Finding time to read is really hard some days. I have a business that is doing really well, but also a family to look after and a household to run, so there’s not always a lot of time to sit down with a book. But I do LOVE reading so I try to prioritise it when I have some down time. I believe it’s important to always be learning – I have piles of books all over the house, so there’s always one to pick up.
Anyway, this isn’t meant to be a blog about reading tips (although that’s a great theme for a future blog – note to self). Here I’m going to give a more in-depth review of some of the most recent books I have read that have helped and inspired me to think and behave differently – not only in my business but in my life overall. Because we’re a whole ecosystem, right?
- The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday. ‘366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance and the Art of Living’.
This book is unique in that you’re encouraged to read one page a day over the course of the year. Each page contains a translation of a quote from one of the original stoic philosophers. Stripped back and simplified, it aims to provide lessons about personal growth, life management and practicing mindfulness, and for me it did just that. I really enjoyed the short-form daily format as I don’t think reading heavy chunks on philosophy would gel with my hectic lifestyle right now! I was still able to digest the wisdom and commentary Holiday provides, grabbing moments each day to take the inspiration on board without feeling overwhelmed.
If you’re more into consuming content on the go, there’s also a Daily Stoic Podcast which delivers short 2/3-minute meditations which in the authors words, ‘help you to live your best life’.
2. Tiny Habits by Dr BJ Fogg. ‘The Small Changes That Change Everything’
There’s a bit of a theme emerging here…did I mention that my life is a bit hectic at times?! You can guess then that I was overjoyed to hear about this gem of a book. Much like The Daily Stoic Fogg encourages the reader to break things down – ‘make it easy, make it fit your life and make it rewarding’. The premise is to start small in the changes you’re committed to make. Want to get fitter and healthier? Start with a small number of push-ups, not a two-hour work-out. It’s an easy read and has definitely helped me to get out of the starting blocks with a few lifestyle changes I wanted to make.
There are some good resources that come with the book, such as the Tiny Habits tool kit – a collection of videos, cheat sheets and guides to help get you started. Or you can sign up to Fogg’s free 5 day programme.
3. Atomic Habits by James clear ‘An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habit & Break Bad ones’
Most people are familiar with James Clear. He’s sold millions of copies of this book worldwide and is renowned for his writing and speaking on the subject of changing behaviour. This book is jam-packed with inspirational and motivational content that can be applied to every aspect of life where you have to make the right choice. He pulls on ideas from biology, psychology and neuroscience but manages to distill the complex topics down so they’re really easy to understand. I really enjoyed the true stories he includes from gold medal winning Olympians, award-winning artists and business leaders. The book encouraged me to monitor and record my progress in the areas I wanted to improve, which ticks my productivity boxes and gave me an excellent excuse to buy a new notebook.
4. The Mental Toughness Handbook by Damon Zahariades. ‘A step-by-step guide to facing Life’s challenges, managing negative emotions and overcoming adversity with courage and poise’
If you’ve chomped your way through the first few books on this list, you might be ready for Damon Zahariades Mental Toughness Handbook – or, you might not. More of a guide on how to think rather than do, this book definitely sits on the Alpha Male side of the bookcase. Damon is unforgivingly confident that you can change your thinking to confront and overcome any problem in life, handle pressure and learn to control your impulses. My advice? Read this book, then go and watch some YouTube videos of fluffy kittens falling off sofas, just to take the edge off.
I’d love to know if you’ve read any of these books and what your take was on them? Have they helped or inspired you to change the way you do things or helped you think in a different way?
If you’ve got a suggestion for what I should add to my reading pile, please let me know in the comments. Or if you’ve been inspired by something you’ve read on this list and want to make some positive changes to how you manage your work life, please don’t hesitate to book in a coffee chat here.
