An Invitation to Self-Care: Why Learning to Nurture Yourself is the Key to the Life You've Always Wanted

by Tracey Cleantis

Too often, we settle for the notion that self-care means giving ourselves treats and rewards for good behavior. But it’s so much more than that. Welcome to the self-care revolution! 

A day of indulgence at a spa—or at home on the couch—might help us unwind and feel temporarily renewed, but is that all there is to self-care? In this book Tracey Cleantis changes the dialogue and shows why real self-care is more than just routine self-indulgence—it’s a lifelong practice that’s essential to finding fulfillment and joy.

An Invitation to Self-Care uncovers seven principles for care that are rooted in self-empowerment and self-knowledge. Through personal stories and observations, exercises and quizzes, and interviews with experts and everyday people, Tracey invites you to consider self-care across your relationships, finances, spiritual and professional life—and more. By accepting who we are, what we need, and how those needs evolve over time, we create space for self-care’s transformational magic in our lives. In fact, an authentic self-care practice is the secret to the life you’ve always wanted.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Mental Health

255 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 4, 2017

Reviews

[Gerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great overview into what is self-care

I had a conversation with my therapist about self-care and realized I didn’t have a good definition of what that actually means. This book helped me define it. Lots of good tips, but found the later chapters to be repetitive without much to take away for me personally.

[Abigail Chan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this as a burnout group at work. Good!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alright, I really like this book. Why? Because in the deluge of what many consider self-care (spa trips, pedicures, shopping sprees) Cleantis makes a wonderful argument that real self-care is way more simple and includes eating, moving and sleeping right, being creative and meditative and having grace and honesty with yourself when it comes to what you want and what you’re putting into your one and only precious life.

This books also features questions to facilitate your progress and a bibliography that proves the author is maybe the best-read in her subject that I’ve come across in a long time.

For a fraction of the cost of your self-care laser skin peel or girls’ night cosmopolitans, you could be holding true change and enlightenment in your hand. Buy it.

[Katrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

We all know we need self-care in our lives, but I've always been a little fuzzy on what that really means. This book does a spectacular job at presenting the concepts of caring for ourselves in a variety of ways: physically, emotionally, financially, while at work and during leisure, in intimate relationships and everyday interactions with others. It's not sugary or judgmental, but balanced, flexible and very down to earth.

[Rubi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book, I appreciated the way she presented her view point. Realistically for some of us is hard to permit self care and it might seem over indulgent for some but we all have different needs. Very good book to help address the distorted perceptions we might have on self-care.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most useful books in a flooded market on self-care focused works. The biggest and most helpful difference is that the author actually describes how to do self-caring things, rather than just reaffirm that self-care matters. She uses a “white magic” and “black magic” metaphor that works really well for my geeky brain, and points out that needs get met in one way or another...and awareness and attention mean that we each can nudge some of our black magic behaviors into something healthier. I see myself referring back to this one over time. Five stars for doing what so many others have tried and failed to do.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

AN INTRODUCTION TO SELF-CARE is the perfect guide to what self-care is, how it can be used for good and ill, and how to implement it into your life. Complete with sub-categories for each area of your life--body, mind, work, and money are a few--and questionnaires that force you to consider your own circumstances and possible strategies, this book gives you the tools to make changes in addition to explaining why you should. Definitely going to need to pick up a copy for myself at some point, because I could see myself referring back to this again, and again, and again.

[Mandalyn Castanon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! It was recommended to me by my therapist and it really changed the way I see self care. I’m a therapist myself and it was eye opening to think about all the different kinds of self care and how it’s not just “little treats” here and there. Self care is a daily practice and an investment in yourself 💜

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really appreciated the useful examples, suggestions, and self-quizzes in this helpful reminder about why Self Care is so important, and ways to accomplish more self care in all our lives. Highly recommended.

[Hayden Epp · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the mix I expected of annoying me and actually making me think about my own self-care practises. Some parts felt more useful than others. It was fine. If I could give this 2.5 stars, I would have.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this from Goodreads first reads and this book is an excellent read. It will help you with things you didn't know you needed help on.

[Gladys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book in three hours and it was exactly what I needed at the moment. Such a great read!

[Gloria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Provides a lot of thoughtful material for self-care considerations. A bit wordy and uses some phrases that are a bit offputting such as white magic, etc.

[Rabbit {Paint me like one of your 19th century gothic heroines!} · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5

[Shana Garrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed it!

Good read with many, and reasonable, applications to help anyone develop their first or latest, self care program. Definitely a recommended read!

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great resource for clinicians or people interested in practicing more positive self care techniques

[Lucas · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was not written for my demographic

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Practical and realistic suggestions and lots of self-evaluation questions to help focus on various elements of self-care. Also really liked the tone, not at all preachy.

[Lisa Manterfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

If self-care feels like one more thing you must do, do yourself a big favor and pick up this book. With humor and real-world frankness, Tracey Cleantis offers expert insight into what self-care is, what it isn’t, and how to realistically move yourself up your already-full priority list. From the very first chapter, you’ll learn how to treat yourself with respect and make better decisions about the way you care for your most valuable asset…you.

I was fortunate enough to be offered an ARC of this book and was so pleased I did. This is a book I will go back to over and over again.