Reading as a Form of Self-care

(Plus… How I decide which format to read)

with Chelsea B. Foster

---

Burnout-Proof Your Business Podcast | Chelsea B Foster | Workflow & Productivity Specialist for Mutli-Passionate Creatives | Choosing the book format that’s right for you | How to up your reading game | Consuming content through reading | Creating a healthy habit of reading

Listen to the episode:

It's finally here, THE episode you guys have been asking for — my journey to reading 100 books in a year.

This journey has been just that - a journey. I didn’t wake up one more and think, “I’ll read 100 books this year.” No! I started with just a handful - 6 books in a year. Totally manageable at the time. And it’s grown from there.

It’s been fun learning about myself, what I like and don’t like, how I prefer to consume content, and rediscovering how my love reading.

When I think back to elementary school, I always had a book with me. Our bookshelves were overflowing. My sister and I would scour the Scholastic catalog to pick out our favorite books to buy. I’d read a ton to get that free personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut as often as possible - I know you did it too! And often, I’d come home from school and read a book just for fun.

A few favorite series of mine from elementary were the Wayside School, The Bailey School Kids, and Goosebumps.

But then high school came and with it a ton of required reading. And I lost my love of reading for fun (mostly because I didn’t have any free time to read - and obsessing over *NSync seemed like way more fun in the little free time I did have).

In this episode…

I'm sharing how I found my passion for reading all over again and how I use it today as a form of self-care. We're also diving into my favorite niche of books, my top tips on utilizing all of the different book formats to your advantage, and how to use book reading as a gateway to form new habits in both your personal life and your business.

• Finding my passion for reading all over again

• How I have read 82 books already this year and plan to read over 100 books before Dec 31st.

• Reading for fun + business + enrichment + self-care

• How I decide between audiobook, digital book, or physical book

• How I use book reading as a gateway to forming new habits

What are you reading?

I’d love to hear what you are reading right now! Send me a DM over on Instagram — better yet, tag me in a story with a photo of your current book. @chelseabfoster

And I’d love for you to join us at the next #cbfbookclub meeting - a book club for creative entrepreneurs who want to be reading for their business & personal development. Click here to get all the info on our current pick and to sign up to join our next meeting to discuss how to apply what we’re reading.

Your permission slip:

Today’s permission slip is super simple — pick out a book and read it. Give yourself permission to read for 5 minutes a day. Before long, you’ll have a complete book finished.

Some of my favorite tips for reading more:

• Keep a book on your nightstand and read a chapter before you turn off the lights (this is how I got started reading again!)

• OR keep your ipad or other e-reader on your nightstand and read a chapter of a digital book before you go to sleep

• Keep your book in the bathroom & read a little bit each time you sit down

• Start an audiobook and listen while you do the dishes, the laundry, make lunch, make the bed, clean the house (not while vacuuming though - that’s too much noise for your ears)

• Listen to an audiobook in the car (this is how I got started with audiobooks!)

• Take a book with you on your next trip (I love reading on the plane or at the beach!)

Resources:

• Audible

• Kindle & Kindle Unlimited

• Goodreads

• Your local library (google “public library (your town, state)” to find a library near you.)

• #cbfbookclub - a book club for busy creative entrepreneurs & coaches who want to read more for their business & personal growth

Some of my favorite books in the last few years:

FICTION -

• Agent Pendergast series by Preston & Child

• Sigma Force series by James Rollins

• Her Royal Spyness series by Rhys Bowen

• A Witch P.I. Mystery series by Adele Abbott

• Bewitched by Chocolate series by H.Y. Hanna

• A Lady Hardcastle Mystery series by TE Kinsey

• Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear

• Maggie Hope Mystery series by Susan Elia McNeal

• Fixer-Upper Mystery series by Kate Carlisle

• Wisteria Witches Mysteries series by Angela Pepper

NON-FICTION -

• The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks

• The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

• Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis

• anything by Jen Sincero

• anything by Gabrielle Bernstein

• Essentialism by Greg McKeown

• Building a Story Brand by Donald Miller

• Profit First by Mike Michaelowicz

• and more — check out the bookshelf on the #cbfbookclub page

* All links in this post are affiliate links. Thank you in advance for supporting this small business. You can read the full affiliate disclosure here.

Want help creating the right systems and workflows for your business?

Schedule a free consultation call today! On the call we’ll chat about your dream and how I can help you make it a reality. Plus give you a few steps to take immediately after the call to get you started (because I’m all about implementation).

BOOK YOUR FREE CONSULTATION

Love the podcast?

1) Leave a review on iTunes.
This helps other amazing boss ladies find the podcast so they can burnout-proof their businesses too!

2) Become an official supporter!
By supporting the podcast, you allow episode after episode to be produced (plus I’d love you forever)! Thanks in advance if you choose to become a supporter.

---

---

If you liked today’s episode, I’d love for you to share it on Pinterest and/or leave a review on iTunes.

---