By Kate Downes, LAc TCM Practitioner
Winter’s yin energy is slowly creeping in. That means now is the time to enjoy calming, restorative self-care practices – like reading – to live in tune with the season.
Of course, cozying up with a good book is a warm way to melt away the day’s stress. But beyond relaxation, reading also feeds our minds with new perspectives, inspires us, and helps us understand ourselves better.
Try one of our self-care picks below, or share your own favorite books!
Take a Page from One of These Books to Inspire Your Self-Care this Winter
The Body is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love By Sonya Renee Taylor
Self-love is an easy concept to understand, but a harder one to practice. In this book, activist and poet Sonya Renee Taylor invites us into a deep discussion of what self-love really means, and how to reconnect with the “radical origins of our minds and bodies and celebrate our collective, enduring strength.” Be prepared to shed deep-seated body shame and embrace a compassionate view of beauty.
Home Body
By Rupi Kaur
In this collection of poems, Rupi Kaur invites us on an intimate journey of exploring the potential of the self. Rich with honest conversations about acceptance, love, and community play on the duality of the self – and life itself.
Atomic Habits
By James Clear
If you’re ready to make self-care second nature, set yourself up for success by adopting what James Clear calls atomic habits. You’ll learn how making hundreds of small, achievable habits can create big changes in your life, as well as some simple strategies to make your atomic habits stick.
The Happiness Project
By Gretchen Rubin
Curious if singing, decluttering, or spending money really do make you happy? Gretchen Rubin was, which is why she spent an entire year test-driving scientific research, age-old wisdom, cultural trends, and other methods that promise happy days. Find out what worked, what didn’t, and what it takes to truly live and be happy.
Chop Wood, Carry Water: A Guide to Finding Spiritual Fulfillment in Everyday Life
By Rick Fields
Life is full of seemingly mundane tasks. But what would happen if we learned to embrace these simple chores as mindful rituals? In this book, we explore ancient spiritual wisdom that the greatest lessons in life can be learned from how we approach our everyday.
The Untethered Soul: A Journey Beyond Yourself
By Michael A. Singer
Imagine what your life would be like if you were free from limitations and boundaries. Feels pretty good, right? The truth is, many of the limitations we have upon us are self-imposed by habitual thought patterns and emotions. This book leads you through traditions, meditations, and teachings that help us let go of what holds us back so we can embrace the happiness that exists in the present moment.
Turn Reading into a Ritual
Nothing beats cracking open a new book while the fireplace crackles and glows in the background. But you don’t need a roaring fire to create a calming self-care reading ritual. All you need to create the perfect mood for reading is…
A calming mist of Species by the Thousands Moon Aromatherapy Mist
It doesn’t take much to turn an everyday moment into an intentional relaxation experience. That’s why we love using aromatherapy as an intentional practice when starting a self-care ritual. Any of the Species by the Thousands mists will do, but the Moon Mist is particularly good for strengthening intuition, empathy, and change, so you can put what you learn in your self-care books to good use.
A cup of Celestial Sun Brew Tea
There are few greater pleasures in life than reading a book while sipping tea. And when that tea helps you adapt to stress better, reduce anxiety, and calm skin irritations, that’s just the icing on the cake!
A thin layer of Malaya Organics Advanced Repair Mask
Multitasking makes your self-care time work overtime. Apply a thin layer of the Advanced Repair Mask before you dive into your book to soothe your skin while you read. After 20 minutes, wash off your mask with warm water, apply your favorite moisturizer, and settle in for another chapter or two.
Or a handful of Relato Nativo Botanical Bath Salts
Take your reading ritual to the next level by reading in the bath. A warming bath infused with healing botanicals and soothing essential oils will warm you through and through while you absorb new ideas and inspiration from your book.
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