you have a solid basis for what to fill your vision board with.

2. Source imagery

The good old-fashioned magazine method is super successful here. Flip through magazines and rip out images that align with your notes — or images that make you feel inspired. You can also opt to print out any image your heart desires from the internet. Consider adding photos you’ve taken yourself, quotes that inspire you, lists, decorative embellishments, and even recipes.

3. Gather crafting materials

If you love breaking out the glue stick, then grab a poster board from the store and start pasting! But if you want a vision board that’s more easily transitional, use a corkboard and push pins. You’ll also probably need scissors, tape, markers or pens, and a chunk of free time to set aside.

4. Create your vision board

Once you’ve gathered your images, and materials, and set aside an hour or two, it’s time to structure your board. Lay everything out to see what looks best before you commit to scissors or glue. Which images or themes are the most important to you? Consider putting them in the center of your board. You can even turn this into a self-care situation, with music, candles, and maybe friends. Take your time with this, since you’ll have to look at it every day, multiple times a day (that’s the idea).

Rosenstein notes that she prefers to take her time with vision boards, instead of finishing them in one sitting. “My process starts with giving myself time and space,” she says, noting that she’ll source imagery as she feels inspired over the course of a few weeks, before beginning to work on her board little by little.

5. Or create a digital vision board!

Maybe you skip the physical vision board altogether and create a digital one instead. Pinterest is a go-to for collecting images and inspiration, while stock photo sites like Dupe offer beautiful visuals that can match your exact aesthetic. For an easy, user-friendly design tool, Canva is perfect for for building your board. Check out some of our editor’s vision board below, created using images from Pinterest!

6. Put it up for display!

Et voilà! You can put the board anywhere, as long as you’ll see it regularly. If it’s small, your bedside table or fridge is perfect. Your desk or bedroom wall may be other good spots. If you’ve opted for a digital vision board, set your phone screen or desktop background as your vision board so you can revisit your board daily!

Here’s the best thing about a manifestation tool like a vision board: It’s not permanent. Add new images when you feel inspired, or tear off the ones that no longer serve you. Some folks like to make a new vision board each calendar year, every six months, or just whenever it feels right. 

“Here’s the best thing about a manifestation tool like a vision board: It’s not permanent.”

And you don’t have to make just one vision board — consider a career-focused one that you keep at work, a travel vision board, or a food vision board in the kitchen.

Most importantly, this exercise is all about doing what’s right for you. Once you start getting inspired by images and quotes and feel the creativity start to flow, you’ve unlocked a powerful tool to help you make some of your dreams a reality. A vision board itself won’t change your life, but your actions can then bring that vision board into existence.

Natalie Gale is a Boston-based freelance journalist. Since 2022, she has been reviewing the top sustainable home, wellness, fashion, and beauty products, sharing her honest opinion on the best finds. When she’s not writing about art, food, or sustainability, you can find her biking to the farmers’ market, baking, sewing, or planning her next Halloween costume. Say hi on Instagram!

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