Reset Your Life Through Books — Routines, Money, and Becoming Her

In this August reset episode of Lit with Lara Ashley, Lara Ashley shares a curated list of self-help and personal growth books designed to help you get back into your routine, realign your mindset, and step into the version of yourself you’ve been envisioning.

From building confidence and discipline with You Are a Badass to gaining control of your finances with Rich AF, this episode explores practical ways books can support real-life transformation.

Lara also highlights Make Your Bed for structure and consistency, The Year of Dating Myself for reconnecting with yourself, and All the Cool Girls Get Fired for navigating career shifts and unexpected transitions.

This episode is about more than productivity; it’s about becoming intentional, building habits that support your life, and creating a routine that feels aligned with who you’re becoming.

Lara also invites listeners to be part of the Lit with Lara Ashley community by sharing their favorite self-help and reset reads on Instagram (@litwithlarashleyyyyy), which will be featured in an upcoming Community Library episode in September.

If you’re ready to reset, refocus, and step into your next chapter, this episode is for you.

Grab your favorite drink, settle in, and let’s get into it.

This episode was lit. ✨

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:02

Hey friends, and welcome back to Lit with Laura Ashley. This is your cozy corner of the internet where we talk about books. But more importantly, how those books shape the way we live, think, and grow. So wherever you are, maybe you're getting back into your routine, planning your next season, or just trying to get your life together, go ahead and grab your favorite drink and settle in. Because today's episode is all about resetting your life through books. Not in a pressure-filled way, not in a new month, new me way, but in a grounded, realistic, I'm becoming the person I've been thinking about kind of way. I feel like August is that month where everything shifts. Summer is still here, but there's a quiet transition happening. You start thinking about your routine, your habits, your goals, and who you actually want to be moving forward. And for me, books have always been one of the ways I realign. Not because they fix everything, but because they help me. They help me think differently, move differently, and show up differently. When I say quote unquote becoming her, I don't mean becoming someone else. I mean becoming more disciplined, aligned, and more intentional. The version of you that follows through, protects her peace, and actually builds the life she talks about. And these books, they support that journey in different ways. One of them is you are a badass. This is one of those books that feels like a wake-up call. It's direct, it's a little tough love, but it's also very empowering. This book is about mindset shifts, believing in yourself, and actually taking action. And when it comes to getting back into a routine, this is the kind of book that reminds you that you're not stuck and you're not just moving yet. It's perfect if you're in that space where you know you need to get back on track. You just need that push. Another one's a financial reset. Rich AF look talks about money like no one's business and gets all up in your business. Resetting your life also means getting honest about your finances. And rich AF breaks down money in a way that feels accessible, clear, and actually doable. This isn't about being perfect with money, it's about understanding it and being able to manage it and also making it work for you. And I love that this book feels modern and meets you where you are, especially if you're trying to get out of debt, build savings, or just feel more control of your financial life. Next, think structure and discipline. The book Make Your Bed is simple but very powerful. The core idea is small actions create momentum. Making your bed isn't really about the bed. If you know, you know it's really not about the pasta, Vanderpump Rules fans, you know what I mean. It's about starting your day with intention and building discipline through consistency. And I think this is especially great for college students, college students, sorry, people who are preparing to start a new chapter or anyone trying to rebuild structure in their life. Because sometimes the reset doesn't start with something big, it starts with something small. And of course, reconnecting with yourself. The book, The Year of Dating Myself, makes you get in your soft girl era. It's more personal. It's about taking time to reconnect with yourself, understand who you are, and prioritize your own needs. And I think this is so important because you can build routines, you can set goals, but if you're disconnected from yourself, it won't feel aligned. This book reminds you to come back to you. And then last but not least, that career reset. For me, especially being unemployed, all the cool girls get fired. It feels so real and relatable. Because sometimes the reset comes from disruption, from losing something, from being forced to pivot. And this book speaks to career growth, unexpected transitions, and redefining success. And I think this is important because not every reset is planned. Sometimes it's necessary. And for this episode, I wanted to make it a little bit more interactive. If you have books that helped you reset your life, build better habits, or step into a new version of yourself, I would love for you to share them with me and our listeners. Head on over to my Instagram at lit L I T with Laura Ashley with five Y's at the end, and tell me what books I should add to the community library. I'll be featuring those recommendations in September's episode. Resetting your life doesn't mean becoming perfect. It means becoming intentional. It means showing up for yourself, doing the small things, and trusting that consistency will get you there. And if books can support that journey, even better. I'm Laura Ashley, and this episode was so lit.