Summer Reads to Get You Motivated

We are heading into summer, which means those New Year Resolutions are likely long gone. Maybe you did great this year and implemented some great changes, which is awesome! However, if you are finding yourself in a mid-year slump… I have a roundup of motivating reads to help get you back in the game for the second half of 2017!

Problem: You’ve fallen off the healthy eating wagon
Read: It Starts With Food– This is the first book by the creators of the Whole 30 program. Even if you don’t do the Whole 30 program, this book will teach you so much about food and motivate you to eat clean once again.
Summary from Amazon: It Starts With Food reveals how specific foods may be having negative effects on how you look, feel, and live—in ways that you’d never associate with your diet. More important, they outline their lifelong strategy for eating Good Food in one clear and detailed action plan designed to help you create a healthy metabolism, heal your digestive tract, calm systemic inflammation, and put an end to unhealthy cravings, habits, and relationships with food.

Problem: You are burnt out
Read: The Fringe Hours– If you want to find more time to do the things that make YOU happy, check out this book.
Summary from Amazon: Jessica Turner empowers women to take back pockets of time they already have in their day in order to practice self-care and do the things they love. Perfect for any woman who is doing everything for everyone—except herself—The Fringe Hours is ideal for both individuals and small group use.

Problem: You are doubting your creative dreams & goals
Read: Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear– This book pushes you to nurture your creative side.
Summary from Amazon: Whether we are looking to write a book, make art, find new ways to address challenges in our work, embark on a dream long deferred, or simply infuse our everyday lives with more mindfulness and passion, Big Magic cracks open a world of wonder and joy.

See Also: Busy Mom’s Guide to Creativity– This book is by my dear friend, Bev Feldman of Linkouture, a hand-crafted jewelry maker and tutorial queen. Bev was feeling overwhelmed as a mom wanting to make more time for her creative instincts, but had no time. Her lovely book helps all you busy mamas be inspired to infuse creativity into your everyday activities and make more time for yourself, while still being a great mom.

Problem: You feel underpaid and underappreciated
Read: Knowing Your Value: Women, Money, and Getting What You’re Worth– I know tons of female coworkers who swear by this book.
Summary from Amazon: Knowing Your Value blends personal stories with the latest research on why many women don’t negotiate their compensation, why negotiating aggressively usually backfires, the real reasons why the gender wage gap persists, and what can be done about it.

Problem: You don’t feel “good enough” or “smart enough”
Read: #Girlboss– There’s a reason why this book is a huge bestseller. After reading how Sophia Amoruso evolved into a wildly successful businesswoman, you will be ready to kick butt.
Summary from Amazon: #GIRLBOSS proves that being successful isn’t about where you went to college or how popular you were in high school. It’s about trusting your instincts and following your gut; knowing which rules to follow and which to break; when to button up and when to let your freak flag fly.

Problem: You’re not a morning person
Read: The Miracle Morning– many people say the only part of your day you have complete control over is your morning, and this book will show you how to make the most of it.
Summary from Amazon: What if you could wake up tomorrow and any—or EVERY—area of your life was beginning to transform? What would you change? The Miracle Morning is already transforming the lives of tens of thousands of people around the world by showing them how to wake up each day with more ENERGY, MOTIVATION, and FOCUS to take your life to the next level.

Problem: Your budgeting efforts aren’t working out
Read: The Total Money Makeover– This Dave Ramsey classic is a butt kicker that will make you rethink how and why you spend money.
Summary from Amazon: If you’re tired of the lies and sick of the false promises, take a look at this—it’s the simplest, most straightforward game plan for completely making over your money habits.

Problem: You just feel “blah”
Read: You are a Badass– This is one of my all time favorite books! Just read it!
Summary from Amazon: By the end of You Are a Badass, you’ll understand why you are how you are, how to love what you can’t change, how to change what you don’t love, and how to use The Force to kick some serious ass.

Now grab a book, get out of that funk (if you are in one) & go kick butt for the rest of this year!