Step by step
Finding Balance
If there is one area in our lives we should know better than to neglect, it’s our well-being. Of course, that doesn’t make it easy to keep an eye on, especially alongside the rest of the responsibilities we juggle every day.
The trouble is that our well-being encompasses so many dimensions of our health, so much so that it has even been organized into multiple pillars. These include physical, emotional, mental, social, and so many more.
In my experience, finding the right time to check in on how we are doing in each of these specific categories on a regular basis is no easy task. Moreover, it can be even more challenging to figure out what we need before we know when we are running on low battery.
Waiting until we’re completely depleted is without a doubt the last thing we want, especially since doing so can harmfully impact our health in more ways than one. That’s why it’s always a good idea to implement a self-care system of habits that reminds us to constantly self-regulate and avoid getting burned out.
Naturally, as we have individual preferences and lifestyles, what works for some might not work so well for others. Thankfully, we can always experiment with lots of ideas and hacks written by experts covering a range of well-being topics.
So if you are looking to design a practice that works best for your journey to wellness, here are five useful books I enjoyed. I highly recommend checking any of these out and adding them to your list.
1. The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
With over two million copies sold worldwide and over thirty translations, you can bet that this book has touched so many individuals around the world, and for a reason. While some might easily connect this work solely with spirituality, it actually offers a lot more than what you would expect.
From insights on how the mind works, developing self-awareness, how to practice presence, and so much more, Eckhart Tolle offers useful tools to harness your attention. Using a vast array of stories, anecdotes, and insights from others, he vividly explains what it means to access the power of now and how doing so affects your life in more ways than you might realize.
This is a great book for anyone struggling with mental blocks or searching for ways to develop mindfulness. His personal and engaging style will get you hooked from the first read.
“See if you can catch yourself complaining, in either speech or thought, about a situation you find yourself in, what other people do or say, your surroundings, your life situation, even the weather. To complain is always nonacceptance of what is. It invariably carries an unconscious negative charge. When you complain, you make yourself into a victim. When you speak out, you are in your power. So change the situation by taking action or by speaking out if necessary or possible; leave the situation or accept it. All else is madness.”
2. The Wim Hof Method by Wim Hof
This is another great book for your well-being in which Wim Hof dives deep into mind and body techniques that have transformed his life and others. Known for his record-breaking feats like spending hours in freezing water and running barefoot over ice fields, Wim Hof gives us a glimpse into his personal story that led to him gaining his famous nickname, “The Ice Man.”
The book covers plenty of instruction and techniques for breathing, navigating cold immersion, strengthening your mindset, physical exercises, and so much more. In it, Wim offers plenty of guidance to supercharge your energy for strength, vitality, and willpower.
This is without a doubt one of the top sources I’ve found in understanding the benefits of cold water therapy. His approach to tuning into your body and maximizing its potential is one that I continue to lean on and admire to this day.
“Your blood flow, the life-force, the electricity, they’re all in there. But what are you going to do with them? This is the only life you’ve got, so it’s time to move beyond your conditioning. It’s time to move beyond your fear or whatever else is holding you back from living fully because that’s the way nature meant you to be. Your fears are a consequence of a conditioned mind, and they are nothing but a burden.”
3. The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking
One of the most popular topics in the realm of well-being is the practice of hygge, a Danish philosophy and lifestyle centered on the value of coziness, comfort, and togetherness. This approach is similar to self-soothing practices in that the aim is to implement little moments of warmth into your lifestyle.
Meik Wiking offers plenty of examples and ideas in the book, including lighting candles, enjoying a favorite dessert, and cuddling up with your loved one, among others. From decorating tips, delicious recipes, interior design, and so much more, you can find lots of ideas for hygge-living all year-round.
This is a fun and engaging read that makes for a great resource anytime you sense the need for a little boost of positivity. We could all use a little inspiration during those quiet moments of struggle, so I definitely recommend saving this one for a rainy day.
“It is wearing your pajamas and watching Lord of the Rings the day before Christmas, it is sitting in your window watching the weather while sipping your favorite tea, and it is looking into the bonfire on summer solstice surrounded by your friends and family while your twistbread slowly bakes.”
4. Breath by James Nestor
This book explores something so simple yet so transformative: how we breathe. James Nestor dives into the science and history of breathing, revealing how modern habits have actually made our breathing worse and how fixing it can dramatically improve our health.
Nestor combines storytelling, research, and personal experimentation to show how better breathing can improve sleep, reduce stress, and even reshape our physical health. It’s a reminder that sometimes the most powerful tools for healing are already within us.
This book is perfect for anyone looking to improve physical and mental well-being through everyday habits. Breath is an eye-opener that may just change how you inhale and exhale for good.
“The fix is easy: breathe less. But that’s harder than it sounds. We’ve become conditioned to breathe too much, just as we’ve been conditioned to eat too much. With some effort and training, however, breathing less can become an unconscious habit.”
5. Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? by Dr. Julie Smith
On days when your mind feels cloudy or your emotions feel overwhelming, this book feels like a compassionate guide. Dr. Julie Smith offers actionable tips rooted in psychology to help you deal with anxiety, depression, low motivation, and self-doubt.
Written in an easy-to-digest, conversational tone, it breaks down complex emotional struggles into clear, manageable advice. Whether you’re going through a rough time or just need a bit of emotional maintenance, this book offers reassurance and clarity.
It’s a toolkit for building resilience and mental strength, written with empathy and backed by experience. This is the kind of book you’ll want to keep close for whenever life feels a bit too heavy.
“As with most changes, the action comes first and the feeling comes later. So living a life in which you feel a sense of self-worth means making it a life practice. The work is never done. You never arrive. You do the work every day to live in line with unconditional self-acceptance.”
A Gentle Reminder
Caring for your well-being doesn’t have to be overwhelming or complicated—it can start with just a few pages a day. Whether you’re learning to breathe better, creating cozy routines, or rewiring your mindset, these books offer helpful tools you can revisit whenever needed.
Growth isn’t always loud. Often, it happens in the quiet moments we take to better understand ourselves. Whatever path you choose, remember that your well-being is worth the time and care.
Transformation awaits
