Best Self Care Books to Help You Put Yourself First
Self care comes naturally to some people, but for others, it takes intentional effort to learn to put yourself and your needs first. Learning to prioritize your physical, mental, and emotional needs takes practice before it can be successfully implemented into your daily life. Luckily, there are several self care books available packed with information to get you started to being a better you. Today, I’m sharing some of the best self care books that have helped me learn to make myself a priority.
If you have been wanting to purchase a book about self care, but have been having a hard time deciding which one to get, you’re in the right place. I’m going to share some books with which I’ve had a personal experience and those that have helped me make positive changes in my life.
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My disclaimer about books about self care
There is so much debate about the purpose of a self-help book. By no means do I suggest that you take one particular book and use it as your roadmap for life. No specific book can tell you everything you need to know about yourself and everything you need to do to be a better you.
Self-improvement books help increase self-awareness and can possibly improve your satisfaction with your life. I like to think of self care books as a practical guide that leads you in the right direction when it comes to developing healthy self-care habits.
As you read books, it’s important that you avoid the all-or-nothing approach and that you understand that the pages of one single book can’t dictate your personal journey.
What should you consider when purchasing a book about self care?
There are thousands of books about self care in bookstores today. Literally. So, it’s important that you take some time thinking about the book you select. Here are some questions you should consider when choosing a self-care book:
- Who is the author of the book? Do they have the authority to write about the content they are writing about?
- What is the book’s focus? You want to ensure the specific issues you struggle with will be addressed in the book. Otherwise, it’s a waste of time and money.
- Is the format of the book one that will work for your learning style? Don’t choose a wordy book when you would learn better from a guided journal.
- What do the reviews say about the book?
- Is this a book that you really want (or need) to read?
Ultimately, you want to spend time reading books that will contribute to good habits and personal growth.
What are some good books about self care?
Best Self Care Books
These books will provide guidance and inspiration while you are on your self-care journey.
Comprehensive Guide to Self Care | E-Book
Do you feel uninspired and exhausted? Are you always lacking energy and motivation? Those feelings can mean that you need self-care. You may not realize it, but self-care is essential for living a happy and satisfying life. With your hectic and stressful daily activities, sometimes you forget to take care of yourself, which can result in prolonged stress, anxiety, and even depression. This e-book can be your complete guide to starting your self-care routine.
Self-Love Workbook for Women: Release Self-Doubt, Build Self-Compassion, and Embrace Who You Are (Self-Help Workbooks for Women)
This self-love workbook by therapist Megan Logan will help you discover how much there is to love about yourself. We often find it hard to point out our good qualities, but this workbook has simple exercises to help guide you through the process of looking within and seeing all the good things about yourself that you often overlook.
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
Do you have a bad habit or two that you want to break? Or perhaps you simply want to develop better habits so that you can be more productive and live a happier life? This book gives proven methods for building better habits and becoming a better you.
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail
This book is about how one woman literally went from losing it all to building her way back up. It's a motivational story of hope that will inspire you.
Badass Habits: Cultivate the Confidence, Boundaries, and Know-How to Upgrade Your Life
Jen Sincero's books are easy-to-read guides to upgrading your life. If you're ready to take your confidence to the next level, start with this book. This book is a series of fun-to-read interviews with people who have developed badass habits.
The Happiness Project, Tenth Anniversary Edition: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun
Follow Gretchen Rubin on her journey to happiness in this New York Times Best Seller. If you've struggled to find happiness of your own, let Gretchen's story inspire you to create your own happiness.
You Are Your Best Thing: Vulnerability, Shame Resilience, and the Black Experience
This anthology by Tarana Burke and Dr. Brené Brown is a book that I didn't even know I needed to read. It's a great book about the Black experience that can benefit people of all colors and races. The experiences shared in this book are real and I'm thankful for the vulnerability in this book.
Practicing Mindfulness: 75 Essential Meditations to Reduce Stress, Improve Mental Health, and Find Peace in the Everyday
If you are looking to begin your mindfulness journey, this is the book for you. These short meditations are a great introduction to the practice of mindfulness and it's also great for those who need guidance as they continue.
A Year of Positive Thinking: Daily Inspiration, Wisdom, and Courage (A Year of Daily Reflections)
If you are working on being a more positive person, this book will help. It's packed with daily inspiration, wisdom, and courage to help guide you on your positivity journey.
The Self Care Prescription: Powerful Solutions to Manage Stress, Reduce Anxiety & Increase Wellbeing
This book is perfect for those looking to learn more about what self-care is and how to apply it to their daily lives. It has strategies for helping you along your self-care journey.
The best self-care books are those where people share life lessons to help you as you work to become the best version of yourself. If a book makes you feel worse about yourself, it’s probably not the right book for you. Thankfully, there are so many books available to help you learn the best way to incorporate self-care into your daily routine.
Your self-care journey is uniquely yours and the book (or combination of books) that you choose should help you through the difficult times by providing practical tips and strategies that you can use to find inner peace and live your best life.
