Modern life is stressful enough but in these particularly challenging times, many of us are finding our anxiety levels at an all time high. April is Stress Awareness Month, so we sought out these 6 books which might help with some coping techniques. (It goes without saying that we are not medical professionals so please do seek advice if stress is impacting your well-being).
Dopamine Nation
We are a wired generation. In these fast-paced times we are constantly bombarded by high-reward, high-dopamine stimuli. From texting to social media, food to drugs, gambling to shopping, we have become addicted to fleeting and distracting pleasures that are making us sick.
In Dopamine Nation, psychiatrist and bestselling author Dr Anna Lembke reveals why our relentless pursuit of pleasure leads to pain and what we can do about it. Bringing together cutting-edge neuroscience with the gripping real life experiences from her clinical practice, Lembke explores how contentment and connectedness are essential tools in keeping dopamine in check. This is an essential book for anyone wanting to find a balance for a happier life.
Dopamine Nation by Dr. Anna Lembke – order your copy here
Atomic Habits
Transform your life with tiny changes in behaviour, starting now.
People think that when you want to change your life, you need to think big. But world-renowned habits expert James Clear has discovered another way. He knows that real change comes from the compound effect of hundreds of small decisions: doing two push-ups a day, waking up five minutes early, or holding a single short phone call.
He calls them atomic habits.
In this ground-breaking book, Clears reveals exactly how these minuscule changes can grow into such life-altering outcomes. He uncovers a handful of simple life hacks (the forgotten art of Habit Stacking, the unexpected power of the Two Minute Rule, or the trick to entering the Goldilocks Zone), and delves into cutting-edge psychology and neuroscience to explain why they matter. Along the way, he tells inspiring stories of Olympic gold medalists, leading CEOs, and distinguished scientists who have used the science of tiny habits to stay productive, motivated, and happy.
Atomic Habits by James Clear – order your copy here
Zen Wisdom for the Anxious
By dipping into this little book of simple Zen Buddhist sayings, you can calm your anxiety and return serenity to your soul.
Are you feeling stress and anxiety from the demands of daily life? Do you feel overwhelmed by your to-do list and the constant deluge of information from all quarters? Are you unhappy with your life and envious of those around you? At times like these it’s important to step back and take a breath.
Zen meditation may conjure up images of sitting in silence for long hours, but according to Buddhist monk and author Shinsuke Hosokawa, Zen can be summed up as “the knowledge needed for a person to live life with a positive outlook.” With this in mind, he has produced this charmingly illustrated collection of thoughts and sayings to help you live life with less stress and anxiety.
The sayings include:
- Pay attention to what is right in front of your eyes
- Nothing happens by chance. Every encounter has its meaning
- Be careful not to confuse the means and the purpose
- Keep flowing just like water
- Nothing will control you
- Even a bad day is a good day
- Check the ground beneath your feet when you’re in trouble
- You’ll never walk alone
These 52 mindful sayings mirror the 52 steps traditionally taken to achieve Buddhist enlightenment, and they also coincide with the 52 weeks of the year–passing through the seasons, both in the natural world and our lives. Each page has an illustration and a simple, meditative reflection to help you see into your own heart, accept your current state of being, reduce anxiety and find peace.
Whatever the time of year, whatever your time of life, by browsing the pages of this book you are sure to quickly find a piece of universal wisdom that will resonate with your soul.
Zen Wisdom for the Anxious – order your copy here
Burnt Out
People everywhere are burning out.
From CEOs to nurses, to doctors, teachers, entrepreneurs, journalists, social workers, academics, creatives… even yoga teachers are at it.
Technology was supposed to make life easier, free us up, take things off our plates and instead we are feeling more exhausted, more under pressure and more stressed out than ever before. People all over the world are lying awake at night wired from exhaustion and uncertainty, fearful of the looming to-do list that awaits them in the morning and wondering how the hell they are going to keep this up before they lose the plot altogether.
Life doesn’t have to be this way.
This book is a no-nonsense, practical guide to thriving in a fast-paced modern world, for the burnt out, bone tired and brain frazzled. It’s a toolkit that will help you learn what ingredients you need in order to thrive and how to weave those ingredients into your day-to-day, no matter how busy life gets.
Whether you are a classic overachiever, over giver or over thinker, be prepared to take back your boundaries, replenish your energy and design a life you love.
The six steps to take you from burnout to thriving
STEP 1: Commit to making your happiness and wellbeing a top priority in your life
STEP 2: Get to know your inner Shitty Committee and how it is driving you to burn out
STEP 3: Tune into your inner Wise Cheerleader and turn up the volume
STEP 4: Learn how to become a master at managing your own energy
STEP 5: Design your life so that you can thrive
STEP 6: Bring about big change when the people or environments around you are causing you to burn out
Burnt Out by Selina Barker – order your copy here
How Can I Stop Worrying?
Are you weighed down with troubles and worries? Does it feel as though your life is slipping out of control? Are you angst-ridden all of the time? If so, it doesn’t have to be like that.
Based on her personal experience, Kay Johnson shares the key principles of how to stop worrying. She unravels the myths surrounding worry, and explains why it really is possible to find lasting relief from mind-numbing worries, even if you’re someone who has worried all your life. No matter what’s happening on the outside, she explains how you can remain calm and relaxed on the inside.
Written in an easy-to-read style, you will discover:
- How to ease the worries out of your life, one step at a time
- How to tame your doubts and fears
- How to take back control of your life
- How to boost your confidence
- How to lift your mood
- How to brighten up your life
- How to restore your inner peace
From a young age, Kay Johnson worried about everything. Then came the wake-up call when her health faltered and she knew she had to find a better way of handling life’s ups and down. This book is the result of her journey to acquire an effective way of dealing with stress and worry, and find some peace of mind.
How to Stop Worrying by Kay Johnson – order your copy here
The Good Life
What makes for a fulfilling and meaningful life? A good life?
Based on findings from the 80-year-long Harvard Study of Adult Development, this landmark book reveals the simple yet surprising truth: the stronger our relationships, the more likely we are to live happy, satisfying and overall healthier lives.
Revealing the ground-breaking research behind the world’s longest study on happiness, programme directors Dr Robert Waldinger and Dr Marc Schulz bring together scientific precision, traditional wisdom, incredible real-life stories and actionable insights to prove once and for all that our own wellbeing and ability to flourish is absolutely within our control.
The Good Life by Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz – order your copy here