Reading can introduce you to new concepts to improve your life. I focus on self-improvement and optimizing my health. Here is how books can help, and which ones I recommend for your wellness journey.
By Jayne Turner – Staff Writer
How it Changed My Life
Reading books on wellness is the best way to acquire new habits. They allow you to build a framework of understanding. You can keep what works for you and forget the rest.
Short-form content can be nice to quickly watch, but it can be confusing. When you’re missing the big picture message, advice is less impactful. It is also less personal.
Additionally, books on wellness are usually backed by research, real data, and clinical experience. They don’t push fad diets or sponsored supplements, just cold, hard facts. Reading itself is a healthy habit!
Become your own wellness expert by picking up a book. It is hard work, but you deserve health
advice that will work, not just the latest trend.
Here are some of my favorite wellness books!
The Telomere Effect by Drs. Elizabeth Blackburn and Elissa Epel
Telomeres are protective caps at the ends of our chromosomes that are made of DNA sequences. They protect our genetic material and act as a biological clock, shortening slightly with each cell division.
This book explains how telomere health is related to factors like stress, diet, exercise, and relationships. Though this book is slightly biology-heavy, it gives you an active role in your cellular health. It empowered me to take care of the smallest units that make up my body!
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Habits can be hard to build, and even harder to break. This book provides a practical system for habit change. Rather than vague New Year’s resolutions like “lose weight” or “drink more water,” habits are reframed as a part of you.
Tiny improvements stick long-term when you have a responsibility to them. Health isn’t something that happens to you; it is a choice you make every day!
Also check out: How to Succeed in Online Classes
Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker, Ph.D.
I love sleep. Seriously, nine to ten hours of sleep a night is my ideal. This book explains why sleep is non-negotiable for long-term health. It has a foundational role in mood, memory, metabolism, and disease prevention. Sleep is necessary for productivity.
I’ve always heard that if you have to decide between staying up late to study and getting a full night’s rest before a test, you’re actually better off getting the rest. It’s science!
Lost Connections by Johann Hari
This book discusses the important impact of our social environment on our health. Feeling lost and disconnected? This book explains why and how to get back on the horse. I believe that no one feels 100% all the time. This book helped me understand why, to give myself some grace.
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Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain by John J. Ratey, M.D.
This book reframes exercise beyond weight or appearance. It gives science-backed reasons why exercise works as a cognitive enhancer and mood booster. After reading this book, I use exercise to enhance my mental energy. I learn better, feel better, and protect my brain through daily mindful movement.
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Author: Jayne Turner is a freelance writer from Los Angeles, California. She has a bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience with an emphasis on language and cognition. She has ten years of musical theatre experience and a lifelong love of reading. Utterly excited by the brain, she brings a fresh Gen Z perspective to the topics that intrigue us most.
