Small Moves, Big Life: 7 Daily Practices to Supercharge Your Energy, Productivity, and Happiness

by Andrea Leigh Rogers

A Simon & Schuster eBook. Simon & Schuster has a great book for every reader.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

Published October 14, 2025

Reviews

[Melany · Rating 4 out of 5]

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).

[Seawitch · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Sarah Kinsela · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!!!

[Ashley Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Jennifer Keim · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Cris ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Mhughessc · Rating 3 out of 5]

"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.

[Brijeet · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Anna R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Sarah]

I 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.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Stacy Shotkoski · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Helen Wu ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[MJosee Deschenes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best wellness book out there. Need to take some notes to start 2026 refreshed.

[Amie Stewart · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[pamela j. zummo · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!