While there are endless ways to look after your mental health, one simple and effective way is to curl up with a good book. Whether you’re searching for a relaxing read, practical guidance, or major motivation, there’s a book out there that can help lift your spirits, relieve stress, and motivate you.
In this weeks’s guest blog post, contributor Elizabeth Hines shares some of her favourites. For the difficult moments, the rainy days, or to give to a friend who could use some additional inspiration, here are seven books Elizabeth recommends for a mental health boost.
1. Good Vibes, Good Life by Vex King
Vex King’s popular Instagram posts, which routinely go viral because of their meaningful messages and relatable motivation, may be familiar to you and his book is just as excellent.
In Good Vibes, Good Life, Vex King draws on his own experience and intuitive wisdom to teach you how to practise self-care, establish positive habits, manifest your objectives using tried-and-tested strategies, conquer fear, and find a higher purpose in life so you can become a shining beacon for others.
2. Sunday Wisdom: Life-Changing Insights from Super Soul Discussions by Oprah Winfrey
If you need a pick-me-up, then Oprah’s Sunday Wisdom is a great go-to resource.
This extremely encouraging collection of interviews with Oprah and some of the world’s most remarkable people compiles the best “aha” moments from “Super Soul Sunday.” This is the book for you if you’ve been searching for a sense of purpose or direction.
3. You Are Here: An Owner’s Manual for Dangerous Minds by Jenny Lawson
This book is filled with intricate pictures and life advice, combining inspiration, therapy, colouring, humour, and guidance. It’s a really great book for when you’re going through a difficult time and can be a great reference book, no matter what you’re going through.
You Are Here is both amusing and immensely honest - a tool to help you deal with complex life events in a confident, creative, and happy way.
4. Super Attractor: Methods for Manifesting a Life Beyond Your Wildest Dreams by Gabrielle Bernstein
This is a book on manifesting a life beyond your wildest dreams.
Super Attractor takes a spiritual approach and provides key recommendations to live in accordance with the universe to create the life you want. This includes the ‘Choose Again Method’ for reframing negativity and increasing your mood.
5. The Book of Happiness by Desmond Tutu And Dalai Lama
Can you really go wrong with a book written by the Dalai Lama himself?
Despite the difficulties they have experienced throughout their lives, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama continue to radiate love, compassion, and even humour.
Through The Book of Happiness, the two inspirational icons discuss how to discover joy in the face of adversity, as well as how to preserve it once you’ve found it. If you’re searching for some real motivation or a little additional fun during a particularly trying period, this book is for you.
6. It’s Okay To Have Strong Feelings by Carissa Potter
If you’re searching for some support, It’s Okay To Have Strong Feelings is an incredibly helpful book.
It’s full of support when you need a little extra love, with practical ideas, genuine understanding, useful honesty, lovely pictures, and relatable comedy. It’s also a terrific gift for a friend who is going through a difficult moment.
7. Anxiety Happens: 52 Ways to Find Peace of Mind by Georg H. Eifert PhD And John P. Forsyth PhD
Drawn from evidence based research, Anxiety Happens is a kind and comforting read.
“This book does exactly what it says on the tin,” shares health writer Nikki Marie. “Written by PhD writers, this is a very simple reference book you can fall back on any time you feel like life is getting away from you, or your day-to-day circumstances feel like it’s getting a little too much. Flick through however you want, or practise one technique for every week of the year; it’s up to you.”
Using books as a form of mental health support
When it comes to balancing and restoring your mental health, it’s a regular practise we can all tap into. If things are getting a little too much and you are looking for some initial support, I hope you can take inspiration from this list of books.
Elizabeth Hines is a lifestyle writer. She writes articles about her experiences with mental health and aims to helps others who may be struggling with their own. She also writes for online magazine and blogs.