Restorative Reading and Writing for Wellness

On this episode of Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness, I’m revealing my 2026 notebook stack: all the notebooks I’m using and loving and why.  I’ll begin by answering the top 3 questions I receive every time I release my annual notebook stack episodes: Why so many? Why are they so different? How often do you write in them? Plus, I’ll share why I’m shifting my focus a bit this year, too....

On this episode of Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness, I’m inviting you to give yourself permission for a holiday pause, a bit of time to drop into your restorative reading and writing practice against a backdrop of beautiful, instrumental holiday music. Come listen as I give a quick hello, offer a few things you might do during this time and invite you to settle in for some restorativ...

On this episode of Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness, I’m diving deep into epigraphs and why they are an essential element of a restorative reading and writing practice. Come listen as I share my real-time reading life and the book that sparked this episode, what epigraphs are and why they matter for restorative reading and writing and how you can harness their power in your own readi...

On this episode of Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness, I’m exploring how restorative writing can help us write our way to, through and beyond the holiday season.  Come listen as I share why restorative writing can support you through the holidays with less stress and more joy and provide seven different ways for you to show up on the page based on what your particular holiday season lo...

On this episode of Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness, I’m diving into my favorite personality framework as a tool to help you build and grow your reading life: the Four Tendencies Framework created by Gretchen Rubin.  Come listen as I share why right now is the perfect time of year to dive into this work, provide a quick overview of the Four Tendencies Framework and list ways you can...

On this episode of Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness, I’m sharing my current favorite gifts to help others grow a restorative reading and writing practice….and my own, too. =) Come listen as I open with a quick reminder of the elements essential to a restorative practice and link each to a host of gifts you could share this holiday season. Think handmade gifts of time, unexpected note...

On this episode of Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness, I’m exploring my newest notebook obsession: creating a restorative recipe notebook. It’s a notebook full of my own personal recipes and the recipes that have been handed down to me. I recently shared my new project with my Get Lit(erate). community in hopes they’d offer suggestions and they did not disappoint. Come listen as I open...

On this episode of Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness, I’m exploring a particular reading practice: book annotation and marginalia. It’s something I’ve typically avoided in the past for various reasons, but am now ready to explore with gusto because of my recent book relay.  Come listen as I share the experience that made me change my mind about marginalia, the various ways that you mi...

On this episode of Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness, I’m getting a bit vulnerable and talking about a personal strategy I’m trying for keeping my ducks in a row, my t’s crossed and my i’s dotted and not dropping the glass balls. Don’t worry, it will all make sense once you listen. Normally, I come to you with tried and true recommendations from my own restorative reading and writing...

On this episode of Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness, I’m sharing the nuts and bolts behind creating a restorative reading and writing altar for yourself in your home.  Come listen as I explain exactly what a reading and writing altar is, the science behind why you need one, the unexpected altars you might already have and how to create one using four layers of creation and how to har...

On this episode of Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness, I’m talking all about my holiday notebook tradition, how it helps us cultivate the kind of holiday season we want to have and how you can make one, too. Come listen to how the holiday notebook tradition began, what exactly a holiday notebook is, how you can make one for yourself and what you should put inside and the one thing that...

On this episode of the Get Lit(erate). podcast, I’m putting my party hat on, cueing the confetti and celebrating 200 episodes of the podcast! Come listen as I talk about where the podcast started and how it has evolved over the years, the top downloaded episodes you might want to listen to (along with a couple of my favorites), the ways the podcast will grow in the future and a request for help ar...

On this episode of the Get Lit(erate). podcast, I’m exploring the healing power of books clubs and why they are an underestimated tool in our quest to make life better through books and reading. Come listen as I talk about the research-backed power of book clubs, how you can create (or join!) a book club with heart, the best kinds of books to promote group healing, the conversations your book club...

On this episode of the Get Lit(erate). podcast, we’re exploring the newest addition to my restorative writing framework: affirmative writing.  Come listen as I explore what affirmative writing is (writing that affirms and uplifts your mindset) and offer 5 ways to try affirmative writing in your notebook: Affirmations Gratitude Manifestation Joy Notes of Acknowledgement  All you need is your notebo...

On this episode of the Get Lit(erate). podcast, we’re exploring how to read our way to wellness in just 90 days.  Come listen as I explore the idea behind a 90 day project, particularly at the end of the year, and why focusing on our reading life could make our actual life better. We’ll talk about the three feel-good steps you need to take and I’ll share how you can work with me along the way, too...

On this episode of the Get Lit(erate). podcast, we’re diving into how and why your pencil pouch could be the key to changing your life. Really. =) Today, we’ll explore the unexpected benefits of creating a restorative reading and writing pencil pouch: a little container to hold all the things you need to read and write with an open mind and heart.  Come listen as I give you all the details on why...

On this episode of the Get Lit(erate). podcast, I’m exploring all things restorative list-making. With only a sticky note, a pencil and 5 minutes, you can literally change your mood and physical well-being.  Today, we’ll explore my new one word theme for September and why list-making is central to bringing it to life, why list-making is so restorative to the body, mind and spirit, how you can get...

On this episode of the Get Lit(erate). podcast, I am talking with Jeannine Atkins about the power of writing to heal.  Janine is the author of several books for young readers about courageous women and teaches writing for children and young adults. She's here today to talk about her newest release, KNOCKING ON WINDOWS, a memoir-in-verse about healing from trauma and finding her voice as a writ...

On this episode of the Get Lit(erate). podcast, I’m coming at you in real time as I expand my definition of restorative reading and bibliotherapy thanks to a recent session creating a book apothecary for a waiting reader.  Today, I am talking about the idea of reading escape: using our reading life as a way to escape our own. We’ll talk about my initial knee-jerk reaction to it, why reading escape...

On this episode of the Get Lit(erate). podcast, I’m answering the most asked question that I receive: How and where do I find books for my own bibliotherapy?  Today, we are tackling that question and more. I’ll share a simple framework for choosing a book genre and title that is perfect for you and offer five different sources for finding the right book at the right time.  You’ll find the show not...

On this episode of the Get Lit(erate). podcast, I’m talking about the six kinds of restorative writing that have the potential to make us feel better based on the season of life we are in and the kind of support we wish for in the moment.  You’ll find the show notes for the episode with links to all of the books and resources mentioned right here: https://www.alitlife.com/2025/08/12/six-kinds-of-r...

On this episode of the Get Lit(erate). podcast, I’m talking about a practice that sets restorative reading apart from ‘regular’ reading and could potentially be the one thing that changes your life: the nudge notebook. Come listen as I share a simple, yet powerful, definition of restorative reading, discuss the key elements that differentiate it from a ‘regular’ reading life and invite you to cons...

On this episode of the Get Lit(erate). podcast, I’m sharing all the bookish details from my first-ever in-person restorative reading retreat. I’ll share what makes it different from a ‘regular’ reading retreat, the schedule we followed, the bookish surprises that were scattered throughout the day and what’s coming next, too! Here are some of the details you won’t want to miss: Why a one-day retrea...

On this episode of the Get Lit(erate). podcast, I’m getting specific and sharing three restorative writing notebook prompts specifically for caregivers.  Caregiving is hard and showing up for your loved one can be hard. But showing up for YOURSELF can be harder. Come listen as I share three very different, but very important, restorative writing prompts to take to your notebook to calm, soothe and...

On today’s episode of the Get Lit(erate). podcast, I’m talking with Wendy Dale about the power of capturing our stories in a private or published memoir.  Come listen as we talk about why we all should consider writing our memoir, the difference between an autobiography and a memoir that will set you free, the two narrators every memoir must have and why that’s conducive to healing and much, much...