Restorative Reading and Writing for Wellness

Stephanie Affinito
  • 5.0 (20)
  • Self-Improvement
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Reading and writing can be restorative practices. If you love books, beautiful notebooks, thoughtful conversation, and the quiet joy of reflection, you’ll feel right at home here. alitlife.substack.com

  1. E236: Replay & Update: Create a Personalized Summer Bookshelf

    2d ago

    E236: Replay & Update: Create a Personalized Summer Bookshelf

    On this episode of the Get Lit(erate). podcast, we’re diving into how to create a summer bookshelf designed to create the best you and the best summer season yet. Here’s the reality: we have around 90 days to make the most of our summer and if we approach those 90 days with intention, we could literally reinvent ourselves in a single season by surrounding ourselves with the perfect books to spark inspired action in our lives. Come listen as I share how to create a personalized bookshelf for yourself this summer. We’ll start with a simple inventory, curate a personalized apothecary of titles (with a few surprises!) and end with a little unexpected list-making, too.  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/2025/06/03/create-a-personalized-summer-bookshelf/ Love this podcast and want more? Consider this your invitation to join my Get Lit(erate) Substack community! Each month, we take a deep dive into one bookish theme and work to bring it to life in our own lives. You’ll get bonus episodes, book calendars, live book club and notebook sessions, special events and much more. Learn more at www.getliterate.co.  Get your own Get Lit(erate). notebook to take notes on the books you want to read and notebook ideas you want to try: https://amzn.to/44wELKN If you’d like to support the podcast, consider purchasing some Get Lit(erate). merchandise from my Zazzle store: https://www.zazzle.com/store/alitlife All earnings are funneled right back into the podcast expenses and maintenance fees. Thanks for your support! Follow Stephanie: Website: http://www.alitlife.com/  Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AffinitoLit Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AffinitoLit Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/AffinitoLit This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit alitlife.substack.com/subscribe

    21 min

  2. Jun 23

    E235: A Guided Restorative Reading & Writing Session For When You Need Change

    On this episode of Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness, I’m guiding you through a gentle restorative reading and writing session for when things need to change in your life or you simply want them to. Here’s a quick overview of how the guided sessions work: * First, we begin with a bit of grounding and a few breaths to settle us. * Then, I share a powerful short reading to orient our focus and launch our reflective writing. * Following the reading, I guide you through three journaling invitations that build on each other and shift the energy on the page and in your body. * Finally, we end with a short, yet powerful, affirmation to carry throughout your day and beyond. Let me be clear: this is NOT your run-of-the-mill journaling session where we end up more overwhelmed than when we started because we’re listing and diving into all the changes we want and need. Nope. Instead, we’ll begin by uncovering all the things we THINK we need to change in our lives and then zero in on the ACTUAL thing that resides within us that must change first. For me, it was first listing that my physical body needed need change. I needed to lose a few pounds. I needed to get stronger. I needed to build mobility and flexibility. I needed to change the clothes I wore. I needed to fix my hair. I needed to change my skincare. And on and on…until I realized through this session that ACTUALLY, the way I talked to myself and thought about myself is what needed to change instead. I also had a long list of things other people should change. My kids should stop making a mess on the kitchen counter. My husband should start throwing his laundry in the chute instead of leaving it on the floor. The dogs should stop leaving their dog toys everywhere (seriously). But what ACTUALLY needed to change? My need to keep everything perfect, do everything myself and in a particular way. You know, leaving co-dependency behind and adopting healthy boundaries. That’s. Big. This guided session will help you reach some epiphanies of your own, I am sure. Grab your notebook, your favorite writing utensil and let’s write together. Here are the books and writing prompts mentioned in this episode. You’ll find links to my Amazon and Bookshop affiliate stores below. Thanks for your bookish support! SELF LOVE POETRY FOR THINKERS & FEELERS by Melody Godfred (Amazon / Bookshop) Writing Prompts: First: * What feels ready for change in my life right now? * What NEEDS to change in my life right now? Second: * Which changes are those that I can actually control? * What are the patterns that point to a deeper change that’s needed within me? * If this part of my life could speak, what would it say? Third: * The smallest step I can take toward this change is... * What feels possible? * What feels kind? * What feels true? Affirmation: May you trust what is unfolding. May you honor what is ending. May you welcome what is emerging. And may you remember that every meaningful change can begin on the safe space of the page. Here’s the audio I used in the episode: Nature Healing Society Once you’ve listened, I’d love to know what you think of this episode. Leave your thoughts in the comments! Let’s Work Together! I love to connect with others around our shared love of reading and writing. Here are some ways we can work together to create a life you love where restorative reading and writing is at the center of it all: 🩷 Join my private Substack community for themed book calendars, bonus posts, book clubs and events each month! 📚 Connect 1:1 for personalized coaching to unlock the transformative power of your reading and writing life. Click here for bibliotherapy and click here for expressive writing therapy. Let’s work together! Literate love is multiplied when it’s shared! 🩷 Here are some free ways to support this newsletter and spread my message of the magic of restorative reading and writing far and wide: 🩷 Like and comment on this post so we can connect!🔄 Restack your favorite nugget of literate love.📷 Take a screenshot of your favorite part and text it to a friend.💌 Forward this email to a fellow bookish and notebookish friend so they can join the literate love too!⌨️ Refer a friend and earn free access to my private community! *As an Amazon and Bookshop Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thanks for your support to keep this bookish community going! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit alitlife.substack.com/subscribe

    32 min

  3. Jun 16

    E234: Create a Restorative Reading Circle with Friends

    While reading may be a solitary act, it doesn’t mean that we are alone. Books and reading can not only become the catalyst for restoration and inspired action in your own life, it can spark community and connection with others too. In today’s episode, I explore how to create a restorative summer reading circle with friends: a gathering that prioritizes connection and conversation over completion and performance. This isn’t your usual book club. It’s an invitation to restore yourself through connections with others with books as the catalyst. Here’s what’s inside: * Why shared reading and bookish connections with others matters. * How to gather friends around books without creating pressure. * Ways to incorporate restorative writing into your reading conversations. * Simple ideas for creating a meaningful literary community this summer. As you listen, consider: * What kind of reading community are you longing for this season? I hope this episode inspires you to extend one small invitation to a bookish friend and discover what becomes possible when stories are shared. Once you’ve listened, I’d love to know what your ideal restorative reading circle with friends might look like and what small action you plan to take to bring it to life. And remember, you are always welcome to join my restorative reading and writing community here on Substack across any season! Let’s Work Together! I love to connect with others around our shared love of reading and writing. Here are some ways we can work together to create a life you love where restorative reading and writing is at the center of it all: 🩷 Join my Restorative Reading & Writing Circle on Substack for themed book calendars, bonus posts, book clubs and events each month! 📚 Connect 1:1 for personalized coaching to unlock the transformative power of your reading and writing life. Click here for bibliotherapy and click here for expressive writing therapy. Let’s work together! Literate love is multiplied when it’s shared! 🩷 Here are some free ways to support this newsletter and spread my message of the magic of restorative reading and writing far and wide: 🩷 Like and comment on this post so we can connect!🔄 Restack your favorite nugget of literate love.📷 Take a screenshot of your favorite part and text it to a friend.💌 Forward this email to a fellow bookish and notebookish friend so they can join the literate love too!⌨️ Refer a friend and earn free access to my private community! *As an Amazon and Bookshop Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thanks for your support to keep this bookish community going! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit alitlife.substack.com/subscribe

    16 min

  4. Jun 9

    E233: Permission to Read & Write Slowly This Summer

    I am a creature of habit and often prisoner to my default personality to get things done check things off the list and move onto the next thing. This hustle mentality is as natural as breathing is to me and I have to fight to slow down and smell the roses. I know I am not alone. That’s why today’s episode invites you to consider reading and writing slooooowly all summer long: less pages read, but more time pondering and fewer pages written, but more time soaking in the insights that appear. This is completely counter to the towering summer TBR and notebook stacks we see on social media, but I say let’s topple them down and read them in ways that change us instead of flying through them. It’s kind of like that saying: Life isn’t about the amount of breaths you take, it’s about the number of moments that take your breath away. Reading isn’t about the number of books you read, it’s about the ways your life changes as a result of reading them. Writing isn’t about the number of notebooks you fill, it’s about the number of reflections that give you insight into your own life. Today’s episode is about giving ourselves permission to read and write slowly this summer. Here’s what you’ll find once you press play: * Why slow reading and writing are restorative practices. * Permission to finish fewer books and write fewer pages. * What slow writing and writing could look like. * A simple summer reading and writing ritual you can begin today. * A list of summer permissions you may not realize you need. If you’ve been craving a slower, softer season, this episode is for you! Once you’ve listened, I’d love to know what slow reading and writing could look like for you and what permissions you’re granting yourself this summer. It’s time! Let’s Work Together! I love to connect with others around our shared love of reading and writing. Here are some ways we can work together to create a life you love where restorative reading and writing is at the center of it all: 🩷 Join my Restorative Reading & Writing Circle on Substack for themed book calendars, bonus posts, book clubs and events each month! 📚 Connect 1:1 for personalized coaching to unlock the transformative power of your reading and writing life. Click here for bibliotherapy and click here for expressive writing therapy. Let’s work together! Literate love is multiplied when it’s shared! 🩷 Here are some free ways to support this newsletter and spread my message of the magic of restorative reading and writing far and wide: 🩷 Like and comment on this post so we can connect!🔄 Restack your favorite nugget of literate love.📷 Take a screenshot of your favorite part and text it to a friend.💌 Forward this email to a fellow bookish and notebookish friend so they can join the literate love too!⌨️ Refer a friend and earn free access to my private community! *As an Amazon and Bookshop Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thanks for your support to keep this bookish community going! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit alitlife.substack.com/subscribe

    17 min

  5. Jun 3

    E232: Create Restorative Rituals for Summer Reading & Writing

    So many of us look forward to the summer season of reading and writing: longer days that could equate to longer stretches of reading, bright skies and patches of sunshine that invite writing in nature and the pace of the season that makes everything feel a bit less rushed and a bit more to enjoy. But sometimes, the summer reading season can become hijacked by goals: reading a certain number of books, writing across a certain number of pages, keeping up with all the beautiful people on Instagram who seem to read and write MUCH more you do and even have time to create beautiful posts about it. Today’s episode is about reclaiming our summer reading and writing season and embracing tiny, restorative reading and writing rituals over setting metrics-based (even if all in good fun!) goals and outcomes. Here’s what you’ll find inside: First, we’ll talk about why these tiny rituals are so important to our wellbeing and I’ll offer a few guiding questions to consider as you plan for own summer season of reading, writing and living. Reflect silently, talk in the air or grab your notebook, if you can. Here they are: * What kind of reading/writing life do I want to have? * What helps me feel grounded? * When do I feel most like myself? * What tiny practice could support me in feeling this way? Then, I’ll share a simple framework for creating tiny rituals of our own. Here’s a sneak peek into what it is: time + place + tiny practice + feeling= restorative reading and writing rituals Here are two examples: * After dinner, I’ll sit outside for 10 minutes and read to end my day feeling calm. * When I wake up, I’ll sit at my kitchen table with a cup of coffee and write in my notebook to feel present and intentional for the day ahead. This episode is exactly what you need to welcome a season of true restoration made possible through reading and writing in ways that work for you and feel really good, too. But there’s more. =) If you’re a member of my private Restorative Reading & Writing Circle here on Substack, then you’re getting more in just a few days: a printable to walk you through creating tiny restorative rituals for yourself this summer. Here it is! Once you’ve listened, I’d love to know what YOUR tiny, restorative reading and writing rituals are. Share them in the comments and let’s help each other celebrate them! Let’s Work Together! I love to connect with others around our shared love of reading and writing. Here are some ways we can work together to create a life you love where restorative reading and writing is at the center of it all: 🩷 Join my Restorative Reading & Writing Circle on Substack for themed book calendars, bonus posts, book clubs and events each month! 📚 Connect 1:1 for personalized coaching to unlock the transformative power of your reading and writing life. Click here for bibliotherapy and click here for expressive writing therapy. Let’s work together! Literate love is multiplied when it’s shared! 🩷 Here are some free ways to support this newsletter and spread my message of the magic of restorative reading and writing far and wide: 🩷 Like and comment on this post so we can connect!🔄 Restack your favorite nugget of literate love.📷 Take a screenshot of your favorite part and text it to a friend.💌 Forward this email to a fellow bookish and notebookish friend so they can join the literate love too!⌨️ Refer a friend and earn free access to my private community! *As an Amazon and Bookshop Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thanks for your support to keep this bookish community going! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit alitlife.substack.com/subscribe

    16 min

  6. May 26

    E231: A Summer of Restorative Reading & Writing Together

    Welcome to a new season of the podcast! I’ve been podcasting since 2022 and have never divided my episodes into calendar seasons, but am feeling called to now. So much of our lives revolves around seasons: seasons of life, seasons of parenting, seasons of work and seasons of the calendar. It makes sense to create seasons of the podcast, too. This summer, I’m renewing my commitment to my own restorative reading and writing life and am embracing seasonal rhythms to help prioritize my own wellness. I’m truly looking forward to sharing those seasonal rhythms with you, both here on my public podcast and inside my private Restorative Reading & Writing Circle here on Substack. So, without further ado, let me officially welcome you to our first seasonal theme together: a summer of restorative reading and writing across June, July and August! Together, we’ll read and write our way to a restorative summer season with short (around 15 minutes!) podcast episodes to spark long sessions of reading and writing. On this episode of Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness, I’m previewing the new season ahead, including a sneak-peek to the themes and episodes you’ll find here. Here they are: June: SETTLING INTO SUMMER Together, we’ll create gentle rhythms, restorative rituals and spaces for reading and writing across the summer season. July: RESTORATION & JOY Together, we’ll reclaim delight, creativity and hope throughout our summer days. August: REFLECTION & TRANSITION Together, we’ll reflect on the season and prepare for what our reading and writing lives might look like in the Fall. Now, don’t worry. I did not just reveal my summer one-word themes inside my private Substack community. Those will still be revealed month by month and you’ll also see additional seasonal aspects there, but I wanted everyone to have a sense of what’s coming. So, press play and let’s begin this new season together! Once you’ve listened, I’d love to know what you think of this episode. How are you planning your summer reading and writing season? What special requests do you have for the podcast or my private circle? Leave your thoughts in the comments! Let’s Work Together! I love to connect with others around our shared love of reading and writing. Here are some ways we can work together to create a life you love where restorative reading and writing is at the center of it all: 🩷 Join my private Substack community for themed book calendars, bonus posts, book clubs and events each month! 📚 Connect 1:1 for personalized coaching to unlock the transformative power of your reading and writing life. Click here for bibliotherapy and click here for expressive writing therapy. Let’s work together! Literate love is multiplied when it’s shared! 🩷 Here are some free ways to support this newsletter and spread my message of the magic of restorative reading and writing far and wide: 🩷 Like and comment on this post so we can connect!🔄 Restack your favorite nugget of literate love.📷 Take a screenshot of your favorite part and text it to a friend.💌 Forward this email to a fellow bookish and notebookish friend so they can join the literate love too!⌨️ Refer a friend and earn free access to my private community! *As an Amazon and Bookshop Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thanks for your support to keep this bookish community going! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit alitlife.substack.com/subscribe

    17 min

  7. May 19

    E228: From Unrest to Reinvention: Build a Book Apothecary with Abby!

    On this episode of Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness, I’m chatting with Abby to help her build a book apothecary for the season ahead. Join me as I talk all things books with a listener and build a book apothecary that will serve, soothe and nudge. Abby is a literacy educator who is content in her life, but also feels a bit of unrest. She wants to build a book apothecary focused on four key words: freedom, grow, nourish and connect. In addition to growing her reading life in nourishing ways, she’d also like to grow her writing life to help her uncover and decide upon her next steps in the season ahead. I have a feeling a lot of us are going to be nodding our heads and writing down titles in this episode! Here are the books mentioned in this episode. You’ll find links to my Amazon and Bookshop affiliate stores below. Thanks for your bookish support! WAYS TO FIND YOURSELF by Angela Brown (Amazon / Bookshop) STRESS LESS, ACCOMPLISH MORE by Emily Fletcher (Amazon / Bookshop) THE DAILY ARTIST’S WAY by Julia Cameron (Amazon / Bookshop) YOU ARE A BADASS AT MAKING MONEY by Jen Sincero (Amazon / Bookshop) COUNTDOWN TO RICHES by Rhonda Byrne (Amazon / Bookshop) WHAT IF YOU ARE THE ANSWER by Rachel Hollis (Amazon / Bookshop) ABUNDANT EVER AFTER by Cathy Heller (Amazon / Bookshop) If YOU would like to build your book apothecary with me on the podcast, click here to apply! I’d love to connect and collaborate! Once you’ve listened, I’d love to know what you think of this episode. Leave your thoughts in the comments! Let’s Work Together! I love to connect with others around our shared love of reading and writing. Here are some ways we can work together to create a life you love where restorative reading and writing is at the center of it all: 🩷 Join my private Substack community for themed book calendars, bonus posts, book clubs and events each month! 📚 Connect 1:1 for personalized coaching to unlock the transformative power of your reading and writing life. Click here for bibliotherapy and click here for expressive writing therapy. Let’s work together! Literate love is multiplied when it’s shared! 🩷 Here are some free ways to support this newsletter and spread my message of the magic of restorative reading and writing far and wide: 🩷 Like and comment on this post so we can connect!🔄 Restack your favorite nugget of literate love.📷 Take a screenshot of your favorite part and text it to a friend.💌 Forward this email to a fellow bookish and notebookish friend so they can join the literate love too!⌨️ Refer a friend and earn free access to my private community! *As an Amazon and Bookshop Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thanks for your support to keep this bookish community going! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit alitlife.substack.com/subscribe

    53 min

  8. May 12

    E227: A Guided Restorative Reading & Writing Session For When You Need Hope

    On this episode of Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness, I’m guiding you through a gentle restorative reading and writing session for when you need a bit of hope. It’s ideal for when things feel hard, for when life seems overwhelming and for when you’d like to brighten your outlook for the future. Here’s a quick overview of how the guided sessions work: * First, we begin with a bit of grounding and a few breaths to settle us. * Then, I share a powerful short reading to orient our focus and launch our reflective writing. * Following the reading, I guide you through three journaling invitations that build on each other and shift the energy on the page and in your body. * Finally, we end with a short, yet powerful, affirmation to carry throughout your day and beyond. Here are the books and writing prompts mentioned in this episode. You’ll find links to my Amazon and Bookshop affiliate stores below. Thanks for your bookish support! The Path to Kindness: Poems of Connection and Joy edited by James Crews (Amazon / Bookshop) Writing Prompts: First: * What line stayed with me? * What did I feel as I read it? * Where did I feel it? In my body? In my thoughts? In my emotions? Second: * What am I carrying right now that makes hope feel distant or fragile? * Where, even faintly, might hope still be present in my life? Third: * What would it look like to stay close to hope, just for today? Affirmation: I choose hope. Here’s the audio I used in the episode: Nature Healing Society Once you’ve listened, I’d love to know what you think of this episode. Leave your thoughts in the comments! One more thing: If you’d like printable restorative writing cards that help you explore hope in your life, join my Restorative Reading & Writing Circle on Substack! Let’s Work Together! I love to connect with others around our shared love of reading and writing. Here are some ways we can work together to create a life you love where restorative reading and writing is at the center of it all: 🩷 Join my private Substack community for themed book calendars, bonus posts, book clubs and events each month! 📚 Connect 1:1 for personalized coaching to unlock the transformative power of your reading and writing life. Click here for bibliotherapy and click here for expressive writing therapy. Let’s work together! Literate love is multiplied when it’s shared! 🩷 Here are some free ways to support this newsletter and spread my message of the magic of restorative reading and writing far and wide: 🩷 Like and comment on this post so we can connect!🔄 Restack your favorite nugget of literate love.📷 Take a screenshot of your favorite part and text it to a friend.💌 Forward this email to a fellow bookish and notebookish friend so they can join the literate love too!⌨️ Refer a friend and earn free access to my private community! *As an Amazon and Bookshop Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thanks for your support to keep this bookish community going! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit alitlife.substack.com/subscribe

    28 min
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Reading and writing can be restorative practices. If you love books, beautiful notebooks, thoughtful conversation, and the quiet joy of reflection, you’ll feel right at home here. alitlife.substack.com

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