Self-Care: 7 Helpful Books That Will Bring You Joy and Happiness

Self-Care is super important to maintaining a healthy life. Click here to learn more and see what books we recommend to help you on your self-care journey.

Fiction Lifestyle Non-Fiction Recommendations Self Help Wellness
self-care-book-with-writing-and-a-pen-featured-image

In a world that constantly steals our attention, we need to stop and take time for ourselves. It’s okay to take care of those around us, but when no one is taking care of us, we have to do a better job of doing so for ourselves. Self-care isn’t selfish; the downtime that is involved isn’t a cause of concern for becoming lazy. It’s essential for maintaining a healthy physical and mental state as well as finding joy and happiness within.

The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World by The Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu with Douglas Carlton Abrams

the-book-of-joy-dalai-lama-desmond-tutu-book-cover
IMAGE VIA AMAZON

Whether you’re religious or not, this book is worth the read. Two pillars of the spiritual world, who have undergone some of the most arduous circumstances, come together to share how they find happiness in life despite suffering. Over the course of a week, the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu share intimate stories, trade jokes, and write a compelling novel. They have come up with the “Eight Pillars of Joy,” sharing how these steps create a foundation of joy for life. Through tried and true practices, this collaboration is an effort to express that even through the darkest times, peace and happiness are only a thought away.

This sparkling, wise, and immediately useful gift to readers from two remarkable spiritual masters offers hope that joy is possible for everyone even in the most difficult circumstances, and describes a clear path for attaining it.

Publishers Weekly

The Joy of Small Things by Hannah Jane Parkinson

the-joy-of-small-things-book-cover
IMAGE VIA AMAZON

Hannah Jane Parkinson has written a novel that calls on the inner child in all of us. That kid who was mesmerized by the mundane, the tot who found joy in the smallest, most ordinary treat. She shares her experience of finding joy in the small things every day. Take a peek inside to understand how she bettered her life by not taking the moments in her life for granted, no matter how insignificant. 

The Joy of Small Things is a real soul-salve of a collection: beautifully written, and full of gentle insight and warm wit. Keep it near you to dip into whenever you need to feel better about the world. A not-so-small joy in itself.

—Nigella Lawson

Self-Care Habits for Busy Women: A Guide to Choosing Yourself Every Day, Breaking Free From an Overwhelming Lifestyle, and 6 Steps to Getting Back on Track by Tula Rhodes

self-care-habits-for-busy-women-book-cover-drawing-of-a-womans-face-and-a-woman-on-the-phone-trees-and-buildings
IMAGE VIA AMAZON

Tula Rhodes emphasizes the vital importance of self-care for women in this informative and easy-to-implement self-help book. Women wear many hats throughout their days, often interchanging without a break or wearing multiple at once. Because of this, self-care tends to take a back seat or get placed in the trunk, never to be seen. But this isn’t healthy, mentally or physically. Dive into this book to learn how to make time for yourself, set reminders and keep them, how to set boundaries, and much much more!

This book is easy, yet it is chock-full of ways to take back the self-love we so often give away at the expense of external busyness. As women, we make sure everyone else has their needs met, ensuring they feel loved and supported, but this book reminds us that we cannot give from an empty cup, and we must take care of ourselves too. The tone is soft and caring yet reminds us throughout the book that we are important too.

—Dawn Williams, Amazon Reviewer

Astrology Self-Care Series (12 books) by Constance Stellas

astrology-self-care-series-three-book-covers
IMAGE VIA AMAZON

If you’re a follower of astrology and want to know the best course of action to take in the self-care game for your sign, look no further. Constance Stellas has written a self-care book for each sign of the zodiac, specific to their emotions and needs. 

Amazing and super-cute book for zodiac and wellness enthusiasts alike! I loved it! I read my sun and moon signs-both were spot on!

—NYCOTGIRL, Amazon Review

Self-Care for Black Women by Dolores Maaike

self-care-for-black-women-book-cover-box-set
IMAGE VIA AMAZON

This two-part self-self book is specifically aimed at helping women of color reconnect to their “original black spirit” and inspire a love of self. Includes tips and tricks to learn self-acceptance, control emotions, pursue a successful mindset, and set and stick to boundaries.

Do you often feel guilty after helping people who don’t value your presence, efforts, or time? Do you invariably feel guilty if for once you don’t go out of your way to help others? We know that sis’, it’s always the same story…but it’s time to take a halt!

If you’re one of those, this self-help book designed for women of color will be really supportive for your daily life.

—Dolores Maaike

Buy Yourself the F*cking Lilies by Tara Schuster

buy-yourself-the-fucking-lilies-book-cover
IMAGE VIA AMAZON

This brutally honest testament to the things we hide from those around us and ourselves by TV exec Tara Schuster will bolster your own confidence to turn your life around and spend some time on yourself. Schuster explains how she got to rock bottom and the difficult climb it took to reach the top and become a “ninja of self-love.” Read her story as she explains in detail the everyday practices she put into place to heal emotional wounds, remove self-doubt, leave toxic people behind, and create a life she can be proud of. 

“This is the book so many of us need right now: a fierce-but-tender guide to conquering our self-doubt so that we can breathe, be kind to ourselves, and enjoy the one life we’re given.”

—Glennon Doyle, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Love Warrior

Better Daily Self-Care Habits by Cicely Horsham-Brathwaite PhD

better-daily-self-care-habits-book-cover
Image via Amazon

Licensed Counseling Psychologist Cicely Horsham-Brathwaite, Ph.D. outlines the ways to change behavior in order to have a healthier life. Acknowledging the difficulties of such a process, she provides strategies and techniques that are easy to implement and sustainable for long-term lifestyle changes. 

“Cicely’s self-care descriptions jump off the page and expose how our thinking contradicts our behavior when one neglects taking care of self. She gives us the tools to learn and practice life-sustaining habits. Her road map is simple to grasp and clear for learning new habits. The practice she describes produces profound results. She teaches us how to take care of our most precious gift, our bodies, heart, and soul. This guide is a must for individuals who want to stop the cycle of self-neglect and master the habits of life-sustaining practices.” 

—Portia Hunt, PhD, African American psychologist, personal therapist, and life coach

Read more Mental Health Awareness articles here.

FEATURED IMAGE VIA CANVA