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Finish Your Summer Book List (and get your kids to do the same) · The Wholehearted Enneagram Podcast

• 0:01
  SPEAKER_00: Earlier this year, I was inspired by a John A.
• 0:04
  SPEAKER_00: Cuff podcast episode about how he reads 100 books a year.
• 0:09
  SPEAKER_00: And while I've never managed to do that, I do love to read a lot of books, especially in the summertime.
• 0:16
  SPEAKER_00: So this is my adaptation to help you get to your book list this summer and to help your kids finish theirs as well.
• 0:25
  SPEAKER_00: One of the things I hear from my clients often is, I wish I had more time to read more books.
• 0:31
  SPEAKER_00: Or I've been meaning to read that book.
• 0:34
  SPEAKER_00: Or even still, you should see the pile of books on my nightstand.
• 0:39
  SPEAKER_00: Can you relate to any of these?
• 0:41
  SPEAKER_00: Well, if you can, today I'm going to share some coaching tips and tricks to read all the books on your summer book list and how you can get your kids to do the same.
• 0:50
  SPEAKER_00: Now, you might just have three books on your list, or you might be very ambitious and have 30.
• 0:56
  SPEAKER_00: But I believe it's not impossible to get it done.
• 0:59
  SPEAKER_00: No more would have, could've, should've about your summer book list.
• 1:03
  SPEAKER_00: Today I'm going to give you 20 very simple tips that you can pick and choose to use to make your summer reading rhythm a whole lot easier.
• 1:12
  SPEAKER_00: I'm going to show you how to get it done, how to have fun along the way, and invite your whole family to this new book reading and finishing rhythm.
• 1:21
  SPEAKER_00: Now, if you haven't yet listened to last week's episode, I covered in detail how you can have a summer without mom guilt while growing a business you love.
• 1:30
  SPEAKER_00: And plus, when you follow my tips in the last episode about creating a Simply Summer for your family, you will have more time to read.
• 1:38
  SPEAKER_00: And finding or having more time to read is something that makes me giddy.
• 2:00
  SPEAKER_00: Plus, still get things done that are important to moving your faith, business goals, and relationships forward.
• 2:07
  SPEAKER_00: I know what it's like to juggle a load of responsibilities, yet desire connection with the kids during these lazy, fleeting days of summer.
• 2:17
  SPEAKER_00: That's why I'm sharing some tried and true hacks to create a summer you love.
• 2:22
  SPEAKER_00: It's like you and I are getting to have a special pep talk, strategy session while you go on a walk, head to the pool, or hit the road for your summer vacation.
• 2:32
  SPEAKER_00: If we haven't met before, I'm Amy Wicks.
• 2:35
  SPEAKER_00: I'm an Enneagram life coach, helping entrepreneurial women have a vibrant faith, to thrive in their relationships, and to think like a business owner.
• 2:44
  SPEAKER_00: I do this by helping you identify your personality strengths, getting freedom from your emotional struggles, and creating simple, sustainable, life-giving rhythms.
• 2:56
  SPEAKER_00: I am so glad you're here.
• 2:58
  SPEAKER_00: This is the Simply Wholehearted Podcast.
• 3:06
  SPEAKER_00: Well, it's true.
• 3:07
  SPEAKER_00: I love reading.
• 3:08
  SPEAKER_00: I am a bookworm or a book nerd.
• 3:12
  SPEAKER_00: The reality though is there were years that I struggled to find time to read the books that I really wanted.
• 3:18
  SPEAKER_00: Now, before being a mom, as a teenager especially, I had a reading rhythm I rocked.
• 3:24
  SPEAKER_00: I don't think I could even keep track of all the books I read.
• 3:27
  SPEAKER_00: But after kids, well, reading that became a different struggle.
• 3:33
  SPEAKER_00: It took years to figure out how to make the time and get reading back on my priority list.
• 3:38
  SPEAKER_00: Now, as a busy mom of three kids while running a full-time coaching business, I do find that reading fills my creative idea bank and truly replenishes my soul.
• 3:48
  SPEAKER_00: Reading for me now is a non-negotiable.
• 3:51
  SPEAKER_00: Plus, as I support dozens of women in all the emotional, spiritual, and relational health, I need time to give training and teaching myself through rich, high-quality books.
• 4:02
  SPEAKER_00: When I get time to read, it fills my soul and it makes me a better wife, mom, and business owner.
• 4:10
  SPEAKER_00: And I might even go as far as saying that making time to read, well, it blesses me, my family, and clients.
• 4:19
  SPEAKER_00: Because I'm a coach for moms like you, I want to take a minute to remind you that taking the time for your book list is critical for your kids.
• 4:28
  SPEAKER_00: Now, why you might ask?
• 4:30
  SPEAKER_00: Because ultimately more is caught than taught.
• 4:34
  SPEAKER_00: What do your kids see you do when you have some free time?
• 4:37
  SPEAKER_00: Do they even see you create free time or have free time?
• 4:41
  SPEAKER_00: Or do you spend your extra minutes on your phone?
• 4:45
  SPEAKER_00: I guarantee your kids notice how you spend your time, and they do eventually imitate what they see.
• 4:53
  SPEAKER_00: When your kids see you give your precious minutes to reading a chapter, or maybe you even end your day with a good book, it catches their attention and they might even do the same thing.
• 5:05
  SPEAKER_00: Of course, your kids will most likely have to read for school and even have a required summer book list.
• 5:11
  SPEAKER_00: So reading alongside of them can create a bond that will serve your family for many years to come.
• 5:17
  SPEAKER_00: Now, today's episode is not about giving you a book list or a bunch of shoulds or making you feel guilty.
• 5:24
  SPEAKER_00: And it's not even going to be about speed reading or skimming, because that's not really my thing.
• 5:29
  SPEAKER_00: I don't find it very enjoyable.
• 5:32
  SPEAKER_00: Instead, my hope is to inspire you to get some delightful, unrushed reading hours in the summer with your kids and to finish these warmer days smarter and more refreshed than when you started.
• 5:45
  SPEAKER_00: Now, if you need some ideas to inspire your reading list, here are 20 of them to help you finish your book list or get some good books on your book list.
• 5:55
  SPEAKER_00: All right, first, start with the books you already have on hand.
• 6:00
  SPEAKER_00: Remember that stack that you have on your nightstand?
• 6:04
  SPEAKER_00: Don't wait for the book to come in or to be released or be returned.
• 6:09
  SPEAKER_00: Start with what you have right now.
• 6:12
  SPEAKER_00: What's on your bookshelf, what's in that stack, what's that one that your friend lent to you?
• 6:17
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, pick that one up and start there.
• 6:21
  SPEAKER_00: Second, for all you perfectionists out there, well, there's no such thing as a perfect book list.
• 6:28
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, I'm talking to you organizers.
• 6:30
  SPEAKER_00: Don't get distracted by organizing or prioritizing and crafting that perfect book list.
• 6:36
  SPEAKER_00: Just grab a book and get to reading.
• 6:40
  SPEAKER_00: Third, I promise that you do not have to spend a fortune to read a lot of good books.
• 6:47
  SPEAKER_00: Honestly, guys, I hardly buy books.
• 6:50
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, I know I get sent a lot of books because I'm a podcaster, but I go to the library.
• 6:56
  SPEAKER_00: I use my library card.
• 6:58
  SPEAKER_00: In fact, when I was a homeschool mom, we wore out our library cards and we checked out as many books as were the limit.
• 7:06
  SPEAKER_00: Yep, we were those people.
• 7:09
  SPEAKER_00: And of course we had some overdue fines to prove it, but use the library.
• 7:14
  SPEAKER_00: Wear out your card.
• 7:15
  SPEAKER_00: I promise you you can save a lot of money doing that.
• 7:18
  SPEAKER_00: Fourth, if you're struggling to get started or you feel stuck with your book list, use a shorter book.
• 7:26
  SPEAKER_00: I love to just maybe even sometimes grab a kid's book or a teen's book, grab a shorter book that I know I can get through, and that helps me get in that rhythm of reading again and realizing, oh yeah, I do have time.
• 7:40
  SPEAKER_00: I can find time because I do love reading.
• 7:43
  SPEAKER_00: So grab that short book and get unstuck or just get started.
• 7:49
  SPEAKER_00: Fifth, track the progress of your book lists.
• 7:52
  SPEAKER_00: Now, if you listen to the last episode, you will hear lots of ideas of how to incorporate a tracking system and rewards, not only for you but your kids.
• 8:03
  SPEAKER_00: And you can turn the pages that you read into currency.
• 8:07
  SPEAKER_00: You can track either the amount of time that you spend reading, the pages, the amount of books, you can create rewards for the little goals, or you can create rewards for the big goals.
• 8:20
  SPEAKER_00: All in all, turn it into a game, turn it into fun, and track the progress.
• 8:25
  SPEAKER_00: I think the progress is also motivating and you realize, oh yeah, I felt like I didn't read anything or was feeling disappointed that I hadn't gotten through your book list, but maybe you had read other books not on your book list, and it's great to track those.
• 8:39
  SPEAKER_00: Maybe you got distracted in a good way with another book, but you forgot you read them.
• 8:44
  SPEAKER_00: I do that all the time.
• 8:46
  SPEAKER_00: So I've learned over the years to create a way to remember what it is I read, especially when I want to recommend a good read.
• 8:54
  SPEAKER_00: It's nice to have that tracking list on hand.
• 8:58
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm all about making it fun.
• 9:00
  SPEAKER_00: So, you know, treat yourself, reward yourself, celebrate, celebrate your kids for reading and hitting a certain goal, whatever that goal is.
• 9:10
  SPEAKER_00: Sixth, it's really important to make sure you don't do any shoulding in here.
• 9:15
  SPEAKER_00: And what I mean is read books that only you want to read.
• 9:19
  SPEAKER_00: Because what fun is it to read books that you don't want to?
• 9:23
  SPEAKER_00: I get lots of book recommendations, and some of them have turned out to be really great.
• 9:28
  SPEAKER_00: Other ones, well, it may make me feel smarter if I read them, but I am not gonna enjoy it.
• 9:34
  SPEAKER_00: So I've learned that they're not all my flavor, and that's okay.
• 9:38
  SPEAKER_00: Now, your kids, on the other hand, they might have to do some book reading this summer to fulfill the requirements for the next school year.
• 9:47
  SPEAKER_00: Help them get through it and refer back to the last tip and reward them along the way, especially if it's a real thick book.
• 9:56
  SPEAKER_00: Seventh, read aloud to your kids.
• 10:00
  SPEAKER_00: I mentioned this a little bit earlier, but I did a lot of reading with my kids when we homeschooled.
• 10:06
  SPEAKER_00: I just homeschooled for several years, and I'm so grateful for our small private school.
• 10:11
  SPEAKER_00: But one of the things I loved about it was getting to read so many lovely books.
• 10:16
  SPEAKER_00: The picture books, the short books that went really deep in a little bit of time, the beautiful descriptions, illustrations, things I learned about history or about the world that I wouldn't have otherwise an adult book.
• 10:29
  SPEAKER_00: Those kid fiction books, there are just so many out there this day.
• 10:33
  SPEAKER_00: I think you could totally count on your book list reading aloud to your kids, no matter your age.
• 10:40
  SPEAKER_00: Again, go to the library, you know, check out something that just has even a pretty cover, maybe judge a book by its cover and try them out.
• 10:48
  SPEAKER_00: So this idea leads me to idea eight.
• 10:51
  SPEAKER_00: So expand your definition of what counts as a book to put on your book list.
• 10:57
  SPEAKER_00: Here's the deal, friend.
• 10:58
  SPEAKER_00: You make your own rules.
• 11:00
  SPEAKER_00: There is no word count, page count, or age level requirement.
• 11:04
  SPEAKER_00: You are truly in charge of this summer book list.
• 11:08
  SPEAKER_00: It does not have to be a 500-page book to count on your book list.
• 11:13
  SPEAKER_00: You can make your own rules.
• 11:15
  SPEAKER_00: You are in charge.
• 11:16
  SPEAKER_00: Do some fun ones.
• 11:19
  SPEAKER_00: The ninth tip I have for you today may not work for you, but I am one of those people who loves having two or three books going at once.
• 11:28
  SPEAKER_00: It's not because I'm trying to like be complicated or multitask or anything like that, but here's how I look at it.
• 11:37
  SPEAKER_00: I have a book that's fun, and then I have a head or heart book, and then I have a learning book.
• 11:43
  SPEAKER_00: So this is what I mean.
• 11:44
  SPEAKER_00: Usually I have that fiction book that is on my nightstand, and I just read a few pages before I go to bed.
• 11:51
  SPEAKER_00: And then I have my morning head or heart book that is a devotional or is taking me deeper into my marriage parenting, or I'm even learning something related to work.
• 12:04
  SPEAKER_00: And then maybe maybe have another one still that's a little headier, if you will, and thicker.
• 12:09
  SPEAKER_00: And I know it's going to take me a while, and I want to break it up into little bits and pieces.
• 12:13
  SPEAKER_00: So again, you can have more than one book going at a time.
• 12:18
  SPEAKER_00: I mix it up so that way I get through some of the thicker, uh, quote unquote harder books.
• 12:25
  SPEAKER_00: And I also find that different times of the year has me interested in um having more time to be able to read books.
• 12:33
  SPEAKER_00: So that's oftentimes why I have two or three books going at once.
• 12:36
  SPEAKER_00: All right, my tenth tip, this one's an easy one, reread your favorites.
• 12:42
  SPEAKER_00: Listen, I have done this multiple times and it still counts to add it to your list.
• 12:46
  SPEAKER_00: Maybe you have a goal this summer that you just want to read 30 books, and it doesn't matter that they're new books.
• 12:53
  SPEAKER_00: I love, especially during the summertime, getting Jan Karen's books out, or uh we've read the Penderwick books a couple times, and they're easy and not necessarily twaddle or anything like that.
• 13:06
  SPEAKER_00: They're rich, deep, uh, wonderful reading, but they're they're like a cozy blanket.
• 13:12
  SPEAKER_00: And I love pulling those out and and rereading books that are favorite.
• 13:15
  SPEAKER_00: And uh let's talk about Little Women and Anna Green Gables.
• 13:18
  SPEAKER_00: Yep, I've read those more than I can count.
• 13:20
  SPEAKER_00: And there's nothing wrong with rereading your favorites and counting those and putting that on your summer book list.
• 13:29
  SPEAKER_00: Okay, my 11th tip today is listen to audiobooks.
• 13:34
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, audiobooks do count.
• 13:37
  SPEAKER_00: Plus, it's kind of fun because you can speed them up and make the tempo just right.
• 13:44
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I'm wondering if you maybe do that with my podcast sometimes.
• 13:48
  SPEAKER_00: I talk pretty fast.
• 13:50
  SPEAKER_00: I do try to slow down, but if you didn't know that, you can do that with books and podcasts, audiobooks and podcasts as you could speed them up or slow them down if you want a good laugh.
• 14:01
  SPEAKER_00: But audiobooks do count.
• 14:04
  SPEAKER_00: Plus, this leads me to tip number 12 or the 12th tip for today.
• 14:08
  SPEAKER_00: And that is you can buy multiple copies of a book usually.
• 14:12
  SPEAKER_00: There's paper, digital, audio, and you can switch them out depending on your activities.
• 14:18
  SPEAKER_00: I have totally done this.
• 14:19
  SPEAKER_00: Now, most of the time I'm borrowing them, I'm not purchasing all of them, but you can get multiple different versions of them and switch them out.
• 14:28
  SPEAKER_00: For example, I have a book that is, I would say it's a heart book, a heart and head book.
• 14:35
  SPEAKER_00: It's also material that is not just helping me personally, but I also know that it's going to help clients that I coach.
• 14:42
  SPEAKER_00: So I have a paper version and it's technically a hardcover, and it's something that I can underline and I can go back and reread and take a little bit of time to dissect the sentence or the concept, but I'm also wanting to actually get through the book, and basically I'll have the paperback or hardback as a resource to come back to.
• 15:05
  SPEAKER_00: So I have it also on audiobook so I can listen to it while I go on a walk when I'm on a longer road trip, like I'm going to do here in a couple of days, and drive to Colorado, and it's like the perfect thing that I can take and I can listen to, and I can listen through it, knowing that I can go back and reread it.
• 15:26
  SPEAKER_00: Also, sometimes of the year, I know the only time that I will have to read or the most time that I'll be able to dedicate to reading is once lights are out and everyone's in bed.
• 15:38
  SPEAKER_00: And because I don't want to keep the light on the nightstand and disturb everyone else from a good night's sleep, including the dog, I like to have a digital copy on my Kindle paperwrite that I could read and not have to worry about the light issue.
• 15:54
  SPEAKER_00: So there are some times that I have a book, and usually I can get them all for free by borrowing them from the library.
• 16:00
  SPEAKER_00: I'll get the audio version, I'll get the Kindle version or ebook, and then I'll also have the paper back on hand that I can, especially if it's a good book that I know that I'll want to resource and reference and you know, mark up the pages myself.
• 16:15
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, and a quick note here, I mentioned the library is a great resource, right?
• 16:21
  SPEAKER_00: But sometimes my library doesn't have the books I want.
• 16:24
  SPEAKER_00: And so another resource that is a little bit less expensive than an Audible membership or Kindle membership is a membership on Scribed.
• 16:36
  SPEAKER_00: I will put a link in the show notes.
• 16:37
  SPEAKER_00: I'm not advertising it or anything like that, but it is a resource that I have not minded paying the monthly fee because we have found so many books.
• 16:46
  SPEAKER_00: Both my husband and I, he loves audiobooks, and we've found a lot of books available on there.
• 16:51
  SPEAKER_00: So you'll have to check that out if you're looking for another resource that's a little bit less of an investment every month than some of the other resources out there.
• 17:00
  SPEAKER_00: And if you have a hard time getting books available on your library.
• 17:06
  SPEAKER_00: Okay, the 13th tip for today is to create reading moments.
• 17:11
  SPEAKER_00: Okay, friend, here's the deal.
• 17:13
  SPEAKER_00: Sometimes in some seasons, you have to be extremely deliberate and intentional.
• 17:19
  SPEAKER_00: Honestly, this sounds so dorky, but for a season, I read in the Costco checkout line.
• 17:25
  SPEAKER_00: Yep, that long, long line.
• 17:28
  SPEAKER_00: Or I would read during a snack, afternoon coffee.
• 17:32
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and I even happen to know one or two people who keep a book in their bathroom for those longer toilet sessions.
• 17:39
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, really fun.
• 17:40
  SPEAKER_00: Here's the thing: reading two pages here and there really adds up.
• 17:44
  SPEAKER_00: I believe that you're going to read more overall with attitude that some things, even two pages is better than none.
• 17:52
  SPEAKER_00: You really don't have to dedicate a whole 30 minutes or an hour to get this book list done.
• 17:58
  SPEAKER_00: And you could show your kids that example too.
• 18:00
  SPEAKER_00: Again, it goes back to what are you using your free minutes to?
• 18:04
  SPEAKER_00: Scrolling on social media, which of course isn't all bad.
• 18:07
  SPEAKER_00: I use social media too, but I've learned to switch out some of those kind of brainless think times for good books.
• 18:16
  SPEAKER_00: The 14th tip for today is to make short-term goals.
• 18:20
  SPEAKER_00: Maybe have a deadline that before you leave on a trip or you start summer or you end summer, that you make littler goals in order to reach the overall big goal.
• 18:33
  SPEAKER_00: There's nothing like having some motivation.
• 18:36
  SPEAKER_00: And for me, my summertime is filled with either company visiting, coming and going, this little trip here for the weekend for the, you know, to kick off the holiday in the summer, or the big family trip, or I want to bring a new book for my summer trip.
• 18:50
  SPEAKER_00: All those little things can help you get some really quality books in if you have those short-term goals.
• 18:58
  SPEAKER_00: Now, number 15 today is something you're not going to be too surprised to hear me saying, and that is to read instead of social media.
• 19:08
  SPEAKER_00: TV watching.
• 19:10
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, I know you'll probably have heard this stat before, but if you didn't know, the average American watches two months of TV.
• 19:19
  SPEAKER_00: I bet it could also be swapped out of takes in two months of social media time.
• 19:26
  SPEAKER_00: Again, I'm not anti-TV, I'm not anti-social media, but if you want to add more books to your repertoire, use some of these opportunities to switch out what you would have done before with reading instead.
• 19:39
  SPEAKER_00: It's not always about making more time because we can't add more hours to the day.
• 19:44
  SPEAKER_00: But rather it's taking time from the other places, or maybe even read just reducing it from the other places to make time to read.
• 19:52
  SPEAKER_00: Again, it kind of is another reiteration of the 13th tip that I shared today.
• 19:58
  SPEAKER_00: But, you know, it's the instead of moments.
• 20:02
  SPEAKER_00: The 16th tip is to finish what you start.
• 20:06
  SPEAKER_00: Now, I know I gave the idea of reading two or three books at a time, and I love that.
• 20:11
  SPEAKER_00: That helps me finish what I start.
• 20:14
  SPEAKER_00: Because, like I said, I need to break it up a little bit, maybe the heavier books with some lighthearted books.
• 20:20
  SPEAKER_00: But unless it's crazy not good, finish the book.
• 20:24
  SPEAKER_00: Now, this leads me to tip number 17.
• 20:28
  SPEAKER_00: It's also okay to give up on a book you don't like.
• 20:32
  SPEAKER_00: I know, I know, I just said finish what you start, but if it's weird or raunchy, it's okay to put it aside and move on to the next book.
• 20:41
  SPEAKER_00: There really is no need to get stuck trying to push yourself to finish something that you aren't enjoying or that isn't good for you.
• 20:49
  SPEAKER_00: Of course, again, I'm gonna give this a little caveat, and that is your kids might have some books on their school book list that they have to finish, whether they like them or not, and go back to that tip of rewarding them for small goals and the overall completion of the book.
• 21:05
  SPEAKER_00: All right, number 18, we're almost there.
• 21:08
  SPEAKER_00: Vary your pace.
• 21:10
  SPEAKER_00: Maybe for a week this summer, you're gonna read a book every day.
• 21:13
  SPEAKER_00: So of course you're gonna choose shorter, smaller books, but um, summer vacation sometimes allows you to read a book every day and to get through a big chunk of your book list.
• 21:26
  SPEAKER_00: I can't read during my workday.
• 21:28
  SPEAKER_00: I can't listen to audiobooks.
• 21:29
  SPEAKER_00: My husband, on the other hand, has a job that's ideal to listen to audiobooks.
• 21:33
  SPEAKER_00: So he might accomplish way more reading than I do because of what we have available to us.
• 21:39
  SPEAKER_00: But I also know on summer vacation, I'm definitely going to be reading a lot more books than he is.
• 21:45
  SPEAKER_00: So this is where you just vary your pace.
• 21:48
  SPEAKER_00: Sometimes it's gonna work to read a lot more than other times, and that's all right.
• 21:51
  SPEAKER_00: Just enjoy using what time you have available and be intentional with that time.
• 21:58
  SPEAKER_00: The 19th tip today is.
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_00: Before you finish your book, have the next one ready to read.
• 22:06
  SPEAKER_00: Yep.
• 22:06
  SPEAKER_00: Whether it's on the waiting list at the library, on your nightstand, on your bookshelf, or you have your list of recommendations on the notes app on your phone, which is what I do.
• 22:18
  SPEAKER_00: I always have like a running list of going, oh, I want to read that one.
• 22:22
  SPEAKER_00: And I just, you know, have that easily accessible.
• 22:25
  SPEAKER_00: Because if there is some dead time in between, it's really easy to fill your time with some of those habits that you've worked so hard to maybe break or to step away from to find more time for reading.
• 22:36
  SPEAKER_00: So before you finish your book, have the next one ready to go or at least have a good list of them ready to go.
• 22:43
  SPEAKER_00: Okay, my 20th tip for you is a little bit longer because if you don't have a bunch of books that you've been meaning to get to or you have no idea where to begin, here are four ideas that will help you.
• 22:55
  SPEAKER_00: First of all, use the school book list.
• 22:58
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, I promise you, I do not know a teacher who doesn't love sharing their book lists, whether it's for their grade and the ones that they're giving their student or it's their repertoire of books and the book list that they have loved reading.
• 23:10
  SPEAKER_00: Teachers love to read, they're lifelong learners.
• 23:13
  SPEAKER_00: So go ask a teacher or ask the school for a book list and start there.
• 23:20
  SPEAKER_00: Now, if you need good ideas and you don't want to find yourself reading the steamy romances or what Charlotte Mason dubs as twaddle, post your latest read on social media and ask for recommendations.
• 23:32
  SPEAKER_00: Now, that has gotten me in trouble as I've gotten some recommendations that I was like, holy cow, that's uh that's not what I expected to be in here.
• 23:41
  SPEAKER_00: But you will definitely learn about some good books that you didn't think of before, or maybe you wouldn't have tried out before because your friend told you about it or someone you admire recommended it.
• 23:53
  SPEAKER_00: Next, you can read the book version of your favorite movie or TV series.
• 23:59
  SPEAKER_00: I know, right?
• 24:00
  SPEAKER_00: That is a great idea.
• 24:01
  SPEAKER_00: Now, a lot of you book lovers out there might scold me that you should read the books before you watch the movie or the TV series, but sometimes you didn't even know about the book or that there was a book until you watched the movie or watched the TV series.
• 24:15
  SPEAKER_00: There are so many things out there.
• 24:18
  SPEAKER_00: For me in particular, this definitely happened with Jane Austen books.
• 24:22
  SPEAKER_00: I don't know that I would have picked up a Jane Austen book willingly if I hadn't seen one of the movies from the 90s, uh, Pride the Pride and Prejudice PBS series.
• 24:32
  SPEAKER_00: Anyone else, right?
• 24:34
  SPEAKER_00: Watched those, and I'm like, oh, well, I think that would be fun to read the book.
• 24:38
  SPEAKER_00: And of course, then that got me started on reading some other Jane Austen books as well.
• 24:43
  SPEAKER_00: So if you liked the movie or TV series, you just might like the book.
• 24:47
  SPEAKER_00: And in fact, the book might even be better.
• 24:50
  SPEAKER_00: So try that out.
• 24:53
  SPEAKER_00: Last but not least, go to an old-fashioned bookstore.
• 24:58
  SPEAKER_00: Yep, the Barnes and Noble down the corner, the Used bookstore, uh, bargain books.
• 25:03
  SPEAKER_00: I'm trying to think of a couple of the bookstores that are still around.
• 25:06
  SPEAKER_00: My daughter was just saying today in the car we were driving past Mardell, which is a Christian bookstore here in the Midwest, and she's like, oh, I love going in there.
• 25:15
  SPEAKER_00: I love smelling the Bibles and the fresh books and those pages that haven't been cracked open yet.
• 25:21
  SPEAKER_00: And it's so true.
• 25:22
  SPEAKER_00: And if you, you know, couldn't have guessed already, she's a little bit like me and she loves books as much as I do.
• 25:28
  SPEAKER_00: It's great.
• 25:29
  SPEAKER_00: I at least have one of them.
• 25:30
  SPEAKER_00: The other two, I don't know.
• 25:32
  SPEAKER_00: But um, I love wandering around a new and used bookstore for inspiration.
• 25:37
  SPEAKER_00: But if you can't make the trip, if you can't get in the car today, or you've been sick, or it's too far, or it's not close enough, you can always Google top Christian or faith-based books and you will get a ton of recommendations.
• 25:51
  SPEAKER_00: There is so much out there.
• 25:53
  SPEAKER_00: It might be overwhelming, but if you need a place to begin, it's a great place to start.
• 25:59
  SPEAKER_00: Okay, friend, I've given you a lot of ideas, and I hope that you will use a few of them and get to reading this summer.
• 26:06
  SPEAKER_00: I really believe that you can finish your book list and invite your kids to do the same during these months of summer.
• 26:14
  SPEAKER_00: I would love to know which one of these tips or several tips that you're going to use and what books are on your summer reading list.
• 26:22
  SPEAKER_00: You can easily do this by sharing your book list, your current read, and of course, point to this helpful episode on your Instagram stories or your Instagram feed.
• 26:32
  SPEAKER_00: Remember, use it as a way to get other reading suggestions and tag me at wholeheartedIneagram so I can give you a shout-out and I can learn about what you're reading.
• 26:43
  SPEAKER_00: Now, if you're still looking for some guidance and step-by-step tips to find more time to do what you and your kids love this summer, like reading, I have created two workshops that you can purchase today and add to your digital library.
• 26:58
  SPEAKER_00: I'm offering a special summer bundle, including my own your time mini workshop and create a simply summer video guide.
• 27:05
  SPEAKER_00: My freshly updated online guides are ready for you to check out, and all the links are in the show notes.
• 27:12
  SPEAKER_00: It's only$47, which is an amazing deal, and you can get started today.
• 27:17
  SPEAKER_00: And if you missed last week's episode, I shared more about creating a Simply Summer routine so you can enjoy your summer without mom guilt while growing a business you love, or getting to your book list.
• 27:29
  SPEAKER_00: No summer has been perfect for me and my crew, but every summer has been exactly what we needed, and we have loved them all.
• 27:36
  SPEAKER_00: I have all the details for this in the show notes.
• 27:42
  SPEAKER_00: Okay, next week I still have more for you in the summer mini-series.
• 27:47
  SPEAKER_00: I'm gonna give you details on the 10-minute rhythm that just might save your sanity this summer.
• 27:52
  SPEAKER_00: Yep.
• 27:53
  SPEAKER_00: I'm gonna share how I come up with my best business plans and have a therapy session every morning.
• 27:59
  SPEAKER_00: I know, aren't you intrigued?
• 28:01
  SPEAKER_00: I can't wait to share it with you.
• 28:03
  SPEAKER_00: Now, friend, if you haven't yet heard this today, I would love to have the honor of reminding you that you are truly the mom your kids need.
• 28:12
  SPEAKER_00: I hope you implement these wholehearted rhythms to help you love your motherhood and business even in the summertime.