2022 is almost here and most of us would still like to achieve optimal wellness. One of the most effective ways to improve your mental and physical health is to keep your mind engaged. One of the best ways to open new pathways in your brain and find new possibilities in your world is to read books. By reading wellness books, you can find tips to help you feel best all year long. Here are the top 7 wellness books to read in 2022.
How to Breathe: 25 Simple Practices for Calm, Joy, and Resilience by Ashley Neese
Nothing takes a toll on our overall wellness quite like stress can. Most of us think that stress is an unavoidable part of life and accept it for what it is Keeping this tension bottled up is unnecessary and can be harmful to your brain and body. The key to finding your inner zen is in your breathing.
We added How to Breathe by Ashley Neese to this list of wellness books because we love how it teaches us to stop taking our breath for granted By utilizing proper breathing techniques, we can learn how to cope with stressful situations in a better, healthier way.
Neese is a breathwork expert. Who knew we needed an expert to breathe? This goes to show that we could all benefit from learning more about this essential function. Over the past decade, Neese has worked with clients to improve their breathing using various exercises. She has expert knowledge and her lessons provide lasting effects.
Building these good habits consciously trains the mind and body to perform them naturally during times of fight or flight. You’ll notice that instead of balling up your fists and clenching your teeth under pressure, you’ll be able to take a step back and breathe.
Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World by Cal Newport
87% of smartphone users will check their devices during a conversation with loved ones. Let that sink in. Not only is it rude to the people you are with, but these actions are hurting smartphone users. They’re missing out on memorable conversations, learning experiences and other chances to expand their horizons. Thanks to Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport, we can reclaim our zest for life.
Digital Minimalism is not one of your average wellness books. It’s an electronic detox. You go 30 days without the noisy chatter of everything, even music. No social media, email strictly for work during set hours and a TV-free nighttime are all staples of the Digital Minimalism Challenge.
Once the 30 days are over, you can slowly integrate these staples back into your life but you must be particular about them: allow yourself one hour of TV time, only listen to music in the car, check social media once a day.
You’ll immediately prioritize the things that you truly care about. For instance, if you dedicate your allotted one hour online to browsing sports, that’s your passion. There’s no need to waste another hour browsing celebrity gossip and watching trailers for the latest movie coming out.
Newport has gone through this mental decluttering experiment himself. He encouraged many others to do the same along the way. The results are unanimous– everyone was happier in the end!
Complete Wellness: Enjoy long-lasting health and well-being with more than 800 natural remedies by Neal’s Yard Remedies
If you are a burgeoning naturopath and need a foundation for your growing wellness book collection, let Complete Wellness by Neal’s Yard Remedies be that cornerstone. This book has everything you need to practice holistic care in your home.
What we love about this book is that it covers a broad range of essential aspects of wellness that require our attention and care. This book even offers all-natural tips to improve the biodiversity of your intestinal flora, promote blood circulation and keep your weight in check.
One of the best parts about this book is its variety. The traditional oil and herb remedies are included but they also offer delicious and unique recipes. Complete Wellness truly takes a “food-as-medicine” approach by illustrating how whole, organic foods can support your wellness.
This selection earns bonus points because it offers a kid’s section, too. If we can foster good habits in our children early on, they will be prepared to make healthy choices once they fly the nest. Neal’s Yard makes learning about health fun and digestible!
101 Ways to Go Zero Waste by Kathryn Kellogg
Wellness isn’t just diet and exercise. After all, we aren’t truly achieving optimal wellness if the environment we live in is suffering. The way we package goods, how we commute and the items we toss in the trash are all negatively impacting our environment. What’s the point of wellness if we won’t be able to live on our planet?
101 Ways to Go Zero Waste forces us to take a look at our impact while offering techniques to turn things around for our planet. For those of us who don’t know where to start, Kellogg gives you 101 straightforward ways to reduce waste.
This book can also help you improve your financial wellness: going zero waste is a great way to save money. According to polls, 44% of adults stress over finances; it’s our number one concern. As we know, stress can do a number on wellness. By saving money and cutting your carbon footprint, you can promote wellness in two significant ways.
The Endocannabinoid System and Cannabis: The Perfect Partnership for Self-Regulation and Healing by Dr. Scott A. Johnson
How could we forget about CBD in our list of wellness books? We chose The Endocannabinoid System and Cannabis by Dr. Scott A. Johnson because it breaks down the science of cannabis from an expert’s perspective.
Dr. Johnson takes on the complicated task of explaining the intricate network known as the endocannabinoid system. He breaks it down in a digestible format that readers will find engaging.
Dr. Johnson included 560 footnotes. With such a hot topic that’s relatively new to the masses, it’s great to see an author who includes so much research. We think this book should be an essential part of your wellness library.
Clean: The New Science of Skin and the Beauty of Doing Less by James Hamblin
Now more than ever, we live in a sanitizer-centric society that encourages us to wash our hands at every whim and exfoliate our faces all the time. What we’re doing is destroying beneficial bacteria in our bodies. We need to take a step back with a simpler approach. James Hamblin tackles this in Clean: The New Science of Skin and the Beauty of Doing Less.
Clean creates an open dialogue on hygiene customs that may be doing more harm than good. Oversanitation can lead to pathogenic resistance, and becoming too sterile may open a pandora’s box of issues that can affect our overall wellness.
Reading Clean would be great to pair with Digital Minimalism. It has the same overarching theme of cutting back on the essentials.
Negative Self-Talk and How to Change It by Shad Helmstetter, Ph.D.
More often than not, we’re our own worst critic. We are trapped inside of our heads 24/7, so it’s normal to drive yourself crazy sometimes. When this happens, you run the risk of using negative self-talk.
In Negative Self-Talk and How to Change It, Shad Helmstetter, Ph.D. addresses how cruel thoughts can sabotage your productivity and overall wellness. You wouldn’t stand around and allow someone to talk to your loved ones that way, so why do it to yourself?
When we dwell in negativity, it creeps into our daily lives. Do you sometimes wonder why you keep attracting the wrong people? A big reason for this could be the way you view yourself.
Saying something hurtful about yourself can harm your self-esteem. Over time, your mind can default to negativity and create a black cloud that follows you around all the time.
Helmstetter offers insights and techniques to change the narrative in your head and make a positive attitude your default setting. Negative Self-Talk is one of the ultimate wellness books for 2022 because it helps you reclaim your life.
Have you read any of these wellness books? Are there any others you think we missed? Let us know in the comments below!
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Hannah Smith is Joy Organics Director of Communications. She is driven by her passion for providing clear and accessible wellness and CBD education. In 2015, she received her BA in Media, Culture and the Arts from The King’s College in New York City and before Joy Organics, worked as writer and photographer in the Middle East and North Africa. Her work has been featured on Forbes, Vice, Vox, Denver Post, and the Coloradoan.
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