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Small Moves, Big Life: 7 Daily Practices to Supercharge Your Energy, Productivity, and Happiness
A Simon & Schuster eBook. Simon & Schuster has a great book for every reader.
256 pages, Paperback
Published October 14, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
August 30, 2025
While these weren't groundbreaking new things I had no clue about, it was truly motivational and helpful. These 7 things truly are simple and pretty commonly known. However, she gives a variety of options/methods of each, which was the most impactful part for me. I loved how she broke it down and explained how to do each, and you can try them to see which best fits you or your needs. I loved the writing style real talk with funny moments but also relatable moments and stories that just made me feel like I was having a chat with my bestie. This was truly motivational, and I have honestly been using the 7 practices every day, and it's been a difference! I plan to continue doing them as I can truly see why they're beneficial!
I received this ARC from NetGalley and BenBella Books to read/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book (and putting the 7 methods into actual practice for over 2 weeks).
I received this ARC from NetGalley and BenBella Books to read/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book (and putting the 7 methods into actual practice for over 2 weeks).
August 9, 2025
This is a very fitness focused book written by a fitness influencer. If you’re looking for some basic routines to support healthy living and getting some basic things done each day, this may be for you.
As someone much older than the target audience who already raised children and knows quite a bit about healthy habits, affirmations and time management this was pretty surface material.
The author seems to have led a pretty charmed life with the exception of a divorce and she is self-confident and very comfortable tooting her own horn and pushing her brand. So, it might be hard for those who have some struggles or a less fortunate situation to relate to her.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
As someone much older than the target audience who already raised children and knows quite a bit about healthy habits, affirmations and time management this was pretty surface material.
The author seems to have led a pretty charmed life with the exception of a divorce and she is self-confident and very comfortable tooting her own horn and pushing her brand. So, it might be hard for those who have some struggles or a less fortunate situation to relate to her.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
May 17, 2026
Comfort matters. Posture matters. Awareness matters most of all.
ugh maybe i need to get back into more frequent meditations
and not just the occasional night ones
notes:
- weaving small pockets of care into the life you already have
- Breathing can run on autopilot and keep you alive just fine. But breathing with awareness switches on a different kind of power. It tells your brain that everything’s okay, even when the group chat explodes or the morning commute melts down
- Longer exhales help lower your heart rate and relax your body from the inside out
- Breathe slowly and enjoy the gentle twist through your back and hips. When you are ready, switch sides. Cushions can be used if something needs extra support.
- Maybe dynamic stretching on busy weekdays and slower, deeper stretches on weekend mornings.
- Slowing down changes that. Sitting down, relaxing your shoulders, and placing your feet flat on the floor helps digestion
- Chronic stress has even been linked to changes in parts of the brain that help with decision making. Affirmations interrupt that spiral.
- Writing on paper lights up the brain in ways typing doesn’t. The flow of pen on paper helps cement ideas in memory and gives each thought a physical presence.
- Each day, write down three tasks you will absolutely complete. These are your nonnegotiables. They can be tiny, such as booking a dentist appointment or clearing the hallway of boxes.
to do:
- Sit comfortably, place one hand on your chest and the other on your stomach, and close your eyes if that feels good. Inhale through your nose for a slow count of five. Feel your belly rise under your hand. Then let the breath go for another five counts. No forcing. Just smooth and steady. Keep that going for two minutes. When you open your eyes again, you get a tiny reset before your day even starts.
- Stick a reminder on your mirror or by your coffee mug. Breathe before your day decides how you feel.
- There’s one rule: keep it gentle. No bouncing, no forcing yourself into weird shapes. Old-school “ballistic” stretches tend to cause more problems than benefits. The goal here is to feel tension melt, not create new stress. Slight tightness is okay. Sharp pain is not.
- The point is direction, not perfection.
ugh maybe i need to get back into more frequent meditations
and not just the occasional night ones
notes:
- weaving small pockets of care into the life you already have
- Breathing can run on autopilot and keep you alive just fine. But breathing with awareness switches on a different kind of power. It tells your brain that everything’s okay, even when the group chat explodes or the morning commute melts down
- Longer exhales help lower your heart rate and relax your body from the inside out
- Breathe slowly and enjoy the gentle twist through your back and hips. When you are ready, switch sides. Cushions can be used if something needs extra support.
- Maybe dynamic stretching on busy weekdays and slower, deeper stretches on weekend mornings.
- Slowing down changes that. Sitting down, relaxing your shoulders, and placing your feet flat on the floor helps digestion
- Chronic stress has even been linked to changes in parts of the brain that help with decision making. Affirmations interrupt that spiral.
- Writing on paper lights up the brain in ways typing doesn’t. The flow of pen on paper helps cement ideas in memory and gives each thought a physical presence.
- Each day, write down three tasks you will absolutely complete. These are your nonnegotiables. They can be tiny, such as booking a dentist appointment or clearing the hallway of boxes.
to do:
- Sit comfortably, place one hand on your chest and the other on your stomach, and close your eyes if that feels good. Inhale through your nose for a slow count of five. Feel your belly rise under your hand. Then let the breath go for another five counts. No forcing. Just smooth and steady. Keep that going for two minutes. When you open your eyes again, you get a tiny reset before your day even starts.
- Stick a reminder on your mirror or by your coffee mug. Breathe before your day decides how you feel.
- There’s one rule: keep it gentle. No bouncing, no forcing yourself into weird shapes. Old-school “ballistic” stretches tend to cause more problems than benefits. The goal here is to feel tension melt, not create new stress. Slight tightness is okay. Sharp pain is not.
- The point is direction, not perfection.
October 21, 2025
I really give it 4.5 stars but you can’t do that on here.
This book I flew through! It truly feels like a friend is talking to you, which I know Andrea intended based on what she has shared when writing the book. A lot of reviews say it’s nothing they don’t already know they should do, but if you read through the conclusion she said that’s the point. To prove that we internally know all of these habits and things to do, but how consistently do we do them and make time for ourselves? I’m excited to adapt these 7 daily practices and ACTUALLY do them with consistency. I love how she gives different ways to do each practice to find what best suits you. I love Andrea’s positivity (not that toxic positivity) and her workouts always make me feel better and take me back to my dance roots. I recommend!!!
This book I flew through! It truly feels like a friend is talking to you, which I know Andrea intended based on what she has shared when writing the book. A lot of reviews say it’s nothing they don’t already know they should do, but if you read through the conclusion she said that’s the point. To prove that we internally know all of these habits and things to do, but how consistently do we do them and make time for ourselves? I’m excited to adapt these 7 daily practices and ACTUALLY do them with consistency. I love how she gives different ways to do each practice to find what best suits you. I love Andrea’s positivity (not that toxic positivity) and her workouts always make me feel better and take me back to my dance roots. I recommend!!!
February 2, 2026
Audiobook
Helpful ways to improve your life while lessening expectations of perfectionism. I like that the author isn't suggesting you make huge changes (hence the title) but little things that are easier to start with and can be built upon. My biggest takings from the book that I actually included were even 10 min of physical activity in the morning which is achievable before my 12 hour shifts when my hour an half workouts are not. Also breaking down to do actions to a smaller list.
Helpful ways to improve your life while lessening expectations of perfectionism. I like that the author isn't suggesting you make huge changes (hence the title) but little things that are easier to start with and can be built upon. My biggest takings from the book that I actually included were even 10 min of physical activity in the morning which is achievable before my 12 hour shifts when my hour an half workouts are not. Also breaking down to do actions to a smaller list.
January 12, 2026
I think this book has great suggestions to help fulfill a purposeful and less stressed life. The seven daily practices are good ones. I gave it three stars because it all felt like things that have heard and know.
August 25, 2025
What worked for me:
Simple and accessible: The daily tips and routines are easy to follow and don’t require much time or effort. They’re helpful for someone who wants a straightforward guide to structure their day.
Positive tone: The author’s upbeat and confident style can be motivating, especially if you’re looking for a light push to get started with healthier habits.
What didn’t work as well:
Too basic: If you’re already familiar with personal development, habits, or wellness practices, much of the content feels repetitive and surface-level.
Privilege gap: The book often reflects the author’s comfortable lifestyle, which makes it harder to relate to if you’ve faced more challenging circumstances.
Self-promotion vibe: The confident, almost self-advertising tone may inspire some readers, but it can also feel distracting or a bit insincere.
Final thoughts:
This book is a good entry point for beginners who want quick, easy tools to bring more structure and positivity into their routines. But for readers with more experience in self-help or who are seeking deeper insight, it’s likely to fall short. That’s why, for me, it lands solidly at 3 stars—motivating in parts, but ultimately not very memorable.
Simple and accessible: The daily tips and routines are easy to follow and don’t require much time or effort. They’re helpful for someone who wants a straightforward guide to structure their day.
Positive tone: The author’s upbeat and confident style can be motivating, especially if you’re looking for a light push to get started with healthier habits.
What didn’t work as well:
Too basic: If you’re already familiar with personal development, habits, or wellness practices, much of the content feels repetitive and surface-level.
Privilege gap: The book often reflects the author’s comfortable lifestyle, which makes it harder to relate to if you’ve faced more challenging circumstances.
Self-promotion vibe: The confident, almost self-advertising tone may inspire some readers, but it can also feel distracting or a bit insincere.
Final thoughts:
This book is a good entry point for beginners who want quick, easy tools to bring more structure and positivity into their routines. But for readers with more experience in self-help or who are seeking deeper insight, it’s likely to fall short. That’s why, for me, it lands solidly at 3 stars—motivating in parts, but ultimately not very memorable.
November 5, 2025
I’ve followed Andrea Leigh Rogers for years through her workout DVDs, so I was curious to see how her positive, graceful energy would translate to a book—and Small Moves, Big Life didn’t disappoint.
Rogers breaks the book into seven daily practices, each offering realistic, actionable ways to bring more purpose and balance into everyday life. I especially appreciated the “cheat sheet” at the back of the book—it’s a great quick reference for keeping those small habits front of mind.
Although I’m older than the author and probably not her main target audience (the tone and language feel geared a bit younger), I still found plenty of valuable reminders and motivation here. It’s the kind of book that encourages reflection without feeling preachy.
I read this during a particularly challenging season—moving to a new home in a new town—and while I couldn’t fully implement her daily practices at the time, I plan to revisit them as I settle into my new routine. This is one I’ll be buying to keep on hand for those moments when I need a gentle nudge to refocus and move forward.
Thank you to NetGalley, BenBella Books, and the author for allowing me to read and review a digital ARC.
Rogers breaks the book into seven daily practices, each offering realistic, actionable ways to bring more purpose and balance into everyday life. I especially appreciated the “cheat sheet” at the back of the book—it’s a great quick reference for keeping those small habits front of mind.
Although I’m older than the author and probably not her main target audience (the tone and language feel geared a bit younger), I still found plenty of valuable reminders and motivation here. It’s the kind of book that encourages reflection without feeling preachy.
I read this during a particularly challenging season—moving to a new home in a new town—and while I couldn’t fully implement her daily practices at the time, I plan to revisit them as I settle into my new routine. This is one I’ll be buying to keep on hand for those moments when I need a gentle nudge to refocus and move forward.
Thank you to NetGalley, BenBella Books, and the author for allowing me to read and review a digital ARC.
September 5, 2025
"Small Moves, Big Life: 7 Daily Practices to Supercharge Your Energy, Productivity, and Happiness" caught my eye based on the title. Andrea Leigh Rogers wrote this book after going through her own hurdles in life and realizing that she needed to make some changes. Rogers decided she wanted to get out of the rut she was in and re-find her voice, which she did following 7 simple practices. These 7 practices are as follows: breathe in, stretch yourself, just press play, do the thing, set the table, mind up, and breathe it out. I enjoyed the FEEL framework the author shared about exercise. It should be Fast, Effective, Enjoyable, and Lifelong. I also enjoyed the section of the book referring to the "hope molecules" that you can grow doing daily exercise.
Overall, the audience is reminded to determine the thing you most want to accomplish in life and then start taking small steps that will get you closer and closer to that thing. This was a quick and easy read, but I didn't really learn anything that I hadn't read before. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Overall, the audience is reminded to determine the thing you most want to accomplish in life and then start taking small steps that will get you closer and closer to that thing. This was a quick and easy read, but I didn't really learn anything that I hadn't read before. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
May 17, 2026
Blinkist app book of the day!
Small Moves, Big Life (2025) shows how life gets better when you stop chasing huge changes and start taking tiny actions that actually fit your day. It gives you simple energy-enhancing habits that help you build a life that feels joyful and manageable, even when everything else is loud and busy.
“mindful breathing, stretching, and slowing down at breakfast create a calmer start to the day. Positive affirmations help build confidence and strengthen a healthier inner voice. A short handwritten to do list focuses attention on what matters and makes progress feel real. These small daily actions improve energy, mood, and motivation. These simple habits support physical and mental wellbeing, moving you toward your larger life goals.”
Small Moves, Big Life (2025) shows how life gets better when you stop chasing huge changes and start taking tiny actions that actually fit your day. It gives you simple energy-enhancing habits that help you build a life that feels joyful and manageable, even when everything else is loud and busy.
“mindful breathing, stretching, and slowing down at breakfast create a calmer start to the day. Positive affirmations help build confidence and strengthen a healthier inner voice. A short handwritten to do list focuses attention on what matters and makes progress feel real. These small daily actions improve energy, mood, and motivation. These simple habits support physical and mental wellbeing, moving you toward your larger life goals.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2025
Rogers, a fitness influencer (founder of Xtend Barre) outlines 7 simple practices to improve your well being and describes how she has used them in her own life. They boil down to breathing, stretching, movement, mindful eating, affirmations and sleep hygiene. While these won't be groundbreaking for folks who have experience in wellness practices, for newbies this is a clear and concise guide to incorporating new practices in an unintimidating way.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC.
March 18, 2026
An easy-to-ready and positive guide for anyone looking for everyday inspiration. Even as someone who has her stuff together and routines figured out, this book gave me nice, new tips and thoughts on how to improve them. Andrea’s writing reflects so well who she is: light, funny and inspirational. I also loved her honest examples from her own life, the good, bad, and ugly. All in all, a truly positive reading experience!
Read
September 30, 2025I have done Andrea’s workouts and enjoyed her personality, so thought I might enjoy a non-fiction book by her. Her voice certainly shines through, and I did enjoy this— it was nothing earth-shattering but a nice compilation of small habits that can make a big difference.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 23, 2025
I liked how simple each of the daily practices were. From breath work to affirmations, and everything in between. It made doing each of the seven daily practices together seem doable. The author did a great job of combining research with her personal story as well. I’m excited to see how making these changes will affect my life. Thank you NetGalley for the e-ARC.
January 18, 2026
Fine tips, but this could’ve been a packet and I would’ve been fine. Maybe I just didn’t relate with the writer. Which honestly surprised me a bit, as she’s a single mom of two girls… but seemed like she wanted to keep us from getting to know her too well. The bulk of it could’ve definitely been edited down to just bullet points.
August 13, 2025
Small Moves, Big Life offers plenty of encouraging reminders and bite-sized inspiration. While it doesn’t necessarily chart new territory, it’s a pleasant reinforcement of habits we already know are good for us. Thank you to NetGalley and BenBella for the ARC.
January 21, 2026
4.5 stars, I love Andrea! I love her workouts, she is so motivating and fun! I could hear her voice when I was reading this book and could also feel how much she cares about this subject and I think that’s why I enjoyed it so much.
January 8, 2026
Best wellness book out there. Need to take some notes to start 2026 refreshed.
January 19, 2026
Good ideas. Quick read. I think a little more about her life would have made it more engaging. Read more like a long blog post.
January 27, 2026
Great Read
What a book! I workout to Andrea every day and this book is going to help me every day feel good about life and give me a positive outlook to the future!
What a book! I workout to Andrea every day and this book is going to help me every day feel good about life and give me a positive outlook to the future!
May 12, 2026
Quick and easy read! Nothing Earth-shattering, but cool to see how just a couple of minutes here and there can yield big results. I also like her #DTT framework.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews