One of my biggest goals for this year is to read more. I have ADHD and have always struggled with reading. I would read a page while my mind wandered and then have to re-read the page again. I found that this was especially true when I was reading material that I did not enjoy, or really that I was not in the mood to read.
Well, I don’t know how I started doing this, probably out of just not wanting to read what I was currently reading that moment, but I started picking up more than one book at a time. Like, 8-12 books at a time. This might sound ludicrous, but it allowed me to pick up the book that I am in the mood for, and therefore can actually focus on what it is I am reading. IT HAS CHANGED MY READING GAME!
The other thing I implemented at the beginning of the year was starting a daily tracker to track my habits. I wanted to create better habits, and focus on my goals for the year, but again, struggled with keeping up with a tracker. I wrote about it in this blog post, but basically I hacked the system by putting my tracker next to a habit I already have: brushing my teeth. Now, I don’t miss any days of tracking my habits, and this has been an incredible encourager as well as accountability for the things I want to focus on this year.
So, in doing these two things, my read book count for the month of January more than doubled the normal number of books I read in a year!
Here is what I read, in the order I finished them, and my take on them:
Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal - A delightful read. Surprising and fun. Some erotic stories, and some humor. I’d recommend this one.
Yearbook by Seth Rogen - I listened to this one, and I am glad I did. Hearing it in Seth’s voice was great. A mischievous kid with some funny stories.
Love Warrior by Glennon Doyle - I LOVE Glennon! I think she is a great thinker of our time. I love her sensitivity, and her honesty. This is an autobiography and touches on love, religion, cheating, self-growth, and being your authentic self.
One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus - This was a fantastic story, the author had me convinced it was a true story. Clearly well researched, and well written. The concept: 1,000 white women are to live and bear children with Indigenous people of America in exchange for horses to help colonize them. Such an interesting read.
Regretting You by Colleen Hoover - I read almost all Colleen Hoover books in a day. They are really hard to put down. This was told from a mother and from a daughter’s perspectives. It is steamy, there is tension, and as always with Colleen Hoover books, twists and turns. Great and quick read.
It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover - This Romantic book does come with a domestic violence trigger warning. So much passion, tension, love, and fear in this novel. Could not put it down.
Emotionally Absent Mother by Jasmin Lee Cori MS LPC - I listened to this book. This is about relationships, and attachment styles. I have been doing a lot of therapeutic work, and this was a hard one for me, but necessary. If you have a difficult relationship with your Mother, I recommend this read.
Heart Bones by Colleen Hoover - Another great one from Colleen Hoover. Couldn’t put it down. Trigger warning for drug abuse, and neglect. It involves falling in love, trust, and heartache. Full of twists and turns. You really feel for the main characters.
Mother Hunger by Kelly McDaniel - Another book recommended by my therapist. It was healing for me to read this. Helped me to understand myself more, and validated my feelings.
Art of War by Sun Tzu - A very quick listen. It really is a book about the art of war, and yet the lessons in it can be used for almost anything you encounter in regular life. I bought this one in physical book form after listening to it.
Idiot by Laura Cleary - I listened to this lighthearted book. Trigger warning for domestic violence and addiction. It was just ok. It is an autobiography of Laura, a comedian and Tiktok star. It had good reviews, but I am not sure I would recommend it and don’t plan on reading her other book.
4 Hr Workweek by Timothy Ferriss - EVERY ENTREPRENEUR SHOULD READ THIS BOOK. So many pages dog eared, and I fully plan on reading it again.
Tools of Titans by Timothy Ferriss - I listened to this 24 hour long book. It is interviews from Titans in different fields. Very interesting and gave me some great ideas. If you like hearing interviews, this is a good one. Took some really valuable things away from this as well as many book recommendations.
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield - Self-help book for the creative. It will help you break through blocks, win inner creative battles, and get rid of resistance. The author encourages you to lean in and get a little scared. Follow your passions and create for the sake of creating.
Essentialism by Greg McKeown - I love this author. I listened to this one. It is about eliminating the unnecessary, and focusing on the essential parts of life and business. Choosing choice. Highly recommend it.