Wow, I can't believe we're in the last 10 days of 2021, and I haven't updated this blog since March. I started this year with big goals for my writing, and although I kept posting regular content on social media, I did not have the time or mental energy in my day to keep up with this blog or write my 3rd book in a year that felt fast and furious. As many of you know, my day job is not a writer or a blogger, but a family nurse practitioner, and working as a healthcare provider in the middle of a never-ending pandemic while also being a mom to two school-aged girls has been stressful. Needless to say, it did not leave much time for blogging or working on my next book.
What I did make time for was reading. I read more books in 2021 than I think I have ever read in a year. I read to learn, read to grow, and read to protect my peace in a season filled with so much noise, negativity, busyness, and continued change.
At the beginning of the year, I set a goal to read/listen to 50 non-fiction books, and I came pretty darn close! I am currently on book 44, and I've read some really good ones! As I've been sharing some of my favorite things on social media from books, podcasts, all things running, and things that just filled my cup in 2021, I know you're just dying to hear what my favorite books were.
Drum roll please....
My favorite physical books I read this year!
1. I Hate Running and You can Too by Brendan Leonard
This is a quick read filled with wisdom, motivation, humor, quotes and charts describing the love-hate relationship with running. If you're a runner, you'll see yourself in the book and be reminded of why you run. If you're wanting to be a runner, you'll feel encouraged to start running. If you're someone who wonders why someone would run 26.2 miles for the fun of it, you'll get your answers here, or you'll still think we're all crazy! I felt seen in this little book I consumed in a day, and I just loved it.
2. Growing Boldly: Dare to Build a Life you Love by Emily Ley
Emily Ley is one of my favorite authors and writes books that are absolutely beautiful from the colorful covers to the words and images inside them. This book encourages you to believe in who you are and whose you are, to utilize what you have, to imagine the life you want, and to love people well, do what matters, and forget the rest.
3. Rhythms of Renewal: Trading Stress and Anxiety for a Life of Peace and Purpose by Rebekah Lyons
This book encourages you to take charge of your emotional health, overcome anxiety by establishing daily habits that keep you mentally and physically strong, find joy through restored relationships, and walk in confidence with the unique gifts you have to offer the world.
4. Take Back your Time: The Guilt-Free Guide to Life Balance by Christy Wright
I love how Christy combines faith with personal development, and this book does just that. I really enjoyed this easy read that includes a 5 step plan to help you create a life you love. Christy says that life balance is about doing the right things at the right time and spending your one life on what matters most to you. It feels like peace when you're surrounded by chaos.
5. Atomic Habits: Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results by James Clear
I was late to the game on reading this one, but I'm so glad I finally did. This was definitely one of my top reads of the year and definitely in my top 3 personal development books. If you want to read a book about the art of breaking bad habits and developing good habits for life, then this is your book. James says that the quality of your life often depends on the quality of your habits. You get what you repeat. Success is not a goal to reach or a finish line to cross, but a system to improve, an endless process to refine. I loved this book and will be reading it again in 2022.
6. Rise and Run: Recipes, Rituals, and Runs to Fuel your Day by Shalane Flanagan & Elyse Kopecky
The first 69 pages include tips on running, training, and fueling your body, and the following pages are filled with delicious nutrient-dense meals such as superhero muffins, smoothies, and brunch items. Most recipes are gluten-free and mostly sugar-free, and they really do taste amazing! As a runner and someone who is interested in improving my overall health, I can't recommend this book enough. I look forward to cooking through this book in 2022.
In addition to reading physical books, I also consumed a lot of audiobooks! Listening to books is a great way to read more since you can listen in the car, while you walk the dog, while you go on a long run, or do chores around the house. I only listen to books read by the author and only by voices I want to listen to for hours. Some books are just made to be listened to.
In no particular order, here are my favorite listens from 2021!
1. That Sounds Fun: The Joys of Being an Amateur, the Power of Falling in Love, and Why you Need a Hobby by Annie F. Downs
What a joy Annie is to follow. If you don't follow her on social media or listen to her podcast, then you are missing out on her bright light she gives to the world. With this book, Annie offers an invitation to understand the meaning of fun, to embrace it and chase it.
2. No Pain, No Gaines: The Good Stuff Doesn't Come Easy by Chip Gaines
This book is all about building relationships and seeing people for who they are, enabling you to build a strong community and a life of meaning, joy, and connection. It was an enjoyable listen as many of his family members popped in and narrated parts of the book. As a fan of Chip and Joanna Gaines and everything they have built, I really loved it.
3. Soundtracks: The Surprising Solution to Overthinking by Jon Acuff
Jon's books are made to be listened to, as he is a great narrator. In his newest book, he explains how overthinking steals time, creativity, and goals and how to DJ the soundtracks that define you. We are the thoughts we tell ourselves, so choose some great soundtracks.
4. Limitless: The Power of Hope and Resilience to Overcome Circumstance by Mallory Weggemann
I love a good comeback story, a story of grit and overcoming, and this listen is one of the best I have heard. Mallory tells her story of becoming a paraplegic after a routine medical procedure went wrong and how she was able persevere through the pain and obstacles, find joy after loss, forgive and move forward, find love and purpose, becoming a gold winning paralympian swimmer. This book really opened my eyes to the need for diversity, inclusion, and accessibility.
5. The High 5 Habit: Take Control of your Life with one Simple Habit by Mel Robins
This book is filled with honest humor, wisdom, and kick-in-the-butt encouragement to high 5 yourself in the mirror and say the things to yourself that you're often wanting to hear from others. The high 5 habit teaches you to be the biggest pep squad of your own life. It's a great listen.
6. Declutter like a Mother: A Guilt-Free, No-Stress Way to Transform your Home and Life by Allie Casazza
I highly recommend this for all moms and anyone needing advice on how to manage ALL the stuff in their homes. This book is a fun read filled with tactical tips and tricks to create a home filled with intention, peace, calm, and less clutter.
7. Growing Slow: Lessons on Un-hurrying your Heart from an Accidental Farm Girl by Jennifer Dukes Lee
As someone who has grown up in a family of farmers, I really enjoyed this book following the rhythms of the natural growing season. This book charts a path out of the the pressures of bigger, harder, faster, and into a more rooted way of living where the growth of good things is deep and lasting. It was a great reminder to me that growing slow is not a bad thing.
8. Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of Done by Jon Acuff
In this book, Jon teaches his readers/listeners to short-circuit perfectionism, get focused and finally make it through to the end of a task. Filled with his humor and charm, it makes for a great listen if you are a goal-oriented person.
And there you have it! My top reads and listens of 2021!
Want to know what else I read and listened to this year that didn't quite make the favorite's list?
Here they are...
1. The Home Edit by Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin
2. The Home Edit Life by Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin
3. Body Love by Kelly Leveque
4. You Be You by Jamie Ivey
5. Be the Bridge by Latasha Morrison
6. Share your Stuff. I'll go First. by Laura Tremaine
7. On the Bright Side by Melanie Shankle
8. Frontier Follies by Ree Drummond
9. Compliment by Aaron and Jamie Ivey
10. Find Your Path by Carrie Underwood
11. The Well Woman by Gena Anderson
12. Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist
13. Simple and Free by Jen Hatmaker
14. Essentialism by Greg McKeown
15. Do Over by Jon Acuff
16. Awakening Wonder by Sally Clarkson
17. Brave not Perfect by Reshma Saujani
18. Lose Weight Like Crazy by Beachbody Coach Autumn Calabrese
19. High Performance Habits by Brendon Burchard
20. The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Actor
21. The Road to Love and Laughter by Kristin and Danny Adams
22. Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle by Tom Venuto
23. The Way of the Father by Michael W. Smith
24. Food Saved Me by Danielle Walker
25. Built Through Courage by Dave Hollis
26. Sixty Meters to Anywhere by Berndan Leonard
27. Why We Get Sick by Benjamin Bikman
28. Fill up To Spill Out by ME (because I needed to remind myself of why I wrote this book in 2020)
29. Your Fully Charged Life by Meaghan Murphy
30. Think Like a Monk by Jay Shetty
"Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body." Sir Richard Steele
"The more that you read, the more things you will know, the more that you learn, the more places you'll go." Dr. Seuss
Keep reading friends!
~ Allison
Comments
Post a Comment