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Good Morning, Good Life: 5 Simple Habits to Master Your Mornings and Upgrade Your Life
"Not a morning person? Not a problem! I want you to wake up on your terms and no one else's." Morning routines. We hear about them all the time. We see them on social media feeds and in online videos. We read about them in memoirs and self-improvement books. So, what's the big deal? What's so important about what we do every morning? In Good Morning, Good Life , Amy Schmittauer Landino— the world's #1 productive lifestyle coach—reveals the truth about mornings and how to create daily rituals that are truly right for you. Discover how Landino is best known for her work as the award-winning host of AmyTV on YouTube, and as the host of the self-improvement podcast Detail Therapy. Her practical and uplifting coaching approach carries over in Good Morning, Good Life with a lot of customizable tips (and even more personality!) This is a can't-miss read for anyone who is ready to go after the life they want!
286 pages, Paperback
Published December 1, 2019
269 people are currently reading
1642 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 180 reviews
January 19, 2020
Probably the most helpful book I've read about mornings, mainly because it doesn't assume you should do exactly the same thing as everyone else. Dinging it a star for some formatting issues.
January 24, 2020
I felt like most of this was good advice, until Landino starts to discuss how to handle morning routines when you have kids and it becomes very clear that Landino does not have children (she does state that outright, but it was already obvious) and doesn't realize that children are not as moldable and considerate of boundaries as she thinks they are. I already get up 2 hours before my six-year-old does specifically so I can avoid boundary-testing in the mornings, but I have friends who don't have that luxury.
I did find the Defy section of this book to be mostly unrelatable, which is interesting because defiance is not something I have a problem with. She reiterates that there is no excuse not to take time for yourself, that you just have to try harder, but that doesn't feel like advice. Reading this book didn't make me want to try harder. What it did do was make me feel better about doing what I want to do in the morning, since she does not insist that there are specific things you need to do to have a good morning routine or how long to do them and in what order.
The rest of the book is fine. I didn't find it particularly motivational, but that's my experience and others might get much more out of it than I did. I liked the breakdown of her weekly review process, and I might try to incorporate that into my own routine. The rest of it gets a "meh" from me.
I did find the Defy section of this book to be mostly unrelatable, which is interesting because defiance is not something I have a problem with. She reiterates that there is no excuse not to take time for yourself, that you just have to try harder, but that doesn't feel like advice. Reading this book didn't make me want to try harder. What it did do was make me feel better about doing what I want to do in the morning, since she does not insist that there are specific things you need to do to have a good morning routine or how long to do them and in what order.
The rest of the book is fine. I didn't find it particularly motivational, but that's my experience and others might get much more out of it than I did. I liked the breakdown of her weekly review process, and I might try to incorporate that into my own routine. The rest of it gets a "meh" from me.
June 5, 2021
Update: I finished the book a couple of weeks ago, and my opinion hasn't changed. I got some useful information, but nothing that I hadn't already heard on her YouTube channel.
I'm roughly 2/3 done with this book, but I have opinions. First off, some context. I started watching Amy on YouTube a few months ago, and I really do like her mission and message. Full disclosure...I thought I would low-key hate her at first, but she is probably one of the few "influencers" I've encountered who presents an almost-genuine version of herself to the world. I say "almost" because everyone hides their deepest, darkest selves. Anyway, I like and respect her, and I think she has done remarkable things in her life. Plus, I've actually been inspired to wake up earlier and develop a morning routine. This book is for you if...
...you're not familiar with her from YouTube or her podcast;
...you have already decided that you want to develop a good morning routine and;
...want some inspiration and ideas to get you started.
However, if you are expecting a "magic bullet" in this book that will completely change your life and help you finally master adulting, you will be disappointed. If you are already a fan of hers, you won't find anything new here. If you're on the fence or not interested in morning routines, skip this book entirely. If your evenings and mornings are already maxed out because of kids, a long commute, health challenges, or other life circumstances, this book will probably piss you off.
Consider yourself warned.
I'm roughly 2/3 done with this book, but I have opinions. First off, some context. I started watching Amy on YouTube a few months ago, and I really do like her mission and message. Full disclosure...I thought I would low-key hate her at first, but she is probably one of the few "influencers" I've encountered who presents an almost-genuine version of herself to the world. I say "almost" because everyone hides their deepest, darkest selves. Anyway, I like and respect her, and I think she has done remarkable things in her life. Plus, I've actually been inspired to wake up earlier and develop a morning routine. This book is for you if...
...you're not familiar with her from YouTube or her podcast;
...you have already decided that you want to develop a good morning routine and;
...want some inspiration and ideas to get you started.
However, if you are expecting a "magic bullet" in this book that will completely change your life and help you finally master adulting, you will be disappointed. If you are already a fan of hers, you won't find anything new here. If you're on the fence or not interested in morning routines, skip this book entirely. If your evenings and mornings are already maxed out because of kids, a long commute, health challenges, or other life circumstances, this book will probably piss you off.
Consider yourself warned.
July 19, 2020
I love productivity books (and videos, etc) so I may be biased since I'm preset to enjoy a book like this. I thought it was easy to read, had some quotable passages, and some good tips to get you started. The overall message is that everyone's morning routine will look different based on your own personal needs and that there's no one right way. It did have some short interviews with "successful" people interspersed and that was okay, but honestly, I just skimmed over them because I didn't really care. I know they are there to kind of give inspiration, but I just didn't feel like it pertained to me personally. It would have been nice to maybe see a variety of examples instead of just business people -- something a bit more relatable to all types instead of just one. I found the author's routine more interesting as a work-from-home type as that was the closest to my own situation.
It did hit all the points that I like in a non-fiction self-help type book: easy to get through, marked some pages to remember, an action plan to put in place, and it left me feeling inspired to learn more and do more. It does get a full 5 stars from me since it hit all those points. The "interviews" were more of an annoyance than an actual problem with the book. I would recommend it.
It did hit all the points that I like in a non-fiction self-help type book: easy to get through, marked some pages to remember, an action plan to put in place, and it left me feeling inspired to learn more and do more. It does get a full 5 stars from me since it hit all those points. The "interviews" were more of an annoyance than an actual problem with the book. I would recommend it.
September 18, 2020
Review to come soon. I really enjoyed this honest and easy to follow guide to creating morning routines from Amy Landino. I've followed her for a long time as a YouTuber and when I heard she was publishing this book, I eagerly picked it up. It's a combination of a personal narrative to how she made the commitment to changing her routines and setting herself up for success, and she uses that experience to break down a step by step approach to building something that works for "going after the life you want." Final rating will probably be 4.5 stars.
January 11, 2020
I guess I don't really need a morning routine. What annoyed me most about this book was the accusation that I'm addicted to drama; she's clearly projecting. Our lives and goals are too different for this to work for me. I'm sure better books on this subject exist.
March 16, 2020
I’m obsessed with morning routines. So sue me.
August 15, 2020
I really didn’t need to know what face cream her morning routine involves. This was more like a written version of the slightly narcissistic ‘what I eat/do/wear in a day’ YouTube videos everyone is posting. Maybe more suitable for a young audience who are starting their mindfulness journey.
August 12, 2023
I love reading about habit-building and self-improvement, but this was too scattered and overall unhelpful. The writing was not great, and the editing was even worse.
October 28, 2021
This book is good for those who can afford a luxurious lifestyle where they can spend an entire morning on what they wish to do. I say luxurious, because I can't afford air-conditioning, therefore I cannot follow the advice of sleeping with the thermastat on 70F or 21C.
I was hoping that this book would offer advice on how to be more productive, but it felt like it was more focused on self care. For the average person, her daily morning routine could be completed on a day off. Therefore I would say, you can take Amy Landino's advice with a pinch of salt.
There were a few things I didn't like. One of those things, was when she shows no compassion or empathy towards those who do shift work. When you work these type of shifts, you're just trying to get some sleep in between. Another would be, the comment about only buying a Starbucks coffee to put it on instagram, in order to get her money's worth.
I did enjoy the last third of the book and feel that she is an excellent narrator, but most of the advice feels like stuff I've already heard. There's a lot of chit chat, which makes it more interesting than reading off a list. However, I couldn't relate to the author, so I felt this book was a bit of a waste of time. It's a good conversation starter, but that's about it.
The book was supposed to be about 5 habits. I picked up these following 3 habits, but afterwards, it appears that Amy forgot to mention the other two.
1. Decision fatigue
2. Know your why
3. The power of no
4.
5.
If you know what the other 2 habits were supposed to be, please let me know in the comments below.
I was hoping that this book would offer advice on how to be more productive, but it felt like it was more focused on self care. For the average person, her daily morning routine could be completed on a day off. Therefore I would say, you can take Amy Landino's advice with a pinch of salt.
There were a few things I didn't like. One of those things, was when she shows no compassion or empathy towards those who do shift work. When you work these type of shifts, you're just trying to get some sleep in between. Another would be, the comment about only buying a Starbucks coffee to put it on instagram, in order to get her money's worth.
I did enjoy the last third of the book and feel that she is an excellent narrator, but most of the advice feels like stuff I've already heard. There's a lot of chit chat, which makes it more interesting than reading off a list. However, I couldn't relate to the author, so I felt this book was a bit of a waste of time. It's a good conversation starter, but that's about it.
The book was supposed to be about 5 habits. I picked up these following 3 habits, but afterwards, it appears that Amy forgot to mention the other two.
1. Decision fatigue
2. Know your why
3. The power of no
4.
5.
If you know what the other 2 habits were supposed to be, please let me know in the comments below.
April 14, 2021
I think this is the first time that reading a book I didn't like actually caused me to dislike the author themselves, but here we are. If endless flexing, obtuse obliviousness to other perspectives, lack of empathy for challenging circumstances, the aggressive defense of avarice as a core personality trait, and general cluelessness are not deal breakers for you, this book might not be as off-putting as it was for me. But her entire message could have been told in a page or maybe two, or even an Instagram story, and saved a lot of time. None of it is particularly new, insightful, or helpful. And yes, she really does say that new parents should have no problem finding time for themselves because she can do it and she has a dog and that's basically the same as a baby. The entire book was pretty much me rolling my eyes. The best part of my morning routine, crafted entirely without the use of this book, is knowing I got a refund and never having to read this book again.
April 20, 2021
I have been a fan of Amy ever since I stumbled upon her video- "How to wake up at 5 am, even if you don't feel like it" on Youtube one fine day and have consumed almost all of her content since then. I cannot think of a person better than her to learn more about morning routines and waking up early, so when I came to know that she was coming up with a book on it, I was beyond excited. I started reading it on Kindle (as soon as it was launched) and bought a physical copy when I went for a work trip to the US.
I was pleasantly surprised to see this book address some of my beliefs like how having my own time might end up offending my partner or affecting my family and why sleeping close to a phone won’t change anything so I am better off without it. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking at becoming a morning person and wants to learn the trick of the trade from my productivity guru.
My top 3 from this book are-
🍋Mantras for building a morning routine- Decide, Defy, Rise, Shine and Thrive.
🍋Recipe for a good morning routine comprises of Movement, Mindfulness, and Mastery.
🍋Importance of having a weekly reflection routine. The book also talks about how to build one as well.
I also ended up building a morning routine that I diligently follow and is working really well for me. You can check my Instagram (@divyasfavorites) or Twitter (@divyamangotra) to check it out. It will be along with this review.
I was pleasantly surprised to see this book address some of my beliefs like how having my own time might end up offending my partner or affecting my family and why sleeping close to a phone won’t change anything so I am better off without it. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking at becoming a morning person and wants to learn the trick of the trade from my productivity guru.
My top 3 from this book are-
🍋Mantras for building a morning routine- Decide, Defy, Rise, Shine and Thrive.
🍋Recipe for a good morning routine comprises of Movement, Mindfulness, and Mastery.
🍋Importance of having a weekly reflection routine. The book also talks about how to build one as well.
I also ended up building a morning routine that I diligently follow and is working really well for me. You can check my Instagram (@divyasfavorites) or Twitter (@divyamangotra) to check it out. It will be along with this review.
January 14, 2021
I enjoy Amy’s YouTube channel and I think that’s where she really shines. This book was fine, but really just a one-stop-shop for all of Amy’s morning video content. Her tone is very casual and conversational and, while it may come across as join-me-for-a-girlfriend chat to some, I found it a little cringe-worthy.
The impression I have always gotten from Amy is that she holds herself to quite high standards, which is why I was surprised there were so many grammatical and formatting errors in this book. I found them to be incredibly distracting, and I was not at all what I was expecting.
All that aside, I did enjoy the book. While presenting nothing new or original (with the possible exception of calendar blocking and time batching), it was a pretty non-threatening read that would probably be most appropriate for someone just starting out in their pursuit of a good morning.
The impression I have always gotten from Amy is that she holds herself to quite high standards, which is why I was surprised there were so many grammatical and formatting errors in this book. I found them to be incredibly distracting, and I was not at all what I was expecting.
All that aside, I did enjoy the book. While presenting nothing new or original (with the possible exception of calendar blocking and time batching), it was a pretty non-threatening read that would probably be most appropriate for someone just starting out in their pursuit of a good morning.
February 7, 2023
This is good for people that already have the morning routine semi started. It kind of like she is saying just do what you gotta do to wake up earlier. Maybe it’s because she doesn’t have certain struggles like most other people do? She does have a dog that needs a higher standard of care but other than that she doesn’t have a typical job or typical struggles of family and friends and etc. Which is okay it’s just a little unrealistic for the everyday person.
September 25, 2024
I wanted to like this book. But like so many self-help books I found it too preachy for me, with not enough substance. My expectation was that this would be a practical guide but the waffling got me DNF'ing it.
January 16, 2022
Thoroughly enjoyed. Really motivating and helpful if you're looking to have a more productive morning. Pairs really well with Amy's YouTube channel
January 18, 2020
Amy’s voice shines through her writing! She definitely was narrating it inside of my head (not the worst thing). I love her videos, but actually reading out the steps made it seem a lot more attainable for me. I’m a firm believer in a good morning routine! I love that she cuts down the excuses and labels that we put on ourselves and replaces it with motivation and a bit of humor. 💫
The only downside is the format was a little bit off in some places, but it wasn’t distracting or anything for me. Still worth the purchase!
The only downside is the format was a little bit off in some places, but it wasn’t distracting or anything for me. Still worth the purchase!
January 29, 2020
I bought this audiobook on a whim, I always like listening to self help books when I'm in a slump. I did enjoy listening to it, although I don't think I'll implement her recommendations. It did made me think about some aspects of my life, and it did have an effect that other self-help books didn't have (although those books were surely better than this one!). Maybe it's repetition, maybe when I hear the same advice five times, on the fifth time I start to GET it? I don't know. It still was a pleasant read! Nothing life-changing, but still a nice refresher on self help basics.
March 13, 2020
I love this simple and possible advice for helping create a morning routine for myself specifically!
I also was pleasantly surprised not only the solid morning advice, but SOLID life advice. I love the examples of real life scenarios Amy used and how it shaped her into making the changes that have lead her to this fulfilled life.
Also pausing the reading to read short interviews of successful people are their specific morning routines was a really cool perspective on how it really is about the individual!
Highly recommend :)
I also was pleasantly surprised not only the solid morning advice, but SOLID life advice. I love the examples of real life scenarios Amy used and how it shaped her into making the changes that have lead her to this fulfilled life.
Also pausing the reading to read short interviews of successful people are their specific morning routines was a really cool perspective on how it really is about the individual!
Highly recommend :)
January 18, 2020
I loved this take on making mornings great. It runs parallel with Hal Elrod’s Miracle Morning but with a less in you face approach. If you like the idea of improving your day starting with your mornings, but Elrod’s S.A.V.E.R.S were overwhelming try Landino’s approach. She makes it feel like anyone can do it.
April 15, 2020
I love a good morning routine and have been watching Amy Landino’a YouTube channel for a while, so it seemed natural to pick up her book. A lot of the ideas & suggestions shared in the book can be found via her channel, but sometimes reading them with actionable steps in front of you is a bit more motivating. The formatting and editing leave a bit to be desired, unfortunately.
Overall, I really enjoyed Amy’s tips, and at times found it hard to read at night because I was so pumped to wake up and implement some new morning routine ideas!
Overall, I really enjoyed Amy’s tips, and at times found it hard to read at night because I was so pumped to wake up and implement some new morning routine ideas!
March 22, 2020
Lovely
March 22, 2020
I love a good routine. This book was interesting and I love the suggestions... I don’t know if I’ll actually try them out, but I might, which is always a step in the right direction.
November 6, 2024
I really like Amy Landino’s YouTube channel and her content in general. This is a good book to read if you’re also a fan, but it can be repetitive at times.
December 3, 2024
I need a parent version of this book
January 10, 2020
Absolutely loved this book. Especially the actionable steps.
January 3, 2020
I loved this book! Well structured and well thought out.
January 15, 2021
After discovering Amy’s YouTube channel a few years ago, my days have become so much more productive and mindful ever since implementing my morning routine. This book is great for those inspired to start or just productivity junkies in general.
July 31, 2020
Amy gives practical advice, tips, and strategies to use to make your best morning routine! Definitely check it out!
June 28, 2023
I went back and forth between giving this book 3 or 4 stars, but I'm going with 4 because I did get very helpful ideas! I also had techniques validated that I was already using like calendar blocking and time batching. I am going to lean more into those now that I know what they are called and why they are helpful for many people. I enjoyed the ideas for making the most of my time and using it to move toward my goals. I loved her journaling techniques as well! However, she gave so many ideas for journaling, starting my day, bedtime routine, daytime routine, etc. that I felt overwhelmed and didn't know which to pick and which not to pick. I love that there were so many options, but they all sounded helpful but it's impossible to implement them all. I will have to think more about what will work best for me. I didn't like how much she talked about looks. She mentioned that we should put on sunscreen every morning, not because it can prevent skin cancer or other health problem, but to prevent aging and keep a young glowing look. I didn't like that emphasis and she definitely emphasized a focus on looks throughout the book which I just don't agree with. Otherwise, I found it helpful, although a little overwhelming. I recommend giving it a listen or read, but be prepared for some emphasis on taking time to focus on how you look.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 180 reviews