Hello January. Sigh.

Welcome to the month where we all wonder why in the world we thought living in Indiana was a good idea. At least, that’s what I do. Of course, New Year’s resolutions are great for about a week, but after all that motivation wears off, we’re left with a house full of decorations that need to be put away, a few holiday pounds that are apparently here to stay, and a long dark stretch until Spring peeks its head around the corner. I’m sorry to say that I don’t have a cure for this. Vacating to Florida isn’t really an option for those of us with kids in school and our lives intertwined with the Hoosier state, but there ARE a few books that might just take the edge off that holiday hangover and get you through until warmer weather.

First up, The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin.
Full disclosure, I adore just about everything this woman writes, but this book is the gateway into the rest of them. Gretchen went on a journey to figure out what exactly makes us happy, and there are a few ideas from this book that have stuck with me even years after I closed the cover. It’s one that I recommend often, and if you enjoy it, you should go look up The Four Tendencies and Better than Before. Nothing like a good dose of happy research to charge up our batteries during the most depressing month of the year!

Next on the list is The Lazy Genius Way by Kendra Adachi.
If you were born with the type A gene, you can buzz right past this one. We’ll catch you on the next book rec. However, if you are a frequent flyer on the Hot Mess Express Airline, I have a book suggestion for you. The Lazy Genius Way is a fun book to read (or to listen to) if you need some motivation to tackle all the junk that magically appeared after the holidays. Somehow it isn’t just our pants that feel too tight after all that merry-making—it’s our houses. If you’re anything like me, you’re struck with the overwhelming urge to organize and declutter post-holiday, and I’ve found that having someone with practical suggestions in your ear while you do it is extremely helpful. Also, it’s a fact that an audiobook makes even the most odious task better.

Now for my creatives who are struggling to find that creative spark post-holiday.
If you haven’t discovered Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, you’re really missing out. As a writer, I listen to this one every year. It’s a good reminder about the magic of ideas and the art of putting them down on paper. Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of Eat Pray Love, goes into the magic of being a creative, and at the beginning of a New Year, a little magic never hurt anyone.

A Simplified Life by Emily Ley.
In the same vein as The Lazy Genius Way, this is another fabulous book to read (or listen to) while you combat the clutter and chaos post-holiday. Unlike The Lazy Genius Way, type A’s are welcome here! This book is less about managing chaos and more about streamlining our lives so we can enjoy them a bit more. Wouldn’t that be nice?

Last but certainly not least is a book that I think ALL parents need to listen to at least once.
I make myself listen every year. Raising Positive Kids in a Negative World by Zig Ziglar is a book that shaped my ideas of parenting from day one. Even though it’s a bit old (MY parents listened to this book on cassette when raising me!), the ideas he presents have stood the test of time. If you decide to dive into the audio, be forewarned that he’s got a fantastic southern accent that you will fall in love with by the end of the book.