What do you think?
Rate this book
Little Things: A Positive Toolkit for When Life Feels Stressful
How to make small changes to feel better, even when under stress.
Stress is a normal part of life, but it can be overwhelming. The habits, tools and advice in these pages will help you cope better, understand your own worries, and learn how to pause and respond rather than react when life feels too much.
This is the advice I've received - the lessons I've learned in my own ups and downs, the expert conversations from my Happy Place podcast, the therapies I've tried and the habits I've created - to keep working towards good days.
By focusing on the little things, practising self-awareness, and getting creative with the exercises and simple ideas, daily tricks and practical tools in this book, you can find balance in our hectic world and unlock daily happiness.
Fearne x
Stress is a normal part of life, but it can be overwhelming. The habits, tools and advice in these pages will help you cope better, understand your own worries, and learn how to pause and respond rather than react when life feels too much.
This is the advice I've received - the lessons I've learned in my own ups and downs, the expert conversations from my Happy Place podcast, the therapies I've tried and the habits I've created - to keep working towards good days.
By focusing on the little things, practising self-awareness, and getting creative with the exercises and simple ideas, daily tricks and practical tools in this book, you can find balance in our hectic world and unlock daily happiness.
Fearne x
335 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 4, 2024
75 people are currently reading
370 people want to read
About the author
Fearne Cotton
65 books370 followersFearne has been presenting live TV since the age of 15 when she was spotted by ITV’s ‘Disney Club’.
Her warmth, natural interview skills and ability to make presenting live TV seem effortless and has given her the opportunity to present a variety of shows over the years.
Fearne is currently back in her role as team captain on the 16th series of Celebrity Juice, a show that continues to be a ratings winner for ITV2. Other shows include Children in Need Rocks, The Happiness Project, Fearne & Gok: Off The Rails, The BBC Music Awards, Top of the Pops with Reggie Yates, ‘Fearne and McBusted’ and a Coldplay special for Sky Arts amongst many others.
In addition to TV Fearne is hugely credible in the music genre. In 2005 she joined Radio 1 where she spent 10 incredible years, initially co-hosting morning shows with Reggie Yates and then moving onto the UK Top 40 show before taking over the prestigious weekday morning slot in 2009; here she mixed big celebrity interviews with exclusive acoustic performances in the Live Lounge. The show attracted over 4 million listeners and in 2012 she won a Sony Gold Award for the show.
Alongside TV & Radio Fearne is incredibly creative and has designed several seasons of a home wear range for very.co.uk, curated 13 seasons of her own very.co.uk clothing range and previously released her own make-up and toiletry ranges for Boots. Fearne currently enjoys working alongside Cath Kidston and Garnier Olia and is also a brand ambassador for BaByliss, where she creates a series of ‘Get the Look’ videos and tutorials, recreating her go-to styles using BaByliss tools.
In social media, Fearne has over 7 million Twitter followers and a combined Facebook and Instagram following of over 2.2 million with live, innovative content around her programming and off-air projects, ranking her amongst the world’s top 250 most influential Tweeters.
An enthusiastic cook, Fearne released her first cookbook in June 2016: Cook Happy, Cook Health. Her next book, Happy, talks about her own experiences of happiness (including some of the not-so-happy ones), and was published February 2017. Fearne's third book, Cook. Eat. Love, was published in June 2017.
Work aside, Fearne is a mother of 2 and continues to find time to support a range of charities with seemingly no challenge too big for her, whether it be climbing Kilimanjaro for Comic Relief, or trekking the Inca Trail for Breast Cancer Care. Fearne is an ambassador for The Prince’s Trust and also a patron for Post Pals, Tyler’s Trust and Coppafeel!, the latter of which she curates the charity’s music festival, FESTIFEEL.
Her warmth, natural interview skills and ability to make presenting live TV seem effortless and has given her the opportunity to present a variety of shows over the years.
Fearne is currently back in her role as team captain on the 16th series of Celebrity Juice, a show that continues to be a ratings winner for ITV2. Other shows include Children in Need Rocks, The Happiness Project, Fearne & Gok: Off The Rails, The BBC Music Awards, Top of the Pops with Reggie Yates, ‘Fearne and McBusted’ and a Coldplay special for Sky Arts amongst many others.
In addition to TV Fearne is hugely credible in the music genre. In 2005 she joined Radio 1 where she spent 10 incredible years, initially co-hosting morning shows with Reggie Yates and then moving onto the UK Top 40 show before taking over the prestigious weekday morning slot in 2009; here she mixed big celebrity interviews with exclusive acoustic performances in the Live Lounge. The show attracted over 4 million listeners and in 2012 she won a Sony Gold Award for the show.
Alongside TV & Radio Fearne is incredibly creative and has designed several seasons of a home wear range for very.co.uk, curated 13 seasons of her own very.co.uk clothing range and previously released her own make-up and toiletry ranges for Boots. Fearne currently enjoys working alongside Cath Kidston and Garnier Olia and is also a brand ambassador for BaByliss, where she creates a series of ‘Get the Look’ videos and tutorials, recreating her go-to styles using BaByliss tools.
In social media, Fearne has over 7 million Twitter followers and a combined Facebook and Instagram following of over 2.2 million with live, innovative content around her programming and off-air projects, ranking her amongst the world’s top 250 most influential Tweeters.
An enthusiastic cook, Fearne released her first cookbook in June 2016: Cook Happy, Cook Health. Her next book, Happy, talks about her own experiences of happiness (including some of the not-so-happy ones), and was published February 2017. Fearne's third book, Cook. Eat. Love, was published in June 2017.
Work aside, Fearne is a mother of 2 and continues to find time to support a range of charities with seemingly no challenge too big for her, whether it be climbing Kilimanjaro for Comic Relief, or trekking the Inca Trail for Breast Cancer Care. Fearne is an ambassador for The Prince’s Trust and also a patron for Post Pals, Tyler’s Trust and Coppafeel!, the latter of which she curates the charity’s music festival, FESTIFEEL.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
January 15, 2024
First Audiobook of 2024! Big fan of Fearne Cotton, but not a hugggeee fan of this sadly. It was okay! Nothing massively groundbreaking and didn't go into much depth (obviously, it's called Little Things). I found the 'change' chapter particularly random as it flitted between so many different types of change and it just didn't feel like it was connected properly. But it did still have some good tips in and the book worked as a good reminder of all the little ways to take care of yourself going into the new year (go for that walk...) 3/5 stars.
January 18, 2024
As a fan of the Happy Place podcast, I really loved listening to this on audiobook! Always in awe of Fearne’s way with words and loved the advice given in this 💕
January 20, 2024
4 stars for the audio, I loved listening to Fearne read this and can tell how much care and thought she put into this book. Finding Little Things at the beginning of this year feels like a timely reminder to make tiny changes.
January 16, 2024
Just finished "little things" ... What a lovely book. Now I'm quite biased when it comes to Fearne, I love all her books, I follow her Instagram and I have the happy place app. I'm a big fan I don't really think she can do any wrong. All her work within the wellbeing industry has really helped me massively so I'm super grateful that she keeps creating great resources.
As someone who was in therapy all last year and suffered through difficult times, I'm at the point where I want to become my own therapist. I don't want to keep needing therapy and books like this one are great toolkits to help you through challenging times.
This particular book is themed on stress and ways in which we can alleviate it. Fearne talks through different scenarios under the themes of demands, health, control, relationships and change, highlighting potential issues and finding little ways we can attempt to problem solve.
It's a really gentle book and like all Fearnes work it's just like talking through your problems with a friend. That's why I like her work it's easy going and sensitive in style.
I have issues with social anxiety, health problems with my IBS, I still have anxiety about work and decisions I made to leave Graphic Design, last year I moved house so that was a stressful time and my journey towards motherhood hasn't been easy. The last year has been hell for me mentally and suffering in my own head has felt impossible at times ... My confidence is next to zero at the minute and I've basically stopped being me and I've retreated while I'm trying to heal.
However this book has come at the perfect time it's like a beacon and there's definitely parts in here that spoke to me on a personal level. There's been tears and some self reflection. I need to start actioning the revival, it's time for a fresh start. ❤️
Fab book! All the stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
As someone who was in therapy all last year and suffered through difficult times, I'm at the point where I want to become my own therapist. I don't want to keep needing therapy and books like this one are great toolkits to help you through challenging times.
This particular book is themed on stress and ways in which we can alleviate it. Fearne talks through different scenarios under the themes of demands, health, control, relationships and change, highlighting potential issues and finding little ways we can attempt to problem solve.
It's a really gentle book and like all Fearnes work it's just like talking through your problems with a friend. That's why I like her work it's easy going and sensitive in style.
I have issues with social anxiety, health problems with my IBS, I still have anxiety about work and decisions I made to leave Graphic Design, last year I moved house so that was a stressful time and my journey towards motherhood hasn't been easy. The last year has been hell for me mentally and suffering in my own head has felt impossible at times ... My confidence is next to zero at the minute and I've basically stopped being me and I've retreated while I'm trying to heal.
However this book has come at the perfect time it's like a beacon and there's definitely parts in here that spoke to me on a personal level. There's been tears and some self reflection. I need to start actioning the revival, it's time for a fresh start. ❤️
Fab book! All the stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
August 2, 2024
little things
By Fearne Cotton @fearnecotton
Blurb
How to make small changes to feel better, even when under stress.
Stress is a normal part of life, but it can be overwhelming. The habits, tools and advice in these pages will help you cope better, understand your own worries, and learn how to pause and respond rather than react when life feels too much.
This is the advice I've received - the lessons I've learned in my own ups and downs, the expert conversations from my Happy Place podcast, the therapies I've tried and the habits I've created - to keep working towards good days.
By focusing on the little things, practising self-awareness, and getting creative with the exercises and simple ideas, daily tricks and practical tools in this book, you can find balance in our hectic world and unlock daily happiness.
Fearne x
🧰 Informative
🔨 Positive & Helpful
⚖️ A sense of balance
👟 Good advise
🪞Caring
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me!🤓
By Fearne Cotton @fearnecotton
Blurb
How to make small changes to feel better, even when under stress.
Stress is a normal part of life, but it can be overwhelming. The habits, tools and advice in these pages will help you cope better, understand your own worries, and learn how to pause and respond rather than react when life feels too much.
This is the advice I've received - the lessons I've learned in my own ups and downs, the expert conversations from my Happy Place podcast, the therapies I've tried and the habits I've created - to keep working towards good days.
By focusing on the little things, practising self-awareness, and getting creative with the exercises and simple ideas, daily tricks and practical tools in this book, you can find balance in our hectic world and unlock daily happiness.
Fearne x
🧰 Informative
🔨 Positive & Helpful
⚖️ A sense of balance
👟 Good advise
🪞Caring
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me!🤓
January 19, 2024
This is a must-have read for January. It’s gentle, it’s cosy and it’s uplifting. It’s a self-help book without the unrealistic “go change your life” expectations. It feels like a very down to earth human has written this (and they have!). Are there any ground breaking revelations in this book? Not really. But it covers the things that so many of us ‘forget’ to do. I’m already slowly implementing changes based upon my reading of this book and I’ll be sure to dive in and out of this book throughout the year.
April 28, 2025
This was recommended to me by my therapist, and I can honestly say it felt like the perfect summary of everything I’ve learned throughout my healing journey, over the past 10 years. It beautifully captures the core lessons from therapy, as well as the spiritual wellness techniques I’ve learned, practiced and still incorporate daily.
Whether you’re just beginning your journey toward better mental health or looking to reinforce habits you've already started building, this book is a great place to start! She covers a wide range of topics, from stress management to forming new habits, with practical advice and relatable personal stories woven throughout.
What I especially appreciated was how Cotton not only offers thoughtful insights but also provides plenty of recommendations for further reading and exploration, making it easy for readers to dive deeper into the areas that resonate most with them, which I will be!
For anyone feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or simply curious about how small shifts can lead to big changes, Little Things is an excellent starting point.
Whether you’re just beginning your journey toward better mental health or looking to reinforce habits you've already started building, this book is a great place to start! She covers a wide range of topics, from stress management to forming new habits, with practical advice and relatable personal stories woven throughout.
What I especially appreciated was how Cotton not only offers thoughtful insights but also provides plenty of recommendations for further reading and exploration, making it easy for readers to dive deeper into the areas that resonate most with them, which I will be!
For anyone feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or simply curious about how small shifts can lead to big changes, Little Things is an excellent starting point.
May 25, 2024
An essential read for me this week. I felt quite stressed out on Tuesday afternoon so to read this afterwards was an essential. I love that this made me notice stress can be a warning sign and sometimes a helpful response. It can tell us to re-evaluate our lives. Mindfulness=awareness. Step outside yourself to find a solution. I love the acknowledgement of childhood influences on pg157. The raw discussion on human emotions
February 16, 2025
Nice book about having a more balanced life.
This is not an answer for those who are anxious or stressed, you bettter seek professional help.
I guess the problem is that we don't really know that we are going in the wrong direction until it's too late. For me, one of the learnings I take for this book is about setting boundaries, knowing when and how to say no. For that, the author recommends this reading: the book of bounodaries, which I will now try to find and read.
This is not an answer for those who are anxious or stressed, you bettter seek professional help.
I guess the problem is that we don't really know that we are going in the wrong direction until it's too late. For me, one of the learnings I take for this book is about setting boundaries, knowing when and how to say no. For that, the author recommends this reading: the book of bounodaries, which I will now try to find and read.
February 24, 2024
Read quite a few self help books and similar things have been mentioned. Sometimes you need to see or be told the obvious for it to sink in and help yourself. I borrowed library book so didn't use worksheets but could be useful, remind me of when I did iapt stress course. Overall good ideas and easy to read layout
June 21, 2024
I enjoyed the book thoroughly - It’s an easy read and I relate so much to almost every single chapter and enjoyed the interviews and getting insights into how people manage stress in different aspects of life. We do not talk about stress and mental wellness and this book allowed me to learn of little yet helpful and impactful ways to maintain and boost mental wellness.
July 28, 2024
I enjoyed this book, just not as much as her book 'Speak your Truth'.
I did skip over some buts where she talked about parenting, etc, just as it doesn't pertain to me at the moment.
I have made some notes, though, that I hope to use! See how we go..I may have to come back for an update.
Quotes:
"Remember perfect cannot save us"
"Our stress cannot save us"
I did skip over some buts where she talked about parenting, etc, just as it doesn't pertain to me at the moment.
I have made some notes, though, that I hope to use! See how we go..I may have to come back for an update.
Quotes:
"Remember perfect cannot save us"
"Our stress cannot save us"
December 22, 2024
Perhaps it is because I have a lot of experience with stress or because I have listened to a lot of Happy Place podcasts but I didn't get as much from this as I have from Fearne's previous books and actually put it aside for a long time. There is definitely a lot of good practical advice here though if you are new to struggling with stress.
June 5, 2025
Reflections and lessons learned/the content of this book made me feel…
…that sometimes quick advice can be the best. Ideally all of these life skills would be studied in depth from point 1, but that’s the issue with life - it can come at you faster than we’re often prepared for. So many fantastic tips and a book to dip into at any point
…that sometimes quick advice can be the best. Ideally all of these life skills would be studied in depth from point 1, but that’s the issue with life - it can come at you faster than we’re often prepared for. So many fantastic tips and a book to dip into at any point
July 14, 2025
Was an alright book to listen to as an audio, I did feel that the long chapters could of been made into slightly shorter ones but in all honesty it was a good book to listen to.
It did help me how to focus on getting through stressful matters and boy I was impressed.
Will be keeping my eyes open for more audio books similar to this in the future.
It did help me how to focus on getting through stressful matters and boy I was impressed.
Will be keeping my eyes open for more audio books similar to this in the future.
December 3, 2025
Absolutely lovely bite sized pieces of warm, friendly support and advice for managing stress.
Always an enjoyable experience to listen to Fearne - would like to find a physical copy of the book though, as it would be great to make notes/highlight important further reading... and to be able to go over certain points.
A hug in a book :)
Always an enjoyable experience to listen to Fearne - would like to find a physical copy of the book though, as it would be great to make notes/highlight important further reading... and to be able to go over certain points.
A hug in a book :)
February 18, 2024
I’m a big fan of Fearne Cotton’s work with Happy Place as an avid listener of the podcast, I preordered the book straight away but sadly didn’t feel like it connected with me much and it took me a lot longer to get through but really enjoyed the sections that I felt did connect with me
February 25, 2024
Listen to this on audible and it was so insightful to hear Fearne talk about her own experiences and the experiences of others. I really enjoyed the positive nature of this book and how it empowers you to feel the emotion of stress and ways to deal with it so it is manageable.
March 28, 2025
Really enjoyed this easy listen. Nothing too in depth but kept light and simple ‘little things’ you can try. Nothing Fearne said sounded wildly scary or difficult. Would be great to re-listen when I have more time to do all the written exercises she suggests.
January 17, 2024
Really interesting book from Fearne , very supportive methods for all life's difficulties.
February 11, 2024
Listened to this and another great book from fearne. I am a regular listener to her podcast and I think she has a great presence
February 22, 2024
Some really nice insights and helpful techniques in this one from Fearne.
February 25, 2024
Good little reminders to remember you deserve it 🌈
October 9, 2024
Amazing!
did-not-finish
December 3, 2024Audiobook, the start of it did not grab me (narration or content) and others are waiting to listen to it so I’m returning it but might try it again in a few months when no waiting list for it.
December 16, 2024
Really interested read and made me really think about my approach to stress and challenges going forward
March 11, 2025
4.75 ⭐️
This was another fantastic book by Fearne Cotton, was very empowering and full of strategies to improve your wellbeing.
This was another fantastic book by Fearne Cotton, was very empowering and full of strategies to improve your wellbeing.
August 10, 2025
Actually really liked this book more than I expected some nice wee hints and reassurance!
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews