Top 10 + books for self-care
Denise and I are both “big readers” and have been trading books for years. We believe that the art of reading is a valuable and life-giving practice. So much of our lives are spent in front of screens, and even our free time can be filled with mindless scrolling. While e-readers are wonderful and convenient inventions, we urge you to sit with a good book sometime in the next few weeks.
It’s a wholly physical practice, one that engages all of your senses and stimulates your mind. The art of reading releases tension, stress, and anxiety, bringing your body into a state of calm. Books are tactile portals to other places and ways of thinking. Get cozy, grab a cuppa, and settle in.
Start small: Read for 10-15 minutes at first, especially if reading isn’t your jam. Try to make it a regular habit.
Here’s another tip: Read what you’re interested in! It doesn’t have to be what everyone is talking about. You’ll be more likely to return to the book if it’s something that you love learning and thinking about. It doesn’t have to be serious, either.
Never forget: Libraries are amazing and reading is free. If you are purchasing books, always try to buy second hand. The story remains the same regardless of its cover ;) When you’re done with the book, pass it on in your community… Denise has a few to share at the studio right now!
Here are some of our favourite books for self-care:
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Calypso by David Sedaris
Deep Listening by Jillian Pransky
First, We Make the Beast Beautiful by Sarah Wilson
Forest Bathing by Dr. Qing Li
Goodbye, Things: On Minimalism Living by Fumio Sasaki
Stillness is the Key by Ryan Holiday
The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran
Teaching a Stone to Talk by Annie Dillard
Wild by Cheryl Strayed
Happy reading!
xoxo Caroline