What’s on your bookshelf? Whether you savor the tactile magic of physical books. Or multi-task your way through listening on audio, you may be craving an opportunity to read. Especially as we wrap up the busiest season of the year and step into the promise of a bright new chapter.
The New Year signals a fresh start. And if you’re a setter of intentions or resolutions, books make anything you want to learn, develop, tune into or get lost in, accessible on your schedule.
But if the idea of ‘sitting still’ without your kids crawling all over you is laughable, consider reclaiming reading as another form of self-care. Like all self-care while parenting, it’s going to have to flex with your life. So, approach it like any new habit, and start small. Even if it’s in short, delicious bursts before you go to sleep, or listening to audiobooks during your commute, returning to pursuits you love feels amazing.
Audiobooks saved me. They restored my relationship to voracious reading because I can listen while roasting a chicken or sitting in traffic.
If it’s been a while since your last book, that’s okay. Reclaiming time to learn something new is so fulfilling, you won’t want to go back to a self-imposed drought. Books go into depth and cover topics in ways that podcasts and articles can’t touch.
I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing many brilliant Mom authors. Including several in the past year who have published new books. So, please enjoy this incredible list, with inspiration to care for your mental, physical, emotional or financial health!
Fight Burnout as You Grow in Your Career
“As with many other women and Mothers, I’ve had different bouts of burnout throughout my career. Like immediately after having my daughter and figuring out how to navigate work and childcare duties. And managing the guilt and shame of not feeling like ‘enough’ of a professional or ‘enough’ of a Mother.”
Read the full interview with Daisy Auger-Domínguez, Author, From Burned Out to Lit Up: How to Reignite the Joy of Leading People.
Overcome Emotional Barriers to Financial Wellness
“I want people to really understand that it is really individual. Personal finance is personal and it’s also emotional and that’s okay. So, what works for you is literally the best for you.”
Read the full interview with Aja Evans, Author of Feel Good Finance.
Unwind Your Patterns of Emotional Labor
“What makes conflict so hard to stomach or navigate, is that the fallout is so unequally born. Because if I have conflict with my boss, we’re not on the same playing field. They still have influence over whether I get promoted, and how tough my life is, if I choose to stay there. There’s a cost to raise conflict. It’s the cost of not knowing how they’re going to react or what the repercussions are. And that cost is all on me,”
Read the full interview with Elaine Lin Herring, Author of Unlearning Silence, How to Speak Your Mind, Unleash Talent and Live More Fully
Start Your Dream Business
“I did a workshop for therapists on personal branding and how to start your private practice. Then, I did a series of monthly meetups, as a way of continuing that conversation.”
Read the full interview with Dr. Charmain Jackman, Author of
Improve Practices in the Workplace
“One person said, ‘I was at the office last night until 11 and my boss didn’t tell me what to do. So, I just stood at the copy machine and made blank copies to look busy.’ People are dying from overwork! And it’s not like all of that overwork is making people more productive, creative, or earning them more money. It’s just making them miserable. And that’s a huge lesson we can learn from.”
Read the full interview with Brigid Schulte, Author of Overwork: Transforming the Daily Grind Into a Quest for a Better Life
——
Enjoy the gift of more time for wellbeing and growth. Plus delightful self-care packages for Moms, delivered to your door.
Ready to put yourself back onto your to-do list? Take a TimeCheck.
Shared your story yet? Take our quick survey to change how workplaces support parents.
Employers, become Allies@Work
