Books
7 Books That Will Help You Take Care of Yourself
It can be hard to take care of yourself as an adult. But when life is at its most difficult, it's important to look out for your own needs. Self-care looks different for everybody, whether it's exercising, writing, getting a massage, or simply taking a long bath. These seven books for self-care will help you rebalance before you tackle your day (or the next four years.)
For me, it's easy to get caught up in the hamster wheel of life and forget to take the time for self-care. I'm trying to be better at this. No matter what life is throwing at you, you need to remember to think about your own health and happiness, and how to achieve that.
Here are books will help you as you try to take care of yourself, from inspiring manifestos that will help you navigate your life to books that will just make you feel better. Use these books to uplift yourself and remind yourself that you are important. Find the method of self-care that works best for you, and remember to love yourself—you're worth it.
1. Pick Me Up: A Pep Talk for Now and Later by Adam J. Kurtz
This book is actually more like a journal, with every page designed to lift you up. With interactive activities and encouragements, and will seriously help you get in touch with your feelings.
2. The Happiness Project by Gretchin Rubin
Gretchin Rubin spent a year test-driving advice for how to be happier, and this book is her chronicle of the experience. As you're trying to figure out what will work best for you, this is an engaging read that will help you find the right path.
3. Yes Please by Amy Poehler
When you need to be uplifted, this book has got your back. It's impossible not to feel like you can do anything when Poehler is around. Plus, this book is filled with golden advice. My favorite: "Treat your career like a bad boyfriend."
4. So Sad Today by Melissa Broder
This book will help you remember that you are not alone. Connected to the well-known So Sad Today Twitter account, Melissa Broder's essays dive into her experiences with anxiety and more. Odds are, Broder will describe a feeling you've felt before and have never been able to put into words. Funny and uniquely observant, this book will certainly give you a release.
5. What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruk Murakami
Maybe exercise is part of your self-care needs, maybe it isn't. But this meditative book by novelist Haruki Murakami will have you thinking about running in a way you never have before. Whether you're a serious runner or not, Murakami's thoughts and intimate writing style are a soothing exploration of the human spirit.
6. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
For me, a big part of self-care is cleaning and working on projects around the house. This book is key to help you declutter your life, and feel good as a result.
7. Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
Elizabeth Gilbert will help you get you in touch with your creative spirit, and learn how to create even when it feels impossible. If you're a writer or artist of any kind, this book is essential for those moments when you feel completely lost.
Images: sammyreadsbooks/Instagram
