Meditations for Women Who Do Too Much

by Anne Wilson Schaef

Daily meditations to help women break the cycle of doing too much- for workaholics, rushaholics, and careaholics. Many of today's women are overextended- addicted to working, rushing, taking care of 'other' people's needs. With wisdom, insight, a

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Psychology, Spirituality, Womens, Inspirational, Feminism

400 pages, Paperback

First published June 8, 1990

Reviews

[Shaunaly Higgins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've had this book for many years now and when I am nearing the end of teaching my yoga classes, I share the daily passages with my students (who for the majority have always been women). It's a wonderful little book and one that all us busy females can certainly relate to.

[Infada Spain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I certainly love quotes. Last quote read on the last day of this unprecedented year (the book contained one for each day) , I have to say that it's gonna be one of the few books that I'll keep when I decide to give away the contents of my libraries.

[Anastasiia Mozghova · Rating 4 out of 5]

a series of blog posts, an advice column, a self-help book before they existed. a wise, generous, kind book! the religious parts made me uncomfortable, but it matters less than a number of extremely important reminders about self-worth, finding out a way to build relationships with others in a healthier way, and adjust one's attitude towards life.

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

An on-going read. Speaks to me, reminds me to slow down and reminds me I can (should) make other choices.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a great book on daily thoughts for women. It doesn't matter how rushed you are, you can pick up this book and find the thought for the day. The advice is gentle and sometimes funny. It is also encouraging and reassuring.

I love to pick it up and spend a few moments reflecting on the thoughts and on me. A great pick-me-up book that helps the reader take a little time out from a very busy day!

[Hawa Safi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Filled with beautiful passages and meditations to ground yourself with daily

[2raccoonsinacoat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly a joy. Will read more by this author.

[Gillian Brownlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. I didn’t think I had the patience for one of these daily meditation books, but how satisfying it is to finish one! This one is geared specifically to women, which I really enjoyed. Even though I’m not a workaholic, there were plenty of lessons and things to think about in this.

[Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Jenn Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Schu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some were insightful, thought provoking, while others were heartwarming. Some, though, just didn't do it for me. Overall a good year of meditations.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Use it all the time in therapy. Not perfect, but really gets to some core issues. Great to start or end a session and process through some topics in a more approachable way.

[Autumn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daily inspirational passages that influence reflection and meditation for the modern woman. Not a book to read straight through, but something to dip into when you need inspiration.

[Lisa J Shultz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started reading this book at the beginning of the year for a second time. But then I realized that I am not a workaholic anymore and I was bored with it. But the first time I read it years ago, it was good for me to read. Happy that I don't have a need to do it all anymore, but if you find yourself doing too much, you might really like it.

[Scout · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! Every day it inspires me to be stronger,better...more creative.Hooray for meditations.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've had this book 4 days now, and each entry for all the days in this book has been exactly correct. Gives me some peace of mind!

[Pri · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF.

As someone who works too much, gets easily worked up, and leans heavily toward being a workaholic, I felt this book was more of a consolation for people like me but it didn’t really offer me anything new. Maybe that’s because I’ve been on a healing journey for years now, and a lot of these so-called insights are things you naturally integrate over time. You don’t really need someone else to tell you. Most of it boils down to self-worth anyway. I’ve come to feel that when we give too much of ourselves to anything other than our own evolution as a soul, we start losing ourselves. And that’s where this book fell flat for me. It might resonate with someone who doesn’t meditate or never slows down enough to reflect—but for me, it just didn’t land. The ideas felt very general. There was nothing particularly grounding or personal. I wish it had been a bit more reflective than just affirmative. It would’ve been stronger if it had included some kind of action point, or even a question to sit with later.

Of course, I understand that a lot depends on the reader but for me, this book just didn’t hit the chord.

[Robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed bag | Gift from a friend, who knows that I do, indeed, do too much. Glad there are a handful of alternatives in the back, because I really hated some of the pages (the author bragging that she didn't do HRT so her menopause was lovely was a terrible look. You had lucky biology, don't be smug about it). Many were eye-roll inducing, and there's a general tone that doesn't work for me. However, I appreciated the daily routine of it--I've picked up a different daily meditation book for 2026 to continue that--and there were some pages that I actually found particularly useful. And isn't that all really the point of a daily meditation book? You don't have to like everything on offer, you can consider why an entry doesn't appeal and get something out of that.

[Adrian · Rating 1 out of 5]

I got 14 pages in and just decided this book isn't for me. There just seems to be a political bias in the book regarding feminism that I've just decided it's too distracting for me to continue to read anymore. Truly if this book were more about "meditation" as the title suggests it would be focusing on self care, and ways to accomplish that. This is just my humble opinion, but I don't think women are programed to be "workaholics". It's yet another unrealistic expectation society puts on women. One of the quotes in this book that stood out to me was "I wonder if I have become the man I wanted to marry." I feel that this book is not very empowering to women.

[Christy Baker · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've thought about trudging on with this meditation book, but since it is a whole year of meditations, I'm gently setting it aside and releasing my need to finish it. In the right person's hands, I think this would speak to the heart. I thought I would be that person as I inherited this book from my mother's collection. There were a couple of entries that were good in this first month of the year, but overall, Shaef's reflections aren't speaking to or connecting with me. I don't think it is a matter of poor writing, but rather current life circumstances and style: what speaks to one in one period may not speak to another. This one can be passed along for me.

[Teresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was very drawn in by the theme and preview content. However, even hopscotching through the daily meditations, I was disappointed with the lack of depth and variance of themes.

That being said, I am very appreciative of the themes and content that did resonate. These two quotations are gold for me:

"[At] an early age I witnessed the fact that work was of the first importance, and that it justified rather inhuman behavior." -May Sarton

"Common sense is knowing that we are good and not always having to prove it." -Anne Wilson Schaef

[Debra Benton · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have read a lot of meditation and daily books. This one didn’t do much for me, but perhaps because it is a stage of life thing. I like a daily devotion or meditation book that gives me a question to apply to my life or a mantra for the day. This one just didn’t hit the mark for me, but if you are a woman with more on your plate than you can handle, it might be a good reminder of how to be easier on yourself.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started reading this book in 2013, and it was set up to read one page a day. I was near the end when I ran across it again, and quickly finished it. Some of the quotes are from woman, who have chosen to have careers, and then marriage, and motherhood. They want to do it all, and that is often too much, so many of the inspirational messages are to help the women slow down, and enjoy their lives.

[Barb Anders · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great little book to read when feeling overwhelmed about life or just day to day when you have a few minutes. They are dated meditations so you can go to the specific day of the year you're on...but no need to do that if you just want to read uplifting little snippets of things to make you feel more focused, little quotes and mantras meant for every day life....such a treasure of a book.

[Stephanie Marcinkowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as a gift many years ago and didn't read through it until 2025. I set it as my daily meditation. Some entries were spot on and others left me dry. Isn't that life, though?

As I been purge through my personal library, I've been reading or re-reading books then passing them on to others. However, I'm keeping this book and cracking it open from time to time for when I need a little inspiration, a journaling prompt, or a reference for a school assignment.

[Margie · Rating 4 out of 5]

As women we are natural givers and mostly we do so willingly. However in giving so much we often give too much and lose ourselves. This little book packs a punch as we are given much to consider and ponder about ourselves, our roles as women. It gives us guidance and permission to focus more on ourselves and our own needs.

[Carole Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I originally bought this book in 1992. It was good to pick it up and read through it, not day-by-day. There is a lot here to remind women that they are "great" just as they are. We need only do as needed and not try to be more than we think is expected. There are so many "gems" of wisdom that you could pick this book up at any time and read something worthwhile.

[Sam Milbrath · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books you pick up every once in a while, flip to todays date and find some hidden treasure to think about for the day. I like to use it sometimes as daily journaling prompts. Some of it is a bit dated but there’s a lot of timeless and universal truths that are helpful to remember.

[Vicki Jamieson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book in 1997 in Waterstones



I have been rereading this book since I purchased it in Waterstones in 1997. It never fails me. Wise quotations for women, about women, who all do too much...would recommend!

[Linda]

These are one page a day thoughts to ponder. They are directed to female workaholics. They are based on the 12 step program for alcoholoics. Still interesting to read. You can take them one a day or a few at a time. I did them in a few months during the pandemic.

[Ariadne . · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not one for empty motivation reading, but this one was fulfilling. There are meditations that hit hard, others are soothing, but to me, they all have a beautiful purpose. I loved the book and still read it every so often.

[Angela Linn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic book full of wisdom you sample one day at a time for a whole year. Anne Wilson Schaef was a fountain of wisdom. I've read multiple books of hers, and was not surprised to find this to be yet another gem. I highly recommend it.