How to Not Always Be Working audiobook

I found this book to be quite charming, because it doesn't hoist itself to be grander than it actually is. It's a simple, quiet manifestofor workaholics looking to practice self-discipline and self-care. I usually rate 2 or 3 stars to self-help books that have "fluffy" writing and slant towards hippie-dippy sentiments, but I found the author's conversational writing style to be endearing and humble, and liked her calm outlook on life. The book isn't life-changing, but it's simple and sweet and a nice reminder to slow down every once in a while. I was also impressed by her note that she was speaking from a place of privilege as a white, able-bodied woman — these privileges are not often addressed in self-help books, and I appreciate her efforts to be as inclusive and economically considerate as possible.

A short simple book for those who are so consumed by works and for those who spend too much time on the screen. A book calling to switch off and bring attention to yourself, to yourself a rest. The book can be taken as a tool kit to achieve that. It has a set of challenges which you can give yourself. It is a practical handy book to challenge yourself to some good times with yourself and others. The aurhor has written the book with experience. If you love your work so much, you have to take sometime off it. "It needs space too".

Beautiful prose. Intentional in including a variety of diverse voices to speak to different types of workers. The exercises that accompany this book turn this from a delightful podcast episode into an interactive, change-making experience rather than an easily ignored article with information let to rot in your memory without putting into action. While I cannot subscribe to the same spirituality that Grace puts forth in this book (tarot cards, holding crystals, etc.) the dedicated practice of grounding oneself behind the practices she discusses is not limited. Many helpful tasks. Some 'get off your phone' redundancy, but offers new ideas that I have not yet heard before. Also, rooted in the 'noticing not judging' mindset, which I love!

This has been another case of having exactly what you need to hear, fall into your lap at exactly the right time.This book shared lessons I deeply needed to hear. For someone who is passionate, high energy, motivated, and just in love with making and working - these lessons challenge you to step back and find balance. Because that's what it comes down to: balance. I don't think there will ever be a time in my life where I'd be happy with just one job, but I also know that I need to practice the radical self-care in order to allow me to do that work.Thoroughly touching and important read.

This book is like the final breath in a yoga class when the teacher implores you to let it all out. You’re done working. Did you get what you wanted from this practice? This isn’t a deeply researched explanation on why we are burned out. It’s not a self-help book. It’s a meditation, reflection, a noticing. What I like best about it is Marlee doesn’t pretend to have any answers. She doesn’t condemn work; she just wants you to be more mindful of its role in your life. Read this book in a sitting with your favorite beverage. Do the worksheets. Pick it up again. There’s nothing I haven’t heard in this book before, but some of the ways she asks you to reflect can be transformative if you let it wash over you.

What a fabulous resource!! 👏 Don’t let this tiny little book fool you it’s loaded with goodness, lots to reflect on, ponder & scheme up— very relatable to my sphere of work BUT! the author does a great job even relating the content to the various ways “work” can look individual to individual. Would be a great gift too!

3.5 stars. Very refreshing and easy read. Takes a lot of the best ideas from longer self help books and CBT techniques and makes them bite sized, welcoming, and actionable. Self help instruction as memoir. I look forward to doing the exercises and practicing some of the ideas.

Lovely and cute book on the joy of balancing work with everything else in life

Well, I can think of about 2,490 people including myself who could benefit from this little wisp of a book. Part advice manual, part love letter and part step-by-step workbook, it’s one of those little reminders that we all need to push back and love ourselves more. Give this with a Starbucks card to a friend and pass it on!

I love this! I borrowed it on Hoopla and hope to listen to it again (short and sweet) a time or two before it returns! After starting, I decided to purchase so that I had the audio files forever and the PDF enhancement. Marlee Grace offers thought-provoking, positive, and helpful questions and reflections. This is a must-read for anyone interested in the quality of their own life!

This is a very simple and humble guided reflection for considering where your concept of work belongs in your life and where it doesn't :) I think that a "guided reflection" is a better description for it than a "toolkit" because it simply made considering these boundaries part of my mindset rather than giving me actual habits and coping mechanisms to act on it. I liked that, though! It was different than the pretentious self-help books that I usually see that promise you 10 guaranteed habits to make your life perfect, or whatever. This book doesn't try to give you quick fixes, it just gives you thoughts and questions to consider as you make daily decisions.

This was quite helpful and had some unique ways to turn off your phone and not work all the time.

3.75 I randomly stumbled on Marlee Grace's newsletter... I think from Sarah Faith Gottesdiener's newsletter? Although I get several newsletters at this point, I find myself looking forward to Marlee Grace's each week. So much actually, that I just became a part of her patreon and have started the Artist Way's study alongside her patreon.This was an easy listen, but also for me partly hard to follow. Although she said this was for everyone, I kind of how found it difficult to connect with at times as a teacher. My schedule is around 8/9 every day to around 16/17, longer if I take things home with me (which I'm learning to stop doing). But I did really enjoy the reflection exercises and I always love to learn about people's rituals to support their life and creativity. When writing down the dreams I wanted to work on, I was surprised by how many (3 out of 4) centered around writing. When I was little, I wanted so badly to be a writer. I would read all of the American Girl doll books and then try to write my own. It's so funny to look back and think abou that.So, Not sure if everyone will connect with this. I think in most books like this you can find something, even if you don't connect with all of it. Now I'm looking forward to moving through Getting to Center and actually finishing it.

More reviews and book-ish content @ Club Book Mobile & Andrea RBKHow To Not Always Be Working: A Toolkit for Creativity and Radical Self Care by Marlee Grace was outstanding. This is a book I immediately wanted to read when I saw the title, and the content inside totally delivers. The power of this toolkit is its simplicity. The book itself is only 100ish pages, but there is so much included. The book focuses on the essential need for self care, the realities of work, and how to find a balance that works for wherever you're at with your own life. The book is a combination of tips, reflections, and journaling prompts, and throughout, there is a tone of empathy which is really needed when covering this topic. The author acknowledges the importance of finding your own "fit" when it comes to self care, but also continues to stress that you have to find something that fits. I read this one quickly initially, but already have plans to re-read and really sit with the ideas that are presented. I also checked this out from the library, but anticipate I'll get my own copy as I want to deep dive and take on the prompts. If you need a quick shot of self care, I would recommend this book as one of the first places to look to find that!

Although most of the stuff listed in the book as things most of us already know, the act of stringing them together into a workbook that compels you to sit down, think, reflect and write while reading it, makes one more connected to oneself even through the simple act of reading through this. In that way, you could say this is more like a journal with snippets and trivias more than your usual self help books with big numbers, statistics and such. It's simple. It makes you stop and think. And that's the whole point. I heard this book as an audiobook, which was a mistake that I realized as soon as the first chapter was nearing its ending, because that is where the tasks come in. I managed somehow by writing things down on my own (since journaling while reading is a habit I have already, it wasn't much of an inconvenience for me). The audiobook was read by the author herself and it lives up to the calm, contemplative and slow tone of the book. But I will still recommend getting a physical copy, if you want to experience it in full swing.Will definitely recommend, especially to people who are looking for their very first self improvement books to start with.

This book was... quiet, not over-the-top, not self-righteous, and that's exactly what I wanted in this exact moment.I feel like a lot of 'self-help' books are a bit demanding and the authors of them seem to know exactly what they're doing and exactly what they're saying and I think that's a bit unrealistic. But in this book Marlee Grace is subtle; she doesn't pretend to be all-knowing, she doesn't pretend that she has her entire life figured out. She shares her daily rituals/practices in a non-demanding way, and shares and takes on ideas non-judgmentally. This book was a very subtle inspiration to me, to take time for myself, to find new "rituals" that make the day more rewarding, and even though it was a quick read, there was a lot of thoughtful information inside that I would recommend for anyone.