Be You, Only Better: Real-Life Self-Care for Young Adults

by Kristi Hugstad, Tami Tucker (Foreword)

Along with all the perks of becoming an adult come challenges and the need to learn skills that help you self-regulate as you venture into new experiences. Highlighting five key areas of life — physical, mental, emotional, social, and financial — Be You, Only Better offers science- and experience-backed tools and easy-to-implement techniques for success. Skill-building and self-care practices — such as journaling, getting enough sleep and exercise, embracing nature, managing time and money, and practicing gratitude, mindfulness, and optimism — are presented, and each is illustrated with the story of a real young person. These practices will help you create a resilient foundation for your powerful future. You’ll discover a wonderfully accessible lifeline and a realistically inspiring guide to leading — and loving — your best possible life.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction

168 pages, Paperback

Published March 16, 2021

About the author

I was devastated that I couldn't save Bill, but I wasn't going to let his suicide take me down with it. In the wake of epic grief, my life has a new trajectory. I discovered a deep desire to inspire and help those in need, not just physically but emotionally, psychologically, and even spiritually.

Reviews

[Naima Mehamed · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book was very good. It gave good tips on how to take good care of yourself and talked about things most teens struggle with nowadays like sleep, money management, and eating healthy. The book had short stories for the different topics of the book. I wished the stories were a bit longer and more developed.

[Brigitte · Rating 1 out of 5]

Full of opinions such as:

If your boyfriend puts school before you, he only wants to use you for sex.

Eating 2 bananas a day is so much sugar you’ll get clinical depression. (Because Women should only eat 25g of sugar a day apparently)

Having sugary coffee everyday will cause you financial insecurity. Financial insecurity will make you clinically depressed, AND the sugar in the coffee will make you clinically depressed, so don’t drink that coffee. Actually, don’t drink coffee at all.

Don’t snack while working.

Meditate, even if you find it overwhelming and it makes you anxious.

If your boyfriend breaks your picket fence because he gets a parking ticket, be patient, he will get better, he’s just a little distracted by his thoughts.

Get 9 hours of sleep a night, but also get up early to journal, eat only protein for breakfast, practice your sport or exercise because otherwise you’re going to feel bad about yourself, and meditate.

[Marya · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book is very well organized, and I love organized! Unfortunately, it's lackluster too. Within the 12 neat categories of self-care are a quick story, tips on how to go about it, and a "what the science says" section. I know this is a book meant for teens, but each of those sections are far too short to use productively. The quick story is about the girl who realized she needed to work out one day and just started doing it one day. The tips on money management includes not spending more than you make. And what the science says covers a mismatch of science journals and popular websites. To be cliche, if everyone could do it, everyone would and there would be no need for this book!

[Ziv · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are looking for a self-help book then this is a good book. This book really goes through the very basic physical and mental health practices that can make your life easier and better and it really focuses on one per chapter. It is short enough not to make you super board and it has good advice and backs up the science to go with it. I thought it was good but at the time of reading it, I really wasn't too in need of a self-help book so that is why I gave it 3 stars because I thought the book was good and had really good advice.

[Jezzeri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Write it down: journaling connects you with your inner self and helps you develop good habits of self-reflection. Journaling allows you to connect with and learn about yourself, to reflect on your strengths and weaknesses, and to consider how to improve yourself. Get good sleep. Get up and move. Embrace nature. Cut down on sugar. Manage your time. Manage your money. Have healthy relationships. Be mindful. Be grateful. Hope.

[Pauline · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s meant well, but do not tell young girls to start tracking everything you eat including grams of sugar unless you want them to develop a fear of food and an eating disorder. I would have considered gifting this book to younger students until that chapter. It’s also all from a pretty privileged point of view.

[Rida · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know what a lot of these people are talking about, I love this book and I, my friend, am a VERY picky reader. Especially when they are self-help books. But I was definitely moved and touched by this book. It helped me figure things out and I was so happy that I actually bought the book and highlighters and I plan on highlighting gems so I can go back to them whenever needed. =D

[Lys Anzia]

Working with the brain, and the balance of the body itself, Kristi Hugstad has brought the best options to youth who are juggling life. Taking care of the self is really important for high school & collage aged kids. This book is full of lots of great reading for youth and adults too.

[Kevin Ouellette · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is great. I love the message of the book, which is to improve each and everyone in the world. It also preaches how bettering yourself will help the people around you. I recommend anyone this book. Whether your successful or you are depressed I recommend it.

Kevin Ouellette

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This could be helpful for the young adult contingent.

[Daja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast easy read with really good basic concepts on how to self care. I’d definitely recommend!

[Kelly Sextro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kind of all over the place but really good content