1. The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do In Life and Business by Charles Duhigg
With so much information available about good habits and bad habits, and how they affect our lives, this book was full of research that was interesting and relatable. First and foremost, Duhigg outlines the science behind habits and how you can make changes for the better. For being a research-based book, this was an incredibly quick read, offering lessons I can easily implement into my day-to-day life.
2. The 5 Second Rule: Transform Your Life, Work, and Confidence with Everyday Courage by Mel Robbins
It’s no secret that the motivational space is largely occupied by men. For those who love Rachel Hollis, you should be sure to check out Mel Robbins. Another female killing it in this space. This book is all about how to get up and get going. Because often times, getting started is the hardest part.
3. Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brené Brown
Brené Brown is a prolific researcher and author. If you aren’t familiar, start with her TED talk – The Power of Vulnerability – which is one of the top five most viewed TED talks in the world with over 35 million views. And she has a Netflix special. Her research and writing focus on courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy. Topics every woman can relate to but are not widely discussed and sometimes, even viewed as weaknesses. I love listening to her on Audible and find her voice to be incredibly soothing, while also offering insights and wisdom that are relevant to every faucet of life.
4. The Miracle Morning: The Not-So-Obvious Secret Guaranteed to Transform Your Life: Before 8AM by Hal Elrod
You’ve heard it over and over again – have a morning routine and it will change your life. The Miracle Morning is all about how to transform your day and life through the implementation of a morning routine (creating a new daily habit). Anyone and everyone in the self-development and motivation industry will tell you to wake early each day, before the rest of the household, to allow you time to yourself and an opportunity to start your day with intentionality.
This book is all about how to do that… it goes beyond the simple practice and focuses on how you implement the practice for maximum benefit.
This book has so much good advice in it, but I’ll leave one caveat here – make your morning routine work for you and your current life. If you’re up at all hours of the night with kiddos, you might be better off choosing one idea from the book and only waking up a few minutes early each day to journal or stretch, or do whatever feels good to you.
Based off my education and training in health and wellness, my opinion differs from the author’s on how much sleep you need (Sleep is essential for your health and for your body and brain to function, so try to get 7-9 hours of sleep per night first, then work in some things from this book).
That being said, the ideas for creating a morning routine in my life came straight from this book, so it can be a great way to help you devise a morning routine that works best for you, too!
5. The One Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan
The One Thing is a simple concept and something that most of us instinctively know but choose not to implement, because it often requires doing something we don’t want to do. The basic premise is that you start small, focusing on the one thing that will make everything else easier. Contrary to popular belief, not everything matters equally and there is no prize for doing the most work. It’s all about prioritization and what driven mama can’t relate to that.
As a self-proclaimed driven mama, I tend to consume a lot of non-fiction because there is so much to learn and I’m committed to continuous self-improvement. This reading list focuses on just that… resources to help you simultaneously pursue your dreams, while taking care of yourself and everyone else. But we all need a break, both mentally and physically, from time to time. So, for those who love fiction or just want a change of pace, check out Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens . Because reading in and of itself is a form of self-care and while the world is full of information and advice, sometimes you just need a little break.
If you need a little help making time in your schedule for a much needed break, check out my free self-care workbook for busy moms. It will help you put together a quick and simple plan so you can re-energize, reduce stress and show up as your best-self for your family and your work.