A 2023 Forbes Health survey reported that most New Year’s resolutions are abandoned within the first four months of the year. Sabrina Romanoff, PsyD, a clinical psychologist, attributes this to our tendency to set very specific goals, rather than general improvement, and discouragement sets in before we put the necessary time in to meet our goal. As we move into February, I wanted to share a selection of wellness titles that might just inspire us to persevere and embrace this critical moment with the confidence to keep going.
“Outlive” by Peter Attia, “Breath” by James Nestor and “Run Fast. Eat Slow.” by Shalane Flanagan and Bend local, Elyse Kopecky, are proven examples of Central Oregon health and wellness favorites, but there are so many more titles to check out that may not be on your radar yet.
In her new book, “The Let Them Theory,” Mel Robbins shares a step-by-step guide on how to stop letting other people’s opinions, drama and judgement impact your life. The book has emerged from the shadows of a late-holiday publication date to be one of the most highly requested books we’ve seen in the new year. Most know her from her podcast that averages 1 million listeners a week and employs a mix of success stories and proven science.
“Good Energy: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health” by Casey Means, MD, and Calley Means, combines powerful personal stories and cutting-edge research to reveal a bold new vision for optimizing our health now and in the future. Means argues that our metabolic function can be managed to prevent and reverse everything from depression and anxiety to diabetes, dementia, cancer, insomnia and more.
According to a 2023 NIH study, 21% of adults in the U.S. experience chronic pain. “Mind Your Body: A Revolutionary Program to Release Chronic Pain and Anxiety” by Nicole Sachs teaches readers about mind-body medicine, and explains essential practices of turning inward to explore the trauma responses associated with deeply rooted psychological and emotional triggers that send the brain and nervous system into fight or flight.
“The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness” by Robert Waldinger, MD, and Marc Schulz, PhD, is now out in paperback. It draws on the Harvard Study of Adult Development to explain the essential factor that makes for a fulfilling and satisfying life: our relationships. “The Good Life” shows it’s never too late to strengthen our current relationships, and build new ones.
“Fast Like a Girl: A Woman’s Guide to Using the Healing Power of Fasting to Burn Fat, Boost Energy, and Balance Hormones” by Mindy Pelz is a go-to fasting manual created specifically to address women’s needs based on hormones and menstrual cycles. It even includes a 30-day fasting reset to use the power of your cycle, even if you no longer have one! And speaking of women of a certain age, “The New Menopause: Navigating Your Path Through Hormonal Change with Purpose, Power, and Facts” by Mary Claire Haver embraces an empowering approach to self-advocacy for women amid hormonal change.
Are you one of Bend’s many passionate runners, or do you want to improve your running practice this year? Consider “The Art of Running: Learning to Run Like a Greek” by Andrea Marcolongo, a renowned classicist, who elaborates on how the Greeks not only invented our modern notions of sport but were also the first to understand how physical activity is connected to our mental well-being.
Valentine’s Day is around the corner, and we have a fun and informative display of books on sex set up for February. Maybe improving your sex life is on your mind in the new year, and we’d like to recommend “Come As You Are: Revised and Updated: The Surprising New Science that will Transform Your Sex Life” by Emily Nagoski that illuminates research on desire and pleasure, as well as her newest book, “Come Together: The Science (and Art!) of Creating Lasting Sexual Connection,” a book that explores how to maintain a happy sex life in a long-term relationship.
Perhaps your goals for 2025 focus more on advocacy and creating change in the world more so than self-improvement? Check out “Sage Warrior: Wake to Oneness, Practice Pleasure, Choose Courage, Become Victory” by Valarie Kaur, a civil rights leader and founder of the Revolutionary Love Project. As a sage warrior, we have the power to build community and allow our deepest wisdom to align with our words and actions, as based on the ideas of her Sikh ancestral wisdom. Or follow along with our Roundabout Community Read and discussion of the themes outlined in “Democracy in Retrograde” by Sami Sage and Emily Amick to create a personalized civic engagement plan.
Finally, sometimes all we need is a little reminder to think positively and take care of ourselves, all year long. Sourcebooks has two lovely little paperback collections: “A Year of Positive Thinking” by Cyndie Spiegel and “A Year of Self-Care” by Dr. Zoe Shaw. Both come in a small, trim size but are beautifully packaged to share daily words of wisdom and reminders to shift our perspectives toward positivity. The perfect gift for yourself, or a friend. Here’s to a fantastic 2025!
This post was originally published on here
