I’ve stumbled upon a magical combination of reading and writing in the wee hours of the morning that makes me feel so good and sets my day up for success. 

What is it?

It’s the combination of reading small doses of personal development books and then heading to my notebook to see what comes out on the page.

Come listen as I talk about the how and why behind this magical practice, share three kinds of books perfect for the task and talk about my favorite titles, too. 

Here are the books mentioned in this episode. You’ll find links to my Amazon and Bookshop affiliate stores below. Thanks for your bookish support!

Personal Development Books

Kokoro: Japanese Wisdom for a Life Well-Lived by Beth Kempton (Amazon / Bookshop)

Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience by Brené Brown (Amazon / Bookshop)

Untamed by Glennon Doyle (Amazon / Bookshop)

Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo (Amazon / Bookshop)

How Are You, Really? Living Your Truth One Answer at a Time by Jenna Kutcher (Amazon / Bookshop)

Collections of Essays, Poems and Shorter Text

Let It Be Easy: Simple Ways to Stop Stressing & Start Living by Susie Moore (Amazon / Bookshop)

Heating & Cooling: 52 Micro-Memoirs by Beth Ann Fennelly (Amazon / Bookshop)

Heart Talk: Poetic Wisdom for a Better Life by Cleo Wade (Amazon / Bookshop)

A Poem for Every Day of the Year by Allie Esiri (Amazon)

A Book That Takes Its Time: An Unhurried Adventure in Creative Mindfulness by Irene Smit & Astrid van der Hulst (Amazon)

Daily Nuggets of Inspiration

You Are a Badass 2024 Day-to-Day Calendar by Jen Sincero (Amazon / Bookshop)

Read This for Inspiration: Simple Sparks to Ignite Your Life by Ashly Perez (Amazon / Bookshop)

A Year of Positive Thinking: Daily Inspiration, Wisdom, and Courage by Cyndie Spiegel (Amazon)

A Year of Self-Care: Daily Practices and Inspiration for Caring for Yourself by Dr. Zoe Shaw (Amazon)

Now, it’s your turn!

I’d love to know about your morning reading and writing routine and what you might try from this episode to make it even better.

Please share your thoughts and book recommendations in the comments!