Hands Free Life - by Rachel Macy Stafford (Paperback)

About the Book

In Hands Free Life bestselling author and popular blogger Rachel Macy Stafford (the Hands Free Mama) reveals the daily habits and practices that can help us all to live more fulfilled lives and protect our relationships with those we love. Parents, singles, women, and men---everyone needs the sanity and peace of a Hands Free Life.

Book Synopsis

We all yearn to look back to find we lived a life of significance. But is it even possible anymore? Considering the amount of distraction and pressure that exists in society today, living a fulfilling life may seem like an unachievable dream. But it is not--not with the nine habits outlined in this book.

New York Times bestselling author and widely known blogger, Rachel Macy Stafford, reveals nine habits that help you focus on investing in the most significant parts of your life. As your hands, heart, and eyes become open, you will experience a new sense of urgency--an urgency to live, love, dream, connect, create, forgive, and flourish despite the distractions of our culture. By following each daily Hands Free Declaration, you will be inspired to adopt mindful daily practices and new thought-processes that will help you:

- Make meaningful, lasting human connections despite the busyness of everyday life.

- Live in the now despite that inner nudge pushing you out of the moment toward perfection and productivity.

- Protect your most sacred relationships, as well as your values, beliefs, health, and happiness, despite the latent dangers of technology and social media.

- Pursue the passions of your heart without sacrificing your job or your daily responsibilities.

- Evaluate your daily choices to insure you are investing in a life that matters to you.

With a Hands Free Life perspective, you will have the power to look back and see you didn't just manage life, you actually lived it--and lived it well.

Review Quotes

'Can I simply say: Read this beautiful book. It will feed your soul, free your spirit, and fill your heart. Hands Free Life is an irresistible wake-up call for all of us who wish to parent more thoughtfully, love more generously, and live more joyously.'--Katrina Kenison, author of Mitten Strings for God and The Gift of an Ordinary Day

'Hands Free Life is such an important book! One of biggest challenges most of us face in today's digitally connected, fast-paced world is how to disengage from technology and connect to the things and people that matter most. Rachel Macy Stafford's powerful and down-to-earth advice helps us live with more presence, awareness, and perspective.'--Mike Robbins, author of Nothing Changes Until You Do

'Hands Free Life is the perfect combination of advice and anecdote. Stafford's personal stories are engaging and enchanting, while her daily declarations serve as their punctuation; reminders that we need to pause and let go of the chaos, ensuring our hands are free to embrace the grace in parenting's small moments.'--Jessica Lahey, author of The Gift of Failure

'In the midst of countless daily reminders to hurry up and catch up, does it ever feel like all you do is mess up? The message of Hands Free Life reads like a gift and a second chance. If you long to linger in your own life but aren't sure where to start, let Rachel Macy Stafford show you how. Her gentle words will cast a hopeful vision for your family, with practical tools to help you create the margin you long for and the relief your soul needs.'--Emily P. Freeman, author of Simply Tuesday: Small-Moment Living in a Fast-Moving World

'In this intensely insightful book, Rachel teaches parents how to engage with their children as they truly deserve: with heart, presence, and grace. Hands Free Life will inspire you to grow with your children and reach depths of your being like never before. Its words will allow you to discover your highest potential as a parent and thereby bestow your children with an inestimable gift: your engaged being.'--Dr. Shefali Tsabary, New York Times bestselling author of The Conscious Parent

'It took one day. I only could allow one day to read Hands Free Life. I was busy being a dad, a husband, and a cancer patient. I knew I was distracted, but there was a purpose. I was on a mission, and I acknowledged my limited time. As I settled in to read Rachel's words, my heart stayed in my throat the entire journey. She gets it. She knows we're distracted, and it's not just the number of screens we have in our lives. It's our incredibly complex, crazy, and somewhat out-of-control lives. Rachel Macy Stafford will help you reconnect and build strong relationships. Even if you make a moderate amount of effort, your family will thank you for strengthening your relationships! Once again, I owe Rachel a big thank-you for bringing relationships and family to the forefront of everyone's mind.'--Garth Callaghan, The Napkin Notes Dad

'Our society's definition of success--in which success is defined just in terms of money and power--isn't working. With a mix of powerful storytelling and practical tools, Hands Free Life offers the inspiration and the daily actions to live our lives with more grace, more joy, more gratitude, and more love.'--Arianna Huffington, author of Thrive

'Rachel does it again! As I read Hands Free Life, I felt my pulse slow, my lungs fill, and my anxiety lessen. Rachel's writing is a Reset button. Her advice is practical, and her message is clear, gentle, and true: Less stress! Less distraction! MORE LOVE! Thanks, Rachel, for reminding us what matters: our people.'--Glennon Doyle Melton, author of New York Times bestseller Carry On, Warrior and founder of Momastery.com and Together Rising

'Rachel's wise words inspired me to be a more connected, more present parent, and for that I'm so thankful. I'll be handing this out left and right to the people in my life.'--Shauna Neiquist, bestselling author of Savor and Bread and Wine

'Reading Hands Free Life spoke to me at a deep, heart level. It challenged me to stop hurrying through life, quit worrying about what other people think, and start savoring the ordinary, everyday moments. I smiled through some parts, cried through others, and came away with fresh resolve to make each day count--not in more efficient productivity, but in more meaningful relationships. Highly, highly recommended!'--Crystal Paine, founder of MoneySavingMom.com and New York Times bestselling author of Say Goodbye to Survival Mode