It’s become common knowledge that the most successful people in the world have impressive reading habits. It’s also known that if you want to raise a reader, be a reader. Putting together your own working mom reading list seems like a good move, both for you and for your kids.
But how on earth does a working mom juggling all the hats fit in time to read?
5 Simple Tricks to Squeeze in More Reading
If you’re anything like me, having a reading list sometimes seems like something that people without kids have the luxury to indulge. But, after lots of practice to make it a priority, I’ve found ways to fit in reading without sacrificing other responsibilities. Here are five simple tricks that will work for even the busiest of moms.
Bookend your day. Start and end your day by reading for 15 minutes. When you first wake up, read 15 minutes in bed. Then when you lay down for the night, read 15 more minutes before you go to sleep. You’d be amazed how much progress you can make in 30 minutes a day.
Read on your breaks. Use your scheduled breaks to work your way through your to-read list.
Use your phone. Fill your Kindle app with books so you always have reading material on hand. Whenever you have a few minutes of downtime -- waiting for a meeting to start, sitting in the school pickup line, or even standing in line at the grocery store -- pull out your phone and read a few pages.
Diversify. Reading more than one book at a time can actually help you read more, overall. You can choose the book that best fits your mood, making you much more likely to pick it up and read.
Read with your ears. Honestly, this is my favorite one. There are often more opportunities during the day to listen than to read, so consume more books by listening to them on audio. Listen while exercising, during your commute to and from work, or while catching up on housework. Turn up the speed to “read” even faster!
The Working Mom Reading List
So now that you have time to read during the week, here are a few recommendations to start your working mom reading list:
1. Tara Mohr’s book Playing Big is one of my favorite books for women interested in taking on new challenges.
“While not all women aspire to end up in the corner office, every woman aspires to something. Playing Big fills a major gap among women’s career books; it isn’t just for corporate women. The book offers tools to help every woman play bigger—whether she’s an executive, community volunteer, artist, or stay-at-home mom.”
2. Breaking the Gender Code: How women can use what they already have to get what they actually want by Danielle Dobson is one of my personal favorites.
“Breaking the Gender Code encourages you to realise your contribution is highly valuable in all your roles, and the skills and capabilities strengthened by being a parent and caring for others is a powerful adaptive leadership and career asset. You don't need more of anything. By using what you already have, you are able to get what you actually want.”
3. I am currently reading So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo. This book is stretching my understanding and awareness of systemic racial issues. I highly recommend it for everyone.
“In So You Want to Talk About Race, Ijeoma Oluo guides readers of all races through subjects ranging from intersectionality and affirmative action to "model minorities" in an attempt to make the seemingly impossible possible: honest conversations about race and racism, and how they infect almost every aspect of American life.”
4. Stretched Too Thin: How Working Moms Can Lose the Guilt, Work Smarter, and Thrive by Jessica Turner is currently on my nightstand and is a practical book with wisdom and worksheets! Every chapter concludes with a challenge to make it practical.
“Working mothers constantly battle the pull to do all the things well. From managing work and home responsibilities to being impacted by a lack of self-care and time for deep friendships, the struggle is real. At the end of each day, many working moms are exhausted and stretched too thin. But this does not have to be the norm.”
5. I Know How She Does It: How Successful Women Make The Most of Their Time by Laura Vanderkam is backed by science and the perfect read for moms looking to make real change towards success.
“Instead of relying on scattered stories, I Know How She Does It adds hard data to the debate. Based on hour-by-hour time logs from 1001 days in the lives of working mothers earning at least $100,000 a year, this book shows how these women spend the 168 hours that every one of us has each week. Case studies and interviews document how women make time to advance in their careers, enjoy family activities, and pursue their own passions. Based on these strategies, I Know How She Does It offers a framework for anyone who wants to thrive at work and life.”
6. Design Your Day: Be More Productive, Set Better Goals, and Live Life On Purpose
by Claire Diaz-Ortiz is inspiring, motivating, and challenging. You’ll love it!
“Whether you want to finish a house project, lose weight, or write a book, Design Your Day—by someone who read 150 books while caring for an infant—is an all-in-one guide to smart productivity. Use Claire’s tricks and tools and you’ll be amazed at what you can do in a day, let alone a lifetime.”
What books would you recommend adding to the list? I’d love to hear your recommendations. Tag Parents Pivot on Instagram with your favorites!
