No matter how put together our lives might appear on our carefully curated Instagram feeds — you know, the ones with the cute, well-behaved children, good-looking partners and matching socks — they can be really messy. Raising kids inherently means we have to put ourselves second (or maybe third or fourth …) and a lot of things we used to prioritize fall to the wayside.
Self-care is a concept growing in popularity and we love it! When you’re a mom, you need to take care of yourself, so you’re at your best when it comes to taking care of everyone else. On that note, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite self-help books for moms. Not only are they chock-full of helpful advice for every area of your life, simply taking the time to relax and read is great self-care practice!
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'Postpartum Depression and Anxiety: A Self-Help Guide for Mothers'
Postpartum depression is gradually getting more attention as moms of all stripes – from the regular to the famous – speak out about their own experience. Postpartum Depression and Anxiety: A Self-Help Guide for Mothers mines 30 years and thousands of women’s stories to put forth a guide that new moms can use to help them as they cope with what is undeniably a difficult, confusing time in their journeys.
'Becoming: A Guided Journal for Discovering Your Voice'
We’d take any advice that comes from a former first lady who handled her role as wife, mother, and generally kick-ass woman with as much grace as Michelle Obama. If you read her best-selling book, Becoming, or even if you haven’t yet (do it!), this journal is a wonderful tool you can use to examine and enhance your life. Filled with questions and quotes to inspire reflection, it’s a simple way to take stock and effect change.
'Talking to Strangers'
Best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell is known for his deep dives into humanity’s pysche and his latest book, Talking to Strangers, is no exception. Through in-depth review of some well-known scandals and events, he lays out ways in which we’re miscommunicating and as a result, causing conflict. Any mom could benefit from lessons in effective communication. As a bonus, Gladwell released it as an audiobook, so you can listen in the car, while cooking dinner or soaking in the tub.
'The Best Damn Answers to Life's Hardest Questions'
Being a mom means you get asked some tough questions. Coming up with the right answer isn’t always easy. For help, look no further than this hilarious book with illustrated flowcharts for life’s most burning questions. Best Damn Answers to Life’s Hardest Questions might not give you the tools to have “the talk” with your pre-teen, but it will make you laugh and feel better about being a grown-up who’s still figuring out how to adult.
'Fat Girl Walking'
Gestating a little human inside us for nine months has a tendency of drastically changing our bodies. For the mom who gave birth last week or five years ago, and is still struggling with body image after creating a brand-new life (!), Fat Girl Walking is the uplifting, empowering self-help book you need.
'The Self-Care Prescription'
The tagline says it all: “Powerful Solutions to Manage Stress, Reduce Anxiety, and Increase Well-Being.” We can’t think of any mom who couldn’t use some of the solutions proposed in The Self-Care Prescription. With tools to help you create your own plan for personal fulfillment and resources for coping with life’s unavoidable stressors, it’s the perfect self-help book for moms everywhere.
