The Sweet Spot

by Christine Carter

Learn how to achieve more by doing less! Live in that zone you’ve glimpsed but can’t seem to hold on to—the sweet spot where you have the greatest strength, but also the greatest ease.
 
Not long ago, Christine Carter, a happiness expert at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center and a speaker, writer, and mother, found herself exasperated by the busyness of modern life: too many conflicting obligations and not enough time, energy, or patience to get everything done. She tried all the standard techniques—prioritizing, multitasking, delegating, even napping—but none really worked. Determined to create a less stressful life for herself—without giving up her hard-won career success or happiness at home—she road-tested every research-based tactic that promised to bring more ease into her life. Drawing on her vast knowledge of the latest research related to happiness, productivity, and elite performance, she followed every strategy that promised to give her more energy—or that could make her more efficient, creative, or intelligent.
 
Her trials and errors are our reward. In The Sweet Spot, Carter shares the combination of practices that transformed her life from overwhelmed and exhausting to joyful, relaxed, and productive. From instituting daily micro-habits that save time to bigger picture shifts that convert stress into productive and creative energy, The Sweet Spot shows us how to
 
• say “no” strategically and when to say “yes” with abandon
• make decisions about routine things once to free our minds to focus on higher priorities
• stop multitasking and gain efficiency
• “take recess” in sync with the brain’s need for rest
• use technology in ways that bolster, instead of sap, energy
• increase your ratio of positive to negative emotions
 
Complete with practical “easiest thing” tips for instant relief as well as stories from Carter’s own experience of putting The Sweet Spot into action, this timely and inspiring book will inoculate you against “The Overwhelm,” letting you in on the possibilities for joy and freedom that come when you stop trying to do everything right—and start doing the right things.
 
Advance praise for The Sweet Spot
 
“Illuminates the simple and sustainable path toward a precious and happy balance.”—Deepak Chopra
 
“A gift, like a good friend drawing a personal road map out of the crazy busy swirl of our overloaded lives.”—Brigid Schulte, author of Overwhelmed
 
“This book did something I thought was impossible: It seemed to give me more time.”—Martha Beck, author of Finding Your Way in a Wild New World
 
“A page-turning thriller full of proven ways to have the life you want.”—Rick Hanson, Ph.D., author of Hardwiring Happiness
 
“Timely, lively, and vital, The Sweet Spot is an immediately useful must-read.”—Shawn Achor, author of The Happiness Advantage

“The Sweet Spot inspired me to make immediate changes that have increased my productivity and lowered my stress.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Personal Development, Productivity, Psychology, Business, Audiobook

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 13, 2015

About the author

Christine Carter, Ph.D., is a sociologist and author of The New Adolescence, The Sweet Spot and Raising Happiness. A sought-after keynote speaker and senior fellow at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, she draws on scientific research to help people lead their most courageous, joyful, meaningful, and productive lives.

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Sweet Spot by Christine Carter includes nice tidbits of advice about prioritization, organization, practicing beneficial habits, etc., but it often reads more like a memoir (i.e. "I write at a standing desk that has a small treadmill under it" (91), "I'm extroverted. I'd rather be with people, preferably talking" (238).)

Most advice like this is obviously not practical for most readers, particularly for professional educators who work 45 hours in the classroom and another 10 or so at home. On the other hand, if you’re an affluent, self-employed Ph.D, then this book has some wonderful advice about how to balance your meditation schedule with your speaking tour, board meetings, and writing in your home office.

Despite these major criticisms, there are nuggets within this book that are useful for normal working people. Finally, most of Carter's information isn't taken from anecdotal or new-agey pseudo-evidence but actually from cited scientific studies.

***I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads Giveaways.***

[Cari · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is awesome. Even though it covered a lot of ground from authors I've already read, it didn't hurt to have a reminder. Carter tells us that in order to be happy, we must live our lives from a point of strength and ease. Most of us have a lot to do, and even if we live charmed lives, we are still having trouble navigating through the busy waters. I took a lot of notes on the different sections, but I felt most inspired by the last section, which talks about how we must live with a growth mindset. Not everything will be easy all the time - that's how we grow. This is an important and inspirational book, and along with 10% Happier, I'd recommend it for people who are just starting along the mindfulness path.

[Erin Goettsch · Rating 2 out of 5]

The best thing I can say about this is it helped me feel drowsy for a few nights this week when I couldn't get to sleep.

The content is fine -- nothing particularly original, it's sort of a mishmash of her own best practices, along with (I think?) every other organizational tip she's encountered, ever -- so there are lots of good ideas here, but they feel sort of unfocused. (Oh, irony.)

Also, not to be overly pedantic, but I can't abide professional editing that doesn't use "begs the question" correctly. Come on now.

[Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you haven't read any books about happiness science, then this one might be OK because it reads like a series of book reports/infomercials on other books. At least the author gives credit to many other self-help authors, who then give her blurbs for her book jacket.
I don't think her first-world problems are very interesting. One of her biggest tragedies she had to overcome is that her Realtor told her to sell her house in the summer and then changed her mind and told her to sell later. Oh the humanity!
The book starts off with the premise of road-testing science-based recommendations, but devolves into weaker typical self-help platitudes. I don't think there's much original in here. But all the little tips might help people.
Personally, I prefer the more original, deeper books on the various topics touched on in here.
Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life

[Lorilin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best (and most realistic) books I've read about how to live a more balanced and content life--even in the midst of so much "busyness." There was a ton here that I found helpful, and I've already integrated some of Carter's suggestions into my daily routines. And I even saw positive results almost immediately--seriously! (Though I will say, in the interest of full disclosure, that I am a stay-at-home mom and writer, so I think I am THE target audience for this book, which may be part of the reason why it has worked so well for me.)

Sweet Spot is broken down into five sections. I have many favorite tid-bits from each part, but, for the sake of brevity, I'll just hit the highlights. Part One emphasizes the importance of focused work and rest times--specifically how important it is to experience good, quality chunks of both--and then goes on to offer very practical advice on how to increase the number and intensity of positive emotions you feel in your life. (On a side note, I was really skeptical that striking a pose like Wonder Woman for two minutes would actually make me feel more confident, but it did!)

Parts Two and Three were by far my favorites. Part Two discusses the importance of transforming as many recurring actions, tasks, chores, etc., into automatic habits. I learned what a workhorse my subconscious is, how surprisingly capable it is of pulling much more weight if I just take 30 seconds to create a new habit that it can then just roll with. (I found the "formula" of "After I do THIS, then I will do THAT" to be a very effective and simple way of creating a habit. So, for example, "After I put the baby down for his nap in the afternoon, I will write for two hours" was all it took. It's simple--and maybe embarrassingly obvious--but it worked for me.)

I also put Carter's advice on reaching goals into action almost immediately and planned out a better morning routine for myself and my kids. And thanks in part to Part Three, which talks about knowing your top five priorities and then spending 95% of your time on ONLY those things, I have been able to create a daily routine that feels meaningful and realistic--and, therefore, actually doable--to me.

Part Four discusses the importance of cultivating relationships, how good relationships--whether with lifelong friends or barely-met acquaintances--have the power to make us feel content, safe, comforted, and connected.

Part Five is all about how to deal with uncomfortable feelings, such as when we feel discouraged, afraid, overwhelmed, or lost.

At the end of each chapter is a short section called "The Easiest Thing," where Carter suggests one incredibly simple way to translate her ideas into action. She dumbs it way down so even a child could perform these tasks, but, somehow, I never felt condescended to; I actually felt proud of myself for accomplishing something.

Ultimately, I absolutely loved this book from start to finish. It was so relevant to my life, so practical and genuinely helpful. And because Carter references an impressive selection of books in Sweet Spot (including some of my recent favorites like:

(*) Mind Over Medicine
(*) Overwhelmed: Work, Love, and Play When No One Has the Time,
(*) A journal publication by John Gottman [but I like The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work],
(*) Outliers,
(*) Thrive, and
(*) Triumphs of Experience),

I now have a few more happiness- and wellness-related books lined up in my to-be-read queue, including:

(*) The Talent Code,
(*) Stumbling on Happiness, and
(*) The Martha Beck Collection.

I am excited to keep reading!

[M.E. Kinkade · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was so persuasive, I implemented some of its suggestions even before buying and reading it!
It's true. I first heard about The Sweet Spot: How to Find Your Groove at Home and Work on the incredibly excellent radio program Think. I only heard the tail end of the discussion, but it was very convincing: that implementing a few routines and intentional habits into your life could make work, life, everything more copacetic.
And that's how I started doing pushups as soon as I woke up. And then how I bought the book.
Carter does a great job in grouping concepts and providing both detailed research and easy action points. Because of that, I think this is the kind of book you read twice: once to grok it and let it really sink in, and a second time with a pencil and paper as you work out what you're actually going to try to do.
The things she advocates are both really easy and seem like they'll be very difficult to implement in real life. Most people already know they should get enough sleep, but allow themselves to stay up late anyway, for example. But even if you take only a little bit away from reading this book, you'll probably be better for it. I fully intend to go back and complete some of the personal challenges Carter suggests. My favorite was outlining, literally, the top 5 most important things in your life, and only doing things that serve those goals. Oh, and I'm working on halting my habit of checking my cellphone at stop lights while driving, though "embracing boredom to allow for creativity" is proving easier said than done.
Why is this book only 3 stars? Well, it's true that I liked it (what a 3-star rating on Goodreads means). But it felt a) a little sanctimonious and b) like doing literally all these things would make you a very boring person.
Carter often uses examples from her own life to explain how her concepts could be performed in real life. But these were the absolute low points of the narrative for me: the details of your childrens' daily breakfasts (a "healthy meal of half an avocado spread on toast!") just come across as a humblebrag for anyone who knows how much an avocado costs outside of California and how weird it is to eat that every single day. I was further (and possibly unjustifiably) irked when Carter got into her hard-knock story as a single mom...but she still paid for a regular, weekly housekeeper. #firstworldproblems? She gives herself a bedtime of 10 p.m. so that she can wake at 6 to begin her day--I had to wonder, does that ever vary?--and even went so far as so detail her wardrobe (if you have her as a speaker, don't worry, you'll know which of the three dresses she'll be wearing!).
And yet despite the rigidity of her self-imposed habits, Carter never satisfactorily explained what it had gained her (except for the section on her morning workout routines; apparently that has led to some nice benefits). Presumably more creativity--but for what? Potentially more time with her kids, I guess, but they all sound relatively young, with early bedtimes?
Because of that, despite all the positive things I think I can get out of this book, I was a little distant from it and felt myself rebelling. What if I don't want the same routine forever and always?
Honestly, Carter leaves room for that. She doesn't necessarily want to make you accept her goals, but does want to teach you how to make your own. I'll have to try it to see how well it works out.

[K.J. Dell'Antonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of practical "road tested" advice here. I changed the way I exercise and the way I think about my work day. Especially great for those of is for whom working "flex time" ended up meaning "kinda working all the time."

[Rachael Mackie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too long, too wordy. Could have been half the length and just as beneficial. For me there was nothing life changing, primarily common sense and some interesting tidbits. All that being said, I typically don’t read self help books so not much to compare it to.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book more than I did. I did enjoy some of the stories, but mostly this book felt like a regurgitation of many other books I've read. In fact, it felt like the author was referencing specific books on every other page. Okay, I'm exaggerating a bit, but not by much. I've read many of the books she referenced, so I'm left feeling like I didn't learn anything new. If a reader is hearing this content for the first time, I'd say it would be meaningful. For me... not so much.

For example, she refers to Abe Lincoln, Michael Jordan and JK Rowling in the same paragraph about how they persisted in the face of repeated defeat. I've heard those stories a bazillion times, so they didn't resonate with me. I would've enjoyed this book more if it were full of mostly new content or stories that weren't regurgitated in book after book on similar topics.

I also found that the author wasn't relatable and sometimes, she got on my nerves. For example, instead of saying she works from home in yoga pants, she has to say Athleta yoga pants. And instead of referring to when she was in her undergraduate program, she'd say something like... in my Dartmouth undergraduate program. I felt like she was trying too hard to impress the reader and she came across to me as self-absorbed. (I also work from home in yoga pants and I have a graduate degree, but I don't feel inclined to name drop every time I talk about either.)

I probably would've rated this book as two stars, but I feel bad because I received it as a giveaway and I am grateful for that. The book just fell flat with me and could've been so much better since the topic was a good one.

***I received this book as a complimentary Goodreads Giveaway.***

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of practical advice and reminders I found helpful in the particular season I'm in. (7/10)

[Flora Wang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really liked how the author elaborated on the importance of rest and the harms of the perfectionist mindset and how one cannot use self criticism as an effective means to keep one moving or prevent one from making mistakes. I’ve been living under the tough love self criticism mindset for 20+ years and really noticed how much it can backfire in recent years, so I really appreciate the perspective that the author’s provided here.

I also really appreciated how Carter clarified how many of us subconsciously fall prey to the social norm and try at all costs to live up to the image of “the ideal worker.” People tend to equate being busy to being productive, important and valuable while this is not at all the case. In fact many of us are so busy because we’re held captive by fear and don’t know how to address that inner critique or anxiety. More is not always better and some mountains aren’t worth climbing all the way to the top, sometimes we just need to acquire the courage/stillness to ignore certain social norms and choose what aligns with our ultimate goals and values. Given today’s competitive environment we’ve pretty much internalized ideas such as “winners don’t quit” or “one can always work harder” without ever taking a moment to examine whether these ideals are actually helpful or conducive to one’s personal growth and happiness.

This book gave me the insight and courage to fight against my old conditioning, say no to what’s not productive and rest without guilt when my body calls for it. It also gave me a brand new interpretation of the Divergent series which I failed to grasp when I first read the series as a teenager. I also really liked how it brought up many other psychologists’ research and central ideas. It was helpful to revisit those ideas and have a refresher on some books I’ve read in the past.

[Cheyenne Krijgsman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, easy and practical tips which you can implement in your life right away. However, a lot of overlap with other 'self-help' books.

[hemlet kiai · Rating 3 out of 5]

i truly enjoyed reading this book. where is my sweet spot? i guess it has always been there all this while. i just didn’t realize it. recommended reading.

[Kelly Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone can find something beneficial about this read. Even if you take one of the many tidbits and work it into your daily life, you should see a positive shift.

[Mehrsa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just a review of other people's good work with nothing new or interesting. It was just a hodgepodge of ideas without a coherent synthesis. I mean, it's all helpful, but I'd rather read the other people's work or I already have and this is redundant.

[Andie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer- I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway.

I could not have received this book at a better time! Currently, I work 90+ hours a week with my new company plus I have several animals, a husband and a household to keep up. It's exhausting and I've been chronically ill for the past six months due to stress and overworking. Even though I'm working toward my lifelong goals and I'm successful I don't feel happy. Dr. Carter's book has definitely opened my eyes to the fact that I'm surviving instead of thriving. How do I find balance? How do I reach my goals in all areas of my life and still feel happy and truly enjoy the process? The Sweet Spot is not a traditional self help book. There aren't a bunch of catchy, peppy one liners. The tone of book reminds me of talking to a friend. Dr. Carter gives advice that is not only backed up by experts and science but is easily incorporated into a busy life. It's about changing your life slowly and making changes that will make you more productive and less "busy." She teaches you how to change bad habits that you may not realize you have and how to improve your quality of life. To sum it all up; she teaches you how to be more successful and how to enjoy everyday in order to have a fulfilling life. I've already recommended this book to all of my friends and I will continue to do so. Thank you, Dr. carter!

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, first there's there slight irony that it took me 4 months to finish a book about getting into your groove so you can focus your energy more effectively on living a life you desire. Let's just say I definitely desire more reading time. Secondly, this is probably a book for Type As. Given that I nodded my head in earnest agreement as the author described that actions and feelings that led her to ultimately physically fall ill and reassess everything, I'd say I could relate.

She moves gradually through the "low hanging fruit" of removing stress and decision fatigue from your life into more psychologically driven topics like coping with perfectionism, worry, and relationship cracks. Towards the end there are bits about meditation and mindfulness.

I will be holding onto this book and can see myself referring to it or even re-reading. In fact, I thought about re-starting it again already. Back to that whole four month thing, I clearly still have a few lessons to work on.

[LuAnn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't really "read" this one, but rather skimmed. I took the author's advice to heart and allowed myself to say no and concentrated on chapters that I felt would be beneficial. I did a lot of, "I do that", head-nodding, and "yes, that" while reading. I'm happy to report that I already incorporate a lot of the practices suggested; adopting a work uniform, sticking to a basic weekly menu, and establishing/following good habits to establish a fair amount of routine; sounds exciting, right?? According to one happiness expert, I'm well on my way to a happy, balanced life, albeit short on adventure and variety. My take-away is that the less time and energy we spend on making decisions about what to wear, what to prepare for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and succumbing to distraction, the more at peace we'll find ourselves. Oh consistency, but I do love thee.

[Steve Bivans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Has modern technology just given us more time to work and stress about working? Do you feel as if you're running around in circles, chasing something that is ever illusive? Are you happy with your life? Or has work and the stress from work invaded your home-life, too?

In 'The Sweet Spot,' Christine Carter tackles these questions head on, and while she analyzes the causes and underlying psychological drivers of this rat race, she doesn't stop there. Christine gives you elephant-loads of down-to-Earth, practical advice on how we can break from the race and chart our own path. How we can form positive habits that lead us to a more healthy, happy life.

If you're suffering from brain-spin, stress, depression, frustration, and unhappiness, even just a LITTLE, you need to read this book!

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I can't begin to describe how much I enjoyed this book. Only a few chapters in and I was recommending it to friends, coworkers, and clients. This is easily one of the best positive psychology books I've ever read (and that's saying something). Christine has a very clear, down to earth, and accessible style and the suggested tips she offered were very practical. I appreciated her cogent real life examples, often of her playing mom. I liked this so much I bought the book after listening to the audio version from the library (also a great way to enjoy this book - very well done) and plan on reading it again, this time highlighting and taking notes in the margin. I can't wait to read what she writes next!

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

In general I don't read self-help books. I don't really like them. But right now I seem to be on some sort of self-help mission. This is the most helpful self-help book I have read since Covey's 7 Habits. That one (7 Habits) was a "lightbulb" book. It turned on lightbulbs; it solved problems; and it changed my life. So has this one. Right now my brain kind of overfloweth, but I am going to take tiny steps to forming new habits (already have in several cases) and I'm looking forward to the next iteration of me. :)

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this was part of my journey to consistent happiness. Carter references many of the studies and theories that I already knew and mixed them with her personal stories. The reinforcement of behaviors and practices was good for me and I liked that she ended each theme with an "easy" tip for moving forward.

[Anastasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book; it's full of excellent ideas and strategies for improving your life and gaining greater fulfillment. I zipped through it on audio and now I plan to buy a copy and read it slowly with an eye toward focusing on the specific areas that apply to me.

[Kris Springer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book about doing what's meaningful, helping others and finding joy. Great and useful tips. Happiness is more about having a growth and abundance mentality, as well as doing work you're passionate about and that helps others.

[Sheri · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really liked the first half that used a practical approach to balance however the second part didn't resonate with me as much.

[Kirsten Bansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this very slowly...Lots to absorb. I normally hate self-help.books but I found this to be practical and timely, if a little overwhelming.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

The information was the same I have read & heard before. Written well it just didn't provide me with any new insights

[Rachel Reynolds · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most self-help books follow a formula. Within each chapter's theme, there is a pithy opening quote to frame the concept, background research or ideas for why this is important, cursory summary of some research, which many times says that "X proves Y", and a few efficiently summarized tips for moving forward and implementing said concept. This book is pretty standard fare for the "self-help" genre and Christine Carter's book was easy to read. It was also easy to determine which sections I wanted to scour and which ones I felt I could skim. I walked away with a few really good ideas that I feel I can implement easily in my life to help find more balance. I also was affirmed by some things that I think I'm already doing that seem to be "good ideas" or best practice, based on the book. If I hadn't already taken courses in mindfulness, I may have found Carter's book even more valuable. Instead, I thought it was sufficiently reaffirming of concepts I already knew and understood.

A few critiques:
1. My first critique is for almost all self-help books. When they start spouting off research, they like to say "X proves Y". Most research doesn't work that way. Sometimes a causal or correlational relationship between two things is demonstrated but most things are rarely proven without multiple repeated studies. Self-help books rarely include a deep dive into the quality of the studies from which they base their recommendations or further information to help the consumer understand what the research actually means. I understand that they want something that is easily digestible for the consumer but it means that you are trusting the authority of the author rather than looking at the quality of the research itself.

2. Carter shares many anecdotes and examples from her own life, including those where she falls short of perfection. This is good; it helps to make her book relatable. However, I wish Carter had included more examples for how people with other types of careers can make some of these techniques work. I saw how many of her recommendations can work well for someone with an independent career or someone who has a lot more flexibility in how, when, and where they work, but not a great deal of ideas for people who do, say, shift work. Additionally, she seems to speak from the perspective of a parent who has older children rather than provide examples of how this might also apply to families with younger children. I can see how the extrapolation could be made, but more concrete examples would have been better.

[Bill Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

Abstract
Aside from being a writer, Dr. Carter is a sociologist who studies happiness. Despite fitting under the self-help umbrella—and despite the tantalizing subtitle—THE SWEET SPOT is less about time management than it is about cultivating emotional well-being.

Were business as usual to follow from there, The Overwhelm would fill any time gained or exhaust any energy preserved. Fortunately, perspective shifts are on offer, as well. By the last page, cocaine and all-nighters may be in your past.

Carter serves up nuggets of wisdom from clinical research and popular wellness authors alike, atomizing the skills of habit formation and stomaching usual discomfort in the process of becoming the you you bravely imagine. And she unseats success and in its place sets giving on the throne of meaning in our lives.

Weaknesses
Really, the title should have been FINDING EASE. Expecting an action list to increase efficiency was distracting, particularly with such expansive topics and the exploration that followed.

A dash of the personal can be charming. Here, the writing strayed into journaling, at times. Of course, she seems nice.

In the conclusion, on the topic of mindsets, the tone descended into penny wisdom. (Only choosing harder and harder challenges can result in burnout or injury. Not every relationship is salvageable, nor is verbalizing the highest good. Not everyone wants to change or necessarily should.)

Strengths
Carter is dogged in illustrating the virtues of being mindful of our emotional states and showing ourselves compassion. By her telling, we're not just patting ourselves on the head. These are practical skills developed through detailed methods.

If her personal anecdotes are any indication, she really practices what she preaches. It's particularly resonant, to me, that habit formation requires micro-planning. Similarly, it stands to reason that a life transformation would include a flux in your social network.

The book is well organized, and the topics are worked from multiple angles. Balance is good, too. I anticipate benefits in reacting to the material, rather than observing any dictums, which is unexpected and challenging.

It's a good intake.

[Aleks Veselovsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is excellent and I am so glad I came across it. Here is what I liked best about it:
1) It has a great balance of theory and practice. I appreciated the explanations of the theory and I was able to apply some of the things Dr. Carter describes immediately. For example, she writes that she completes a 9 mile run every day, which may not seem like much daily, but adds up over the course of the month, and is a lot more effective then trying and failing to schedule time for a long run. I have started taking a 12 minute walk after I drop off my daughter at school. It only adds 12 minutes to my morning routine but adds up to at least an hour of walking a week. If I have time, I walk more, but overtime this is better for me since I can rarely find long periods of free time. Another thing I started doing is blocking off work time on Fridays from 10 to 12. I teach Wednesdays and Thursdays and this time allows me to reflect and start planning for the following week. I have put this time into my calendar so that if someone asks if I am available for a meeting on Friday morning, I can look at my schedule and see that this time is dedicated to purposeful reflection.
2) I love that Dr. Carter cites different experts throughout the book. I have read some books where the author just shares his/her view and it makes for a very one-sided narrative. By citing other experts, I felt she was inviting the reader to explore further research by people who focus on very specific things, which I gladly did.
3) I felt that this book did not drag on or repeat itself, which I truly appreciated. At no point, while I was listening did I think "I wish she would get to the point already" or "She keeps saying the same thing". In fact, Dr. Cater often wrote "For more on this, refer to chapter 6" or "If you want more ways to do this, try some suggestions from chapter 2".
Although I am far from hitting the sweet spot, I feel that this book definitely helped me start the process of finding my groove and I look forward to continuing this process using the tools and suggestions for further reading, provided by the author.