The Little Book of Self-Care: Restore | Recharge | Flourish

by Joanna Gray

" To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance. "
Oscar Wilde

When pursuing your dreams and a joyous, fulfilling life, self-care isn't just beneficial, it's essential. More than just a fad, self-care is a way to nurture the soul, feel secure in your own skin and restore yourself to optimum health, both mentally and physically. Despite this, self-care isn't always at the top of everyone's to-do list and often becomes an afterthought in our busy lives.

The Little Book of Self-Care shows you how to take time for yourself, keep stress at bay and take control of your mental health. Through restorative tips, positive quotes and inspiring exercises, learn how to untangle your busy life, embrace your wellbeing and fall back in love with yourself.

Genres: Self Help

192 pages, Hardcover

Published January 7, 2020

Reviews

[Dr. Appu Sasidharan (Dasfill) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summary

“Self care is an act of self-respect.”

This book tells us the importance of putting ourselves first on our priority list. Self-care is not selfish and not a luxury but a necessity that is fundamental to happier moods and reduced stress and anxiety. The author is trying to get our basics correct to make our life more productive. She is introducing some new concepts too, which most of us are not familiar with.

“Self-care can be interpreted in terms of airline safety. You have to put on the oxygen mask first before being able to care others.”

What I learned from this book
1) The importance of taking a break
In order to make us sanguine despite all the setbacks of our lives, a break is inevitable. It will help us to disconnect and relax. The author tells us to take initial steps to begin journeys that will rejuvenate us dynamically.

“We don’t receive wisdom; we must discover it for ourselves after a journey that no one can take for us...- Marcel Proust”

2) The art of simplification
Keeping it simple is an art that only a few can master. Many concepts like decluttering, kaizen, minimalism all points out to this simplification. The author says that decluttering will allow you more time to discover what you want and help you take life in your chosen direction.

“* Delete
* Cancel
* Recycle
* Unsubscribe”

3) Different methods of self care
Here the author explains to us simple methods that can change your life.
- Getting up 15 minutes earlier than usual can set you on course for a tranquil, controlled day.
- Meditation and ten best apps for it like the Headspace
- Eye care with the 20-20-20 rule (Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds) and the name of some famous vloggers who will help us in maintaining eye care.
- Skincare, haircare, menstrual care, and sexual care
- How to know whether we are having a good sleep
- The importance of hydration
- Stroking dogs and cats has been proven to release all the happy hormones, including serotonin, prolactin, and oxytocin, necessary to help reduce blood pressure and flood our bodies with feelings of pleasure.

“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light."

4) The Swedish art of Fika
This is an interesting concept that we can all try to follow.

"Fika is the art of taking a coffee with friends. The daily ritual of Fika is all about slowing down and connecting with the people you care about. ”

5) Lebanese Rose water and tradition associated with it
This is the said to be secret why the Lebanese always look young.

"There is a Lebanese tradition of drinking white tea- a mixture of hot water and rose water. Owing to its antioxidants rose water is said to reduce inflammation, acne, and wrinkles."

6) German hydrotherapy or the Kneipp Therapy
This is a natural water therapy pioneered by Bavarian priest, Sebastian Kneipp along the River Danube in the 19th century

“It is hot and cold contrast water therapy practised in the German spa tradition.”

7) Turkish Hammam
Hammam is the other word for Turkish spa. Turkish people are said to be the best in the art of spa.

“Turkish hammam is the conglomeration of spa, massage and all type of special skin care provided by Turkish people.”

8) Bulgarian Youghurt
Bulgaria is one of the countries with the largest number of people living over the age of 100.

“The secret of longevity of the Bulgarians are the thick, unctuous, fatty yoghurt. It teems with Lactobacillus bulgaricus probiotic that promotes digestive health and boosts the immune system and is eaten with almost every meal in Bulgaria."

9) Shrinrin-yoku Japanese forest bathing
Shrinrin-yoku or forest bathing is formally encouraged by the Japanese government.

"Tackling both mental and physical health, forest bathing is an easy and free method of seeking a calmer, more centered sense of self. Phytoncides released by trees are believed to improve people's immunity during forest bathing."

10) Norwegian friluftsliv
It should be pronounced as free-loofts-liv.

“Friluftsliv refers to the idea of open-air living or free air life. Norwegian companies encourage their staff to take afternoons off to walk or trek outside. They believe that spending time outside like kayaking to campfires enhances fitness and friendships and brings a fresh burst of stability to your life."

11) Never regret
We have to spend our money judiciously. But that doesn't mean we have to become a miser.

“Never regret spending money on items and experiences that enhance your every day like
* An excellent haircut
* A lovely winter coat
* Direct flights
* A functioning smoothly working smartphone.”

My favourite three lines from this book

“Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.- Plato”

“Remember you have two hands, one for helping others and the other for helping yourself.”

“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.”

What I didn’t like in this book
This book was too basic in the initial part. We will get new concepts only after page 76. I wish the author could have introduced some more unique ideas in the book's initial part.

Rating
3/5 This is an interesting book which tries to get our basics right and introduces us some new concepts. This is apt for a cosy winter weekend read.

[caro · Rating 5 out of 5]

cozy af

[Serena Jane Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a cute little book, with some thought provoking self care actions we should all take. Love the quotes that are in it. This would be an ideal gift for a someone needing some self care. Beautifully presented too x

[Satveer Kaur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Small but very informing. It was really what I needed to motivate myself, especially during the time of Covid 19. It got my mind off the negative things and to the positive, and it was a really quick read as in I read the book in less than 30 minutes. Its really motivating and 100% recommended. It focuses on focusing on the small steps towards something rather than trying to jump and make it there. It focuses on yourself and how to make yourself a better version of yourself.
Some notes that I took during reading this book:

S:sleep
E:Eat
L:Listen
F:Forgive

C:Chat
A:Accept
R:Relax
E:Exercise

-Simple habit- meditation
-Look up, ceiling sky clouds
-Look CLOSELY at a flower or a feather
-Look in a mirror motivate yourself
-Breathe
-Clean up while vibing to music
-Spend time in silence to think
-Shower thoughts
-Ask yourself if you're okay, do you need a break, am I working too much, how am I feeling, what keeps me up at night? What is my body trying to tell me?
- wash your face, when you wake up and when you sleep GENTLY
-Light candles, soothing music, lock the door and self care/ shower/ silence/ massage
-Dark chocolate during period
-Movie night during period
- Lit up a Candle
-Exercise
-Walk every night
-Apply moistening cream
Highly recommended! Its worth it!

[Elizabeth Bruhn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed the book, it was a very quick, simple, and light read. My favorite part of the book is actually the design. I like how small it is and easy to read so that you can bring it wherever and read it whenever you feel you need a reminder to take care of yourself. I liked the quotes are the topics discussed within the book very much. However, it felt very choppy and uncoordinated. It went from one topic to the next with no correlation or transition. Sometimes it would talk about a topic, quote something completely irrelevant to the topic, and then within the next page, return back to the topic. Overall the practicality outweighs the actual book. 3/5 stars or 6/10 stars.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a cute cosy little book! I really enjoyed the little encouragements and general self care tips and recommendations it gave throughout <3

Also really nice to read in the evening when you don’t want something too heavy and long, or just want to be able to pick up and drop off as and when. Took lots of pics of things I’ll definitely be implementing more and more into my daily life 🥰

[Ying Tse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this at a Vinnies store seen sitting on the top of the shelf. The little book contains a lot of wisdom and reminders to people in the hustle the importance of self-care and what self-care means in a personal and cultural context.

[Piggy_xo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is helpful, quirky, and calming.

The style of writing chosen by the author makes it easy to read in one sitting. It is a helpful book that gives hidden little gems of how to relax and de-stress.

[Samm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will for sure come back to this one and go through the pages needed at that time, but this has given me a lot of things to appreciate and look at. I will take some of the recommendations and examples in this book and bring them to life for myself.

[Gabriela Potosme · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great quotes easy read and meditative

[Mikayla Ruggles · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this in a few hours one night as a spur of the moment, coffee table, read. Did it change my life? No. Did it give me something to focus on and present a few good reminders? Certainly.

[Kirsten Gorter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mooie reminders om te lezen wanneer je na 2,5 jaar toch echt de rona hebt.

[Talon Crist · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this little book! There’s bits and pieces of other self care practices from other cultures and countries that I found helpful and enjoyable to add into my daily life