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Frontlist | 6 self-help books that could help you through those bad days.

Frontlist | 6 self-help books that could help you through those bad days.
on Mar 08, 2021

Self-help books often have the reputation of being full of preachy, unrelatable advice, just like those motivational posts you see on posts by wellness influencers on Instagram. While it's true that any advice that targets a larger group can't be reliable for individuals stands true, self-help books could offer guidance on certain smaller issues, and possibly be a gateway to more targeted therapy if required. Ahead, we’ve listed six reads that could help you navigate the rocky paths of life.

Adulting: How to Become a Grown-up in 535 Easy(ish) Steps by Kelly Williams Brown

“Having a poorly considered liaison with a co-worker is the chickenpox of the working life, so you may as well get it over with.” That’s number 162 in Williams Brown’s Adulting: How to Become a Grown-up in 535 Easy(ish) Steps. The other pieces of advice penned in her book tackle everything from wardrobe malfunctions to relationship issues, and are targeted specifically for 20-somethings who are just learning to cope with being adults.

Present, Not Perfect: A Journal for Slowing Down, Letting Go, and Loving Who You Are by Aimee Chase

Call it a journal or an artful take on self-help books, Present, Not Perfect: A Journal for Slowing Down, Letting Go, and Loving Who You Are is bound to cut to the heart of the problem and show you how to give up those self-imposed expectations. The book has a simple exercise on every page, which helps you learn a creative approach to practicing mindfulness daily. Consider this if you’re trying to learn how to live in the moment, instead of chasing perfection.

Featuring over 100 quick exercises that deal with different situations, Hasson’s Mindfulness Pocketbook: Little Exercises For A Calmer Life is nothing short of a guide to almost every problem you could face in your life. For example, if you’re not feeling very confident before an interview, you can just skip to the section of the book that deals with that, and get some immediate, easy-to-use help. If you’re scared that your life is moving too fast, this book has mindful exercises, practices and reflections that help bring you back to the present in a constructive manner. The book focuses on generating long-term effects like reducing stress and boosting self-esteem.

The Procrastination Fix: 36 Strategies Proven To Cure Laziness And Improve Productivity by Jacob Greene

The three titles above may have already inspired you to add a self-help book to your home library. But will you really do it? And if you do, will you finish reading it while meeting work deadlines? Procrastination is one of most common issues people are dealing with today. In his book, Green lists down 36 useful tips that could help you understand why you may be procrastinating and how to beat it.

You Are a Badass: How To Stop Doubting Your Greatness And Start Living An Awesome Life by Jen Sincero

Sincero’s book is a witty take on overcoming self-doubt with single-minded determination, and inspires readers to aim for nothing less than their wildest dreams. What sets it apart from other motivational reads is the author’s you-go-girl delivery. To give you an example of what you can expect, here’s a quote from the book: “If you try getting through this book and decide it’s a bunch of crap, you can go back to your sucky life. But maybe, if you put your disbelief aside, roll up your sleeves, take some risks and totally go for it, you’ll wake up one day and realise you’re living the kind of life you used to be jealous of.”

Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo

Authored by the host of the award-winning Marie Forleo Podcast and MarieTV, Everything Is Figureoutable takes a different approach from the rest. If you’re having trouble finishing something or finding it hard to do well at work, or you simply can’t bring yourself to accept a situation as it is, Forleo conveys that it’s not you. There’s no issue of procrastination or lack of motivation to be tackled with here. You just haven’t installed the one key belief that will be a knockout punch to whatever it is you're dealing with. With simple exercises, real-life stories and an insight into the author's philosophy, you might just start walking the path to being unstoppable after reading this one.