Hustle culture is a complicated beast. I mean, I love to pursue creative projects, learn new things, make money, and maintain a fulfilling routine. But it can often become a lot at once. Not only do I struggle with juggling everything, but I also struggle with remembering that it’s ok to take a break. Rest can be an extremely powerful tool and can even help the work we do become even better. Learning to prioritize and tap into the right kind of rest can change life for the better. Here are 5 books that can help.
1. Do Pause: You Are Not A To-Do List by Robert Poynton
It’s simple: humans are not meant to work 24/7. In this book, Robert Poynton discusses the idea that learning how to take intentional pauses will improve your life for the better. This book not only discusses this idea, but also includes tools that will help you create new habits, reconnect with others, and regain your sanity.
2. Just Sit: A Meditation Guidebook for People Who Know They Should But Don’t by Sukey Novogratz and Elizabeth Novogratz
Just telling someone to rest is easy. Telling them how to actually do it is a bit harder. Sukey Novogratz and Elizabeth Novogratz take on this challenge in Just Sit, a meditation guidebook that is simple and visually engaging. Not only does it provide helpful instructions, but it also answers questions in an effort to make meditation seem less scary or awkward. If you have always wanted to meditate but are unsure where to start- this recommendation is for you.
3. The Art of Rest: How to Find Respite in the Modern Age by Claudia Hammond
Claudia Hammond is a researcher who collaborated on ‘The Rest Test’, the world’s largest ever study into rest that explored people’s subjective experiences of rest. The Art of Rest draws on these findings and the idea that rest is directly linked to well-being. Through the top ten activities people find most restful, Hammond explains the science behind rest and how to take advantage of it in your daily life.
4. Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang
This book will make you rethink everything you know about rest, work, and how to balance both. Alex Soojung-Kim Pang provides examples of famous thinkers who have accepted intentional rest into their lives. Through a combination of scientific research and human anecdotes, Alex Soojung-Kim Pang proves that rest and work can go hand in hand.
5. ASMR: The Sleep Revolution by Benjamin Nicholls and Craig Richard
ASMR, aka Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, is defined as “a feeling of well-being combined with a tingling sensation in the scalp and down the back of the neck, as experienced by some people in response to a specific gentle stimulus, often a particular sound.” This natural sleep aid has helped many people learn to relax and let go of the stressors in their daily lives. This book serves to address misconceptions about the ASMR community, explain its origins, and discuss the science behind it.
I hope these books allow you to let go of your stress, take a deep breath, and embrace a moment of rest. As always, happy reading! For more relaxing content from Bookstr, click here!