Say Goodbye to Survival Mode

Say Goodbye to Survival Mode by Crystal Paine 
Publication Date: January 21, 2014
Check out Crystal's Hugely Popular Blog HERE
Goodreads Summary:
Calling the super busy, the stressed out, the overtired.

You know you're made for a more fulfilling life. With this book, you’ll know where to start.

You wake up tired. Your to-do list is too long. The commitments—and the laundry—are piling up, but your energy keeps dwindling. You feel like you're simply making it through the days, not living or enjoying any part of them.

In Say Goodbye to Survival Mode, you'll find both practical ideas and big-picture perspective that will inspire you to live life on purpose. As a wife, mother of three, and founder of the wildly successful blog MoneySavingMom.com, Crystal Paine has walked the road from barely surviving to living with intention. With the warmth and candor of a dear friend, she shares what she's learned along the way, helping you:

feel healthier and more energetic by setting priorities and boundaries
eliminate stress with savvy management of your time, money, and home
get more done by setting realistic goals and embracing discipline
rediscover your passions—and the confidence to pursue them 

Packed with straightforward solutions you'll use today and inspirational stories you'll remember for years, Say Goodbye to Survival Mode is a must for any woman who's ever longed for the freedom to enjoy life, not just survive it.

About the Author: 

Crystal Paine is a child of God, wife, homeschool mom of three, author, and speaker. In 2007, she founded MoneySavingMom, a site that has since grown to become one of the most popular blogs on the web, currently averaging a million readers per month. Her mission is to challenge women to wisely steward their time and resources and live life on purpose.

I received this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The book is available on Amazon for a Kindle price of $13.10 (2/4/14)

My Thoughts:

When I saw this title on Netgalley, I snatched it up instantly. A lot of my favorite bloggers were posting pictures all over Instagram and Twitter. And of course I had heard of the Money Saving Mom blog, having loosely followed it for years. Sidebar: definitely check this blog out! She has tips for everything, on money, life, organizing, cleaning, and beyond. 

"Say Goodbye.." is a great book. Paine covers several important topics such as time management, creating habits, and tackling clutter. She provides personal stories to both encourage and motivate, but she also includes the words and wisdom of other bloggers. As bookends, the beginning and ending of each chapter clearly states Paine's objectives, and then wraps it all up with some practical pointers. I felt the first half of this book really acts as a workbook, with each chapter building on the other. Then, in the appendix, Paine includes helpful worksheets and resources. And as always, leads readers to her blog where they can find plenty more printables to help them on their organizational journey. 

Unfortunately, this book just wasn't for me. I think it is largely personal reasons that kept me from truly enjoying this one. I'm nothing like Paine, who is type A and super competitive. I'm type B (INFJ), can stand some clutter, and run in the opposite direction of competitions. ...more like walk, as running can be too competitive. But get me in a game of Disney Scene It and waBAM! It's ON! ..... Trust me, I know there are things I can work on in my life. I am applying her ideas on goal setting and habits. I love setting goals but am bad at follow through, so I have set some goals for February with Paine's help, and will mark it as a true test of the book if I can keep them. 

I also don't feel as if Paine brings anything new to the table in "Say Goodbye...". In fact, she frequently refers to other professionals stating she uses their ideas for this or that. A lot, if not most, of the material could probably be found on her blog. At least with this book, you don't have to do all the extra work, it is all bound in one place. Paine adds a lot of her own story here, giving personal stories of 'survival mode' and fixing it all up. I feel as if that is what really drives this book--motivation, encouragement, and practical helps. 

Many, many others have rated this book a 5 star, but I myself have to give it a 3.5 stars. Perhaps in the future I can revisit this one and feel more connected to it. I would recommend it to type A personalities, and competitive people who love challenging themselves, busy ladies, and ladies who need/want to be more productive without losing their sanity.