For every one self-help book that is life-changing, there’s a bunch of others that are lacking. I was tired of self-help books telling me, “If you’re anxious, just don’t be” When the quarantine in 2020 started, I decided to do some research, make a mile-long TBR list and dive in. Over the course of two years, these are the four books I’ve found that work, from little praises to warm your heart to completely restructuring your life.
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
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I read Atomic Habits in January and it was the perfect book to start the new year with. Atomic Habits is a different type of self-help book because it was about building habits rather than self-love. While I was reading this, I was trying to apply the concepts that Clear described to my own life. For example, Clear talks about how you need to reward yourself after completing a task to make it a habit, so I would go to the gym and then make myself a healthy dinner afterward. Reading this while also trying to fulfill my New Year’s resolutions was incredibly helpful. Over the course of the three weeks that I read this, I felt like a healthier person, physically and mentally, and my new habits have sustained in the months after.
- Watering the Soul by Courtney Peppernell
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If you want a light read that will keep you motivated and feeling loved, Watering the Soul is for you. This is a poetry book, and the concept of it is adorable. The whole idea is to forgive yourself for mistakes, learn to love and water your soul like you would water a seed that you want to bloom into a beautiful flower. The book is organized into sections about taking a break to breathe, overcoming fear, forgiving yourself, practicing patience and more. Watering the Soul is there when you want some quick wisdom, and it’s easy to find the advice you want. This was the first poetry book I ever read, and the little blurbs about loving yourself and forgiveness really resonated with me.
- Women Who Worry Too Much by Holly Hazlett-Stevens
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This little book is a lifesaver for my ladies with anxiety and worry issues. I really liked how the author goes into the biology of being a woman and how that relates to stress, as well as how we manage it. The book is organized into different subjects of things people often stress about, like work and relationships. In every section, there are step-by-step ways to combat anxiety and there are exercises to figure out what exactly is affecting you. These little exercises were a lifesaver. I first picked this book up during quarantine in 2020, and I was able to get through anxious episodes easier by tracking my triggers. The exercises really put things into perspective for me and I feel like I was able to let go of stress quicker than before.
- The Gift: 12 LEssons to save your life by Edith Eger
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The Gift is one of the most user-friendly self-help books I’ve ever read. Edith Eger is a Holocaust survivor, and her wisdom shook me to the core. I was so inspired by her story and the advice that she shares in The Gift. In addition to talking about her own experiences, Eger describes how she’s helped her therapy clients through issues that we all face. At the end of every chapter, after walking through examples and why something affects you, there’s a guide to tackling the issue. This book covers everything from freeing yourself from grief to freeing yourself from guilt. The guides at the end of the chapters are great points to reflect on and really make this book remarkable.
We all want to get a fresh start and have a mental reset sometimes, and I found that in these four books. Whether you want a complete change of habit or to manage your anxiety better, these books have you covered. Happy reading!