I recently went, and still am, going through a little bit of a self-doubting and questioning time. I am in my thirties, I am married, I am not ready for a baby yet, what should I eat tonight, why am I so afraid of flying, and what’s the meaning of life???
That escalated quickly! But that’s my thought process most evening before to go to bed at the moment… I have been feeling a lot like I am living the life I am given instead of owning it, and being a very anxious person the feeling of being out of control is very difficult for me to manage. Anyway, enough of the self-introspection and on to what I have been doing to help and move forward.
Well, I have been reading a lot! I find dedicated time to think and learn very restful and almost a little bit like meditation.
And because sharing is caring, I listed below the books I have found the most useful! Some helped me being more productive with the blog, some helped me with confidence at work, and others helped with my general anxiety.
So when you feel overwhelmed, keep calm and read a book!
Lean In, by Sheryl Sandberg
This book needs no introduction. It is very famous for a good reason! Sheryl Sandberg shows you how she navigates work and life as a woman and a mother, so you can do it too. You will finish this book feeling empowered and ready to ‘sit at the table’.
Read it if:
- You are looking for motivation in the workplace
- You need to boost your self-confidence as a woman in the workplace
- You feel a little left behind and not very valued at work or at home
Girlboss, by Sophia Amoruso
You may have heard about Sophia Amorous when shopping for some clothes or watching Netflix. But before being the controversial business woman she is today, she was a young and poor woman trying to make money selling clothes on eBay. This book shows you that all you need is a good idea and motivation!
Read it if:
- You want to own your career
- You need inspiration and motivation to create a business
- You have limited resources but you want to achieve big things
Artist in the Office, by Summer Pierre
You are stuck in a very uncreative job or work environment? This interactive book will show you how to inject creativity in your everyday life, from making coffee to writing and drawing.
Read it if:
- You want to inject creativity in your daily life
- You are stuck in a very non-creative job and are looking to change that
- You are an artist but cannot live off your art and had to take an office job
The Working Woman’s Handbook, by Phoebe Lovatt
A guide to help you plan and organise your career around the life you want, from budget, to execution, to taking vacations!
Read it if:
- You need inspiration to change and/or better own your career
- You like guidance and actionable tips
- You struggle finding the right work-life balance
Don’t Get a Job…Make a Job, by Gem Barton
This book is useful if you are looking for your next job but find nothing you like on LinkedIn. Maybe your dream job doesn’t exist, maybe you have to create it?
Read it if:
- You are a young graduate and are starting to look for your first job
- You want to get away from the conventional 9 to 5
- You find the task of looking for a new job daunting and you need motivation
Blog, Inc., by Joy Deangdeelert Cho
A little blogging bible! It guides you through the steps to follow to create and grow your blog. It also shares some successful bloggers’ stories which are very inspiring, and show you that everybody had to start somewhere.
Read it if:
- You want to start a blog and need some guidance
- You have been blogging for a while but you need a refresher
- You are planning your blog strategy and could do with some inspiration
The Inside-Out Revolution, by Michael Neill
This book was a recommendation from my therapist as I suffer high anxiety and a phobia of flying. It hasn’t completely cured me but I had a few ‘light bulb moments’ while reading it. A good read to get a different perspective on your feelings and how to manage them.
Read it if:
- You suffer anxiety
- You want to better manage your fears and worries
- You want to get more control over your feelings
Now breath in, breath out, read a bit, it’s all going to be okay!
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Claire Imaginarium 