Finding balance is always challenging, but it wasn’t until I started paying attention to where I thought I was adding that I realized what I actually needed was subtraction.

A lot of these things looked positive on the surface. Fun, convenient, productive, social, aspirational, even “self-care” in some ways. And individually, none of them felt dramatic enough to question.

But together, they were quietly creating chaos.

More decisions to make. More money being spent. More overstimulation. More clutter. More pressure to keep up with routines, plans, trends, products, and expectations that didn’t necessarily make life better, they just made it fuller.

And eventually I realized that while life wasn’t going to become less busy, it could function better with a little more structure and a little less working against me.

Buying outfits for every occasion

I used to buy very specifically for events, dinners, concerts, weekends, trips, all of it. Not because my style was constantly changing, but because it felt like every occasion needed its own outfit.

Over time, I realized I was buying too much for the moment instead of for longevity. Pieces that photographed well or fit a very specific vibe, but didn’t necessarily integrate back into my actual wardrobe long term. And don’t get me wrong, if that moment calls for a wear it once moment, then that’s ok too, but it was the logistics, shopping and time that became the issue - not the clothes.

Now I shop much more responsibly and focus on pieces I know I’ll realistically wear repeatedly and in multiple ways. And for the occasions where I want something trend-driven, fun, or different, I lean much more on services like Rent the Runway and Vivrelle. Less pressure, money and honestly, more fun.

It still gives me the twist of fashion and getting dressed up without constantly consuming more or creating a closet full of pieces that only work once.

Trying every skincare product everyone else was using

At one point I had entirely too many skincare products. Too many steps, too many actives, too many things promising some kind of overnight transformation. A lot of it was being sent to me and while I’m grateful for it, I soon realized that there wasn’t a possible outcome to fit it all in.

Hundreds of products and the best formulas but somehow my skin looked worse.

I also finally stopped using makeup wipes after years of pretending they weren’t breaking me out when they absolutely were.

I think social media and beauty marketing can make it feel like everyone has a complicated routine, and if you’re not layering twelve products every night looking like a glazed donut, you’re somehow behind. But most of the time, my skin responds much better to consistency than complexity.

Now I use far fewer products, stick to what actually works for me, and my skin has honestly never looked better. Do we want a favorites post?

Thinking exhaustion meant I was productive

For years, I fully convinced myself I was “more creative at night.”

And sometimes I probably was. But I also think I was exhausted more often than I realized.

Late nights started feeling productive simply because they were quiet. Fewer emails, fewer expectations, fewer people needing things from you. But eventually I realized I wasn’t actually functioning better, I was just functioning alone.

Once I started prioritizing sleep and building an actual nighttime routine, everything shifted. My focus improved, my mood improved, my creativity improved, and honestly, so did my ability to handle stress.

Turns out being tired all the time wasn’t actually part of my personality and doesn’t equate to success.

Spontaneous date nights

I used to romanticize spontaneity a lot more than I realistically had the capacity for.

Last-minute dinner plans, squeezing in one more night out after a long work day, saying yes because it sounded fun in the moment. And sometimes it was. But other times it just left me wondering if having no plans would’ve been better.

I think there’s this idea that spontaneity automatically makes life more exciting, but I’ve realized I enjoy things much more when they actually fit into my life instead of disrupting it. Believe me, there is nothing I love more than trying a new restaurant or spending the evening in a booth with my husband and a bottle of wine, but we realized that it was more about the intention of making the plan than the actual date.

What if someone had a tough day at work? What if staying home and watching a movie felt more appealing in the moment? Changing plans led to potential disappointment, dismissed time and energy in planning, and, of course, the “where do you want to go to dinner?” question.

Now, it looks like a weekly date night where we both have the expectation and commitment ahead of time. We talk about where, when and details ahead of time and then show up where we need to. If time, location or date needs to change, then we do, but we both hold the commitment of date night without the spontaneity leading.

Saying yes to too much socially

I love dinners, events, spontaneous plans, date nights, trips, concerts, all of it. The Gemini that I am could spend all night out talking, dancing, and enjoying every second, but then kick myself when I get home wishing I hadn’t.

But I also realized that saying yes to everything started making me feel more drained than fulfilled.

Not because the plans themselves were bad, but because constantly being “on,” always going somewhere, or trying to fit everything in eventually starts catching up with you, especially while balancing work, relationships, routines, and everyday responsibilities.

Ironically, I enjoy the things I do go to much more now that I’m more selective about what actually deserves my energy. Everything compounds and nothing adds up faster than multiple social events a week.

Overcomplicating routines I realistically couldn’t maintain

This one took me longer to realize.

I think there’s so much pressure now to optimize every part of your life. The perfect morning routine, perfect workout split, perfect skincare routine, perfect supplement schedule, perfect productivity system.

And honestly, I think sometimes we create routines for an imaginary version of ourselves instead of our actual life. The Pinterest board of your life feeling. Some mornings it worked and I felt great about it, other times I was asking myself why am I doing this? Do I actually need this?

I realized I didn’t need more steps. I needed simpler ones that I could realistically maintain consistently, even during busy weeks. I then heard a tip about having a bare minimum routine and then a full routine. I was trying to hit the full routine every day when I needed to establish what the minimum bar was.

The full plan is extensive and sometimes overwhelming when you’re running behind, not feeling well, traveling, or adding in appointments.

Once I understood my nonnegotiable steps (the daily stoic and devotional) it became easier to feel like I had still accomplished something without the weight of the entire routine on me.

Letting convenience make too many decisions for me

This one sounds minor, but it changed more than I expected.

I realized how much time, money, and mental energy I was losing to random errands. A grocery run usually turned into buying things we didn’t actually need or were craving in the moment. A stop at Target somehow became another notebook, candle, or organizational product I convinced myself I needed and then it sat in a corner never being used.

And convenience worked the same way with food too. If I was tired, busy, overstimulated, or unprepared, the easiest option usually won and then we realized we’re eating out multiple times a week.

Now I rely much more on grocery pickup, delivery services, online ordering, and planning ahead just enough to remove some of those unnecessary decisions and errands. It helps keep us in the lane of only buying what we actually need.

It’s less stimulating, less impulsive, and honestly just keeps life moving more smoothly.

None of these things were ruining my life or that dramatic individually.

But together, they were adding friction everywhere else.

And I think that’s what I’ve realized most about adulthood, balance, and trying to manage a full life well. Usually it’s not one massive thing making everything feel overwhelming. It’s smaller habits, routines, purchases, expectations, and decisions stacking on top of each other quietly over time.

Life didn’t magically become less busy.

It just started functioning better once I simplified a few things and added structure where I actually needed it.

It’s never one thing. It’s everything working together.

There’s a difference between something that works and something that feels right. Most of the time, it isn’t one defining feature that creates that feeling. It’s a series of smaller decisions. Ones that don’t necessarily stand out on their own, but together, create something cohesive.

You don’t always notice them immediately. But you feel them.

The lighting is softer than expected. The music fits the room without competing with it. A space feels intentional, even if you can’t explain why. An outfit comes together without needing adjustment. Nothing is pulling too hard for attention. It’s subtle, but it changes everything.

We tend to look for the one thing that will make the difference. The right piece, the right plan, the right moment. But more often than not, it’s the accumulation of smaller details that creates the result we’re actually after. And when those details are considered consistently, things start to feel easier. Not effortless in the sense that nothing went into it, but effortless in the sense that everything has already been decided.

That’s where clarity comes from. It shows up in how you get dressed. Pieces that work together without needing to be rethought. Nothing competing, nothing slightly off. You’re comfortable and feel confident. It shows up in your environment. Spaces that feel aligned with how you want to live, not just how they look.

And it shows up in your time. Days that aren’t just full, but intentional. None of these things requires more. If anything, they require less. Less noise. Less overthinking. Less trying to force something into place.

The difference is in the details that remain. The ones that have been chosen carefully, repeated consistently, and refined just enough that everything else can fall into place around them.

What This Looks Like in Practice

It’s easy to talk about details in theory, but they matter most in the moments where things aren’t controlled. Especially in work that doesn’t follow the same rhythm every day. I shared a little day in the life video on my Instagram last night that showcases a view into what a day can look like working in hospitality.

Some days are structured. Others aren’t. Priorities shift, timelines move, and what you planned for the day isn’t always what it becomes. That’s where the smaller things start to matter more. Not as a way to control the day, but as a way to move through it.

Routines that don’t change. Decisions that have already been made. Boundaries around what gets your time and attention. They’re not rigid, but they’re consistent. And that consistency is what creates a sense of stability, even when everything else is moving. It’s not about having a perfect system, but about having something to return to.

I’ve learned I can’t control the day, but I know what works and what doesn’t for me.

A consistent start to the day; my morning routine is what anchors the entire day. Starting with consistency and clarity makes everything easier for me. How I approach things, my outlook on the day, the mood I’m in and the accountability to myself each morning.

Decisions made before I need them: uniform dressing helps eliminate the extra decisions and time. Having that figured out provides a structure I can fall back on. I don’t have to wonder if I’ll feel good in the outfit, if it fits properly or if I feel my best.

Time that isn’t already spoken for: Creating time for the things that make me feel creative, or time to think, time to not be in meetings, it’s all scheduled and thoughtful. It’s easy to jump straight to the next thing, but I’ve found the magic is in between when there is no pressure and we aren’t reacting.

Space that feels like I can think clearly: whether it is in my living room during my morning routine, my office space, or just a moment to reset, having a space that informs what you need your environment to be is something I can’t recommend enough.

Something to look forward to at the end of it: some non-negotiables happen nightly and provide that foundation, like dinner with my husband and time without our phones, but it can also be a glass of wine on the back deck, a concert or fun industry event.

None of it guarantees a perfect day. There are still moments that feel rushed, off, or completely out of sync. Soemtimes we take the L and pour another glass of wine, but having something consistent to come back to changes how everything else feels. It’s less about controlling the day and more about moving through it with clarity. Not everything works every time, but it works more often than it doesn’t. And most days, that’s enough.

If you’ve ever asked someone in marketing, “How did you learn this?” the answer is almost never just school or a job title. It’s usually a mix of experience, mistakes, curiosity — and a handful of books that quietly shape how you think. I’m a big believer that marketing should be a group activity, and while I haven’t had the longest career, I’ve learned a lot from the network I’m grateful to be a part of and the books that taught those people a lot of what they know and have shared with me.

I’ve always believed that the best marketing isn’t really about marketing at all. It’s about people. About decision-making. About creativity under pressure. About how ideas land, spread, or fall flat. I’ve found the same to be true in the majority of the marketing books that sit on my bookshelf. Sure, they’re filled with best practices and marketing principles, but the true artform of marketing lies within the people that shape them, the systems that propel them, and the creativity we nurture.

Whether you work in marketing, want to work in marketing, or are simply looking for a more well-rounded understanding of how marketing principles show up in business and life, these are books I consistently recommend when someone asks me where to start. Think of this list as a bookshelf I’d happily point you toward if we were grabbing coffee together and you asked for a read that will reshape your perspective.

Creativity, Discipline & Doing the Work

One of my favorite conversations to have with people is about how creativity and artistic ability are not mutually exclusive. Some of the most creative people I know couldn’t draw a convincing stick figure, and some of the most artistic people I know have a hard time looking at problem-solving creatively. These books break the mold on the idea of creativity and how everyone has a level of creativity they can unlock and sharpen, no matter their profession or how well they can visualize something on paper.

These are for anyone who creates for a living, or is expected to show up with ideas even when inspiration is nowhere to be found.

The Accidental Creative: How to Be Brilliant at a Moment’s Notice by Todd Henry
This book reframes creativity as a responsibility, not a mood. It’s about building habits, systems, and clarity so you can deliver strong work consistently — especially when the pressure is on.

Creative Confidence by Tom Kelley and David Kelley
A reminder that creativity isn’t reserved for designers or artists. It focuses on confidence, experimentation, and empathy as skills anyone can build — and benefit from.

Brand, Strategy & Positioning

If you’ve ever wondered why some brands just make sense, and why others feel forgettable, these are essential reads. Being creative is an aspect of marketing, but without the formulas and systems that make it all work together, that big idea may never come to life or last the test of time to build brand loyalty.

The Brand Gap by Marty Neumeier
A foundational book that connects strategy and creativity in a simple, visual, and incredibly practical way. It’s one of those reads that permanently changes how you look at brands. Apologies in advance for how you will never be able to look at a marketing campaign without the Brand Gap lens again.

Juicing the Orange by Pat Fallon
This book challenges you to unapologetically think bigger, push against category norms, and create brand ideas that actually move people emotionally. And then it breaks that down and asks you to do it on a bigger scale. The best marketing ideas and brands are built from tension, sitting in the uncomfortable to find the comfortable, and breaking what already exists to find the true value. Marketing dies in complacency, and this book pushed me more than most to operate in that mindset regularly.

Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind by Al Ries and Jack Trout
An older classic that still holds up. It explains how brands win or lose in the mind — and why perception often matters more than product itself. The true win in marketing is convincing millions of people that a product that hundreds of other companies have is better than another, not because it is, but because the consumer perceives it to be. Ideally, you’re in a unicorn situation and marketing a one-of-a-kind, ca n’t-be-beaten product, but more often than not, the strategy is positioning rather than product.

Obviously Awesome by April Dunford
This modern take on positioning is instrumental in crowded markets. Clear, practical, and helpful for articulating what truly makes a brand different. This book takes positioning to the next level and breaks down why context, a specific target audience, and differentiation set brands apart from the crowded markets they are in.

Messaging, Storytelling & Making Ideas Stick

Messaging, Storytelling & Making Ideas Stick

These books focus on communication, how to say the right thing at the right time, clearly, without overcomplicating it, and even when silence is a stronger tool than the perfectly worded pitch. Every marketing campaign should include a story, but where the best campaigns set apart from others is when the team behind them gets granular about how it’s said, the visuals that accompany it, the voice sharing it, and the level of detail in every single one of those categories.

Made to Stick by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
A breakdown of why some ideas are memorable while others disappear. It introduces simple frameworks for clarity, relevance, and emotional impact. There’s a reason certain commercials, brands, and visuals stick with you, and this book gives you the cheat code to unlocking why they do. Spoiler, it’s usually the most clear, focused, and stripped down messaging that is remembered most.

Building a Story Brand by Donald Miller
A straightforward framework for simplifying brand messaging using storytelling principles. Especially helpful when you’re trying to clarify what you actually do. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in marketing? The customer is the main character, not the brand. You’ve already lost the plot if your main message is talking about you.

Everybody Writes by Ann Handley
A reminder that writing is a core business skill. Practical and approachable, especially for anyone creating content, emails, or digital communication. You don’t have to be a copywriter to nail the skillset of writing with clarity, tone, and connection.

Psychology, Behavior & Why People Say Yes

Understanding people is essential in marketing and in life. Why they do what they do, what they care about, and how to unlock that in marketing strategy to meet them where they are is a foundation for the best campaigns. While understanding your audience is a great tool for marketing, these books taught me a lot about people in general and how to work with them, build off ideas, and, even more importantly, they taught me a lot about myself.

Influence by Robert B. Cialdini
A classic for a reason. It breaks down the psychology behind persuasion and decision-making, and once you read it, you’ll start seeing these principles everywhere. Most people already have an answer in their minds before they even ask the question. They are influenced by what they consume, social proof, and invisible context clues around them, so most of the time, their mind has already decided for them.

Alchemy by Rory Sutherland
One of the most interesting books on this list. It challenges purely logical thinking and shows how emotion, culture, and perception drive behavior. We wouldn’t be human if we operated solely on logic, and the factors of how campaigns and products make us feel usually matter more than price, features, or efficiency.

Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
More dense, but incredibly impactful. It reshapes how you think about decisions, bias, and judgment well beyond marketing. A key takeaway from this book for me was about the notion that people are more motivated to avoid loss than to achieve gain, which has major implications for pricing, messaging, and how value is framed.

Growth, Modern Marketing & Competitive Advantage

For thinking beyond tactics, trends, and short-term wins. In today’s world, virality seems to be the goal. While growth, competitive advantage, and trends are aspects of that, brands that make the biggest impact are those that create longevity. The books below focus on driving attention, creating demand, and how to stand out in markets.

Contagious by Jonah Berger
Explores why certain ideas spread organically. Especially useful for understanding word-of-mouth, cultural relevance, and shareability. If you’re interested in social media marketing, influencer marketing, and content, this book touches on the aspects of identity, connectivity, perception, and the emotion that is needed to drive action rather than just bringing attention to something.

Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne
A strategic lens on creating demand instead of fighting for attention in crowded markets. More business-focused, but incredibly valuable for marketing leaders. Many marketers are focused on beating their competitors, but the real marketers are focused on making them irrelevant because they’re creating new demand in a redefined space altogether.