2018 is the year of living well. More and more, employers understand that people with a healthy work-life balance have more to give at work. And finally, the stigma of guilt surrounding self-care is being abandoned. We're learning to embrace the simple truth that taking care of your own health first, both physical and mental, is what enables you to be there for others.
With all this in mind, we're kicking off the GMS LivingWell Book Club. To start, we've hand-picked three inspiring and motivating books that can help you find better balance and wellness in your daily life.
We've rounded up three great books to help you live well.
Check out the descriptions and links to each book we've provided below. We're also giving you links to TED talks or podcasts each author has given to help you get even more out of your new reads.
Let us know how you enjoyed the books on our Facebook page or by tweeting @GMSLivingWell. We can't wait to hear your thoughts. Whether you prefer old-fashioned paper books, your e-reader or listening to audiobooks on your commute, we hope our picks inspire you to live well this year.
'The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are,' by Brene Brown
In our stress-filled modern world, we're often told that who we are is not enough. Every job interview asks us what our weaknesses are, every advertisement plays on our insecurities - not to mention all the feelings of inadequacy that can come with social media. Brene Brown, a social work research professor at the University of Houston, has a powerful message to counter all this noise: Have the courage to be who you truly are. In "The Gifts of Imperfection," she challenges readers to look inward, stop comparing themselves to others and finally have the bravery to feel that who they are is enough. Brown has given two TED talks on her inspiring message and does videos and podcasts for Oprah's network, OWN, on which she also offers an online course that accompanies "The Gifts of Imperfection."
'Designing Your Life,' by Bill Burnett
Far too often, we take the backseat to our own lives, feeling our hopes, dreams and ideal lifestyle is just out of reach. Bill Burnett, executive director of the design program at Stanford University, takes a different approach in his book, "Designing Your Life." Burnett says that we can use the principles of design thinking - those used to create user-friendly products like smartphones and furniture - to create a life that fits our specific needs and unleashes joy. Bill has given some fantastic TEDxStanford talks - check them out here.
'The Happiness Advantage,' by Shawn Anchor
There's a lot of talk these days about the importance of being happy, but few guides on tangible steps for achieving it. Harvard University lecturer Shawn Anchor rides to the rescue with his best-selling book, "The Happiness Advantage." He rejects the typical things that society tells us will make us happy - a fancy house, a nice car, a higher level job - and instead presents seven principles of positive psychology that can change the way we think and help us find real, lasting happiness. Anchor's message has struck a chord - he's given a TED talk on his research and has been featured on Oprah's podcast twice.
We hope you join us in kicking off the GMS LivingWell Book Club with these three inspiring reads - we can't wait to hear how they've motivated you to build a beautiful, fulfilling life!