Kind Words for Unkind Days: A guide to surviving and thriving in difficult times

by Jayne Hardy

'This book is like a mug of hot chocolate on a cold day, a loving reminder that we are brave, capable and more than enough' Chloe Brotheridge, author of THE ANXIETY SOLUTION

'This book feels like a hug and pep talk from a friend' Sarah Turner, bestselling author of THE UNMUMSY MUM

A practical pick-me-up for life's tough days, this book is the perfect guide to help you feel happier, healthier and calmer.

We all have days where we feel like the world is getting us down. But here's the thing - you're not alone. From helping us see what strong really looks like, to what to do when you have no energy for self-care; Jayne Hardy shows us that even on our most difficult days, a little kindness can go a very long way.

With easily digestible advice and soothing messages to help you find brightness on even the darkest days, this is the book we all need. Perfect for yourself or as a gift to a family member or friend, this book is the message we all need to Be kind.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Mental Health, Poetry, Health

256 pages, Paperback

First published November 12, 2020

Reviews

[TL *Humaning the Best She Can* · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read bits of this day by day.. some more days than others. Some my brain 🧠 kind of side eyed, only because my two "monsters" (as I call my anxiety and depression) were telling me this was "bullcrap" and other things. I did my best to ignore those internal voices.

Others hit me more and..lifted my spirits, gave me hope. It's been a hard time for me..for a long time and I have am cautiously optimistic this year is going to be better.

This may seem "silly" or "generic" to some but I think this is a good one to pull out from time to time when you need encouragement or some kind sentiments.

For me this did help.

4 stars 🌟

[Kate Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an (actually) helpful and empathetic read. The bite-size chunks, mix of quotes, and contents page that allows you to pick chapters based on your area of struggle, make this a quality buy and something you can dip in and out of regularly. The reason I didn’t give it 5 stars is because the author says ‘isn’t half this and half that’ a LOT throughout, and sometimes in the same sentence. An example of this would be: ‘When we’re little, we don’t half wish our lives away … when we’re older, we don’t half wish we could relinquish … ‘. The sentences would be MUCH smoother and sweeter without this annoying reference. She also says ‘malarkey’ a little too much for my liking. Why oh why oh why? I recommend the book despite this, but for the love of GOD, why weren’t these things edited out?

[Clare Pirie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this cover-to-cover but I think I’ll pick it up every now and again to flick to specific sections if I need a positivity boost. I love reading Jayne Hardy’s books and following her on Instagram, she’s very likeable which helps you to “listen” to what she’s saying!

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up as I thought I would need it. While some parts are corny and abit too ra-ra, I was comforted by others because I am going through a tough time with my health now. Sometimes it made me emotional because it spoke to how I felt. I read it slowly each day to prolong it as I needed that. The use of "half" was pretty confusing. But I feel like the author voice leans towards British. An uplifting book with bite-size chapters. This is a good book to go back to when you need some encouragement and a boost.

[Lucy Fox · Rating 1 out of 5]

I got this book in a subscription box and was so excited as I had wanted to buy it but I’m glad I didn’t now. I wanted to like it but it’s all just a bit wishy washy and samey. I was bored within a few pages.

Possibly good for people new to self help style books but i wasn’t inspired or uplifted.

[Hasliza Rajab · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s not a book filled with advice, it’s filled with understanding.
This book came into my life like a quiet whisper of comfort. Hardy’s words are gentle, non-judgmental, and deeply affirming. Being a mother of four and a full time teacher means my days are often moving rapidly between house chores, lesson plans to prepare, children to care for, and endless responsibilities. And some days, I came across a through that made me reflect, "Have I done enough today?". And that exact moment, I picked up this book.

"You can, and you will, get through this. You absolutely do have what it takes. You are strong and brave. You are deserving of all the wonderfulness there is".

"The strength you possess that gets you through tough days, that's mightiness".

These lines especially stayed with me. It reminded me that even when the dishes are piled up, or when I feel like I didn’t do enough at school or at home, I am still doing good enough. Because, words from this books remind me that being tired doesn’t mean I'm failing, it means I'm human. It’s okay to take a step back without guilt. Remember, it's not a selfish to take a rest. It’s necessary for me to show up for my children and my students with love and energy.

Her words are like soft whispers for weary hearts. No pressure needed. No loud motivation required. Just gentle reminders that we are allowed to rest, to feel, to breathe.

“I don’t need to push through everything. Sometimes, holding space for myself is enough”.

Hence, I would love to recommend this book to anyone who needs emotional support, gentle encouragement, or simply a reminder that they’re not alone. Especially those who managing young children, housework, and careers. And those who juggling deadlines, admin work (Yes, teachers also do admin works you know), and personal life. This book offers them the kindness they rarely give themselves. Not to forget those who are going through anxiety, depression, grief, or low days will find comfort in its soft language and kind affirmations. It doesn't come with the purpose to fix, but rather to simply sit with them.

[Lexie Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall I think this is one of my favorite self-motivation books. It kept it really real while we all have good days we will have bad days too and to embrace it. A lot of the material wasn't super repetitive which I enjoy! I think this is a must read for those who are dealing with hard times or who maybe know someone who is!

I could relate to a lot of the material and kept taking quotes from it because the author fluently puts things that don't sound over-cliche or like they copied a bunch of quotes off pinterest! I appreciated the flow of the whole book.

[Mousellina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read it when I needed it, throughout a span a couple of years (I kept forgetting I had it). I found this book very helpful. Not life changing, but helpful. It’s like a kind friend who is always there when you are feeling down. The table of contents helps you to find a chapter that is most relevant to your situation at any given time.

[Sisca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loving the pockets of wisdom throughout the book. Must have especially for women with demanding lifestyle, be it full time moms, career, studies or just stuck in a bad environment. You can turn the pages again when you need some encouragement.

[Katie Sapphire-Star · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many positive words in just one book! It's perfect for picking up and finding specific advice, unless you have the Kindle version like me which makes it more difficult. I just read it cover to cover and found myself uplifted each time I read it. And plenty of useful advice too.

[Kelly Lou 🐝 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot recommend this book enough! What a little gem 💎 The way we talk to ourselves really does impact all aspects of life. As a mindfulness advocate I urge everybody that wants to grow to have a copy of this in their homes 🕊️💗

[Yuval Levy · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing

This book helped me through a lot, it has everything a person needs to hear to feel a little better and hope for a brighter future

[Fiona · Rating 2 out of 5]

The words are kind but I guess depending on your particular situation, vary in their effectiveness. I found them rather glib and one size fits all to be of any lasting help or depth.

[Lisa]

Too corny for me. It felt like Ned Flanders/Ted Lasso vocabulary with corny sentiments. I’d read a Ted Lasso self help book, though. This just didn’t work for me.

[Sascha Griffiths · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a nice pick-me-up. It's got very short "one-page-y" chapters. Most of it is common sense.

[Les · Rating 3 out of 5]

I so wanted this to be better than it was. I didn’t really feel like I benefitted from the content. Each to their own, I suppose.

[Charlotte Weir]

F

[Jess Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still dipping in n out of this for nice little kind morsels every now n then 🌤️

[Lucy Lowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Kindness transforms, it encourages and it connects humanity."
- Jayne Hardy, Kind Words for Unkind Days

This book had some beautiful sentiments and left me with a very calm feeling after reading. Each section has words for when you feel certain emotions and within that the advice is in sections. This layout made this book especially engaging and useful. I would recommend if you like books exploring mental health!

[Paula_liest_buecher · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,5⭐️