5 Self-Care Books For a Happier, Healthier New Year
Start the Year on a Positive Note With These Self-Care Books
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Without fail, Netflix has become my winding down after a long workday ritual — and while the streaming-induced trance is pleasant at the moment, my bad habit has had an overall negative effect on my well-being.
My daily binging has manifested itself into a less productive, less healthy (due to snacking and late nights), and less happy lifestyle. So, I've decided to press pause on my Parks and Recreation marathon and deep-dive into some self-care books post nine-to-five.
Instead of catching up with Leslie Knope and the Pawnee gang, I'm investing my time in myself with the following self-help reads. Each will supply me with the tools to live an all-around better life — starting with how I feel about myself.
Girl, Wash Your Face
Rachel Hollis, author and the founder of TheChicSite.com, knows the reality of being your own harshest critic. In her book, Girl, Wash Your Face ($12), she's shedding light on 20 harmful lies she continuously told herself, and how to overcome these self-inflicted, false realities. Her goal: to empower others to live with passion and drive by providing practical strategies for finding self-worth through humour and honesty.
The Self-Love Experiment
The Self-Love Experiment: Fifteen Principles for Becoming More Kind, Compassionate, and Accepting of Yourself ($9) is a book that needs little explanation beyond its title. In this self-care guide, author Shannon Kaiser shares her simple plan for overcoming fear-based thought to live a purposeful, fulfiling life. These secrets to self-love were proven effective first hand by Kaiser, who was able to find happiness after struggling with eating disorders, drug addictions, corporate burnout, and depression.
Gmorning, Gnight!: Little Pep Talks for Me & You
Before the success of his Broadway musical, Hamilton, composer Lin-Manuel Miranda was inspiring thousands of Twitter users with original positive sayings, aphorisms, and poetry. In his The New York Times-bestselling book, Gmorning, Gnight!: Little Pep Talks for Me & You ($11), Miranda compiled his collection of affirmations — paired them with illustrations by acclaimed artist Jonny Sun — and created an assemblage of quick-read pick-me-ups.
Make Your Bed
After a video of Admiral William H. McRaven's inspirational commencement speech at the University of Texas at Austin went viral, he decided to write a book around his powerful message: the ten principles that helped him through the challenges of his Naval career. Now, Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life… And Maybe the World ($12) is inspiring many to challenge themselves to achieve more by overcome life's trying moments.
The Happiness Project
One day while riding a city bus, author Gretchen Rubin decided she would dedicate her year to focusing solely on the things that really matter — she called this journey her "happiness project." In her book, The Happiness Project: Or Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun ($14), she explains how twelve months of challenging herself and simplifying her life made her a happy person.
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