New Books for New Year Resolutions ...

Have you been thinking about New Year's resolutions?  Here are some books that might help: 

THE MINDFUL WAY TO A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP by Tzivia Gover, Director of the Institute for Dream Studies, offers some workable and useful information in order to sleep more deeply. Gover writes, “This isn’t simply a book to read. This is a book to do.”  From there, she advocates trying just some of the exercises and writing prompts – keeping what works and moving on from the rest.  In various sections, such as one titled “create your sleep sanctuary,” she offers suggestions about getting comfortable, using soothing scents and light reading to promote restful sleep. In addition, there are several methods for incorporating mindfulness (being grateful as you make your bed each day or washing away worries and regrets when brushing your teeth or following some of the breathing exercises). We have been doing some mindfulness exercises at school and I can see possibly incorporating some of these (like the quietest sound, p. 53).  If you are looking for sleep help, you may already be aware of several of her ideas and a significant portion of the book is devoted to dreams, with suggestions for keeping a dream journal and for understanding dream language.  The final section is about waking up well; throughout her book, Gover includes quotes like Rainer Maria Rilke’s “Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves.”  

MEDITATION FOR FIDGETY SKEPTICS by Dan Harris is a follow-up to his 10% Happier (2014) which has been recommended to me after a presentation on “Less Stress” resources at the AASL national conference this year. There is a bit of a snarky tone (I drew it; deal with it … ew), but that also seems to be an attempt to add some humor and better connect with the reader. I do like that there is a feeling of acceptance: “I began my meditation practice slowly, with just five to ten minutes a day…. (and frankly, if you can only find time for one minute a day, you can count that as a win.)”

In addition, he stresses the importance of giving yourself permission to fail, including knowing that you need to re-focus your mind again and again (and again). Throughout this text, there are the stories from a road trip where he and co-writers travelled around the US, exploring the benefits of (and challenges to) meditation with others like radio show hosts and former prison inmates. I am curious to read more of Harris’ comments about how meditation has helped relieve his anxiety and decreased the inclination to act impulsively. Harris was recently interviewed on NPR and Publishers Weekly called this a “clever guide.” There are several meditations included in MEDITATION FOR FIDGETY SKEPTICS, plus a section with resources to help keep meditating.

And New Harbinger Publications produces numerous books related to this topic; I especially liked The Grit Guide for Teens.  Another recent title is MINDFULNESS FOR TEEN WORRY. Written by Jeffrey Bernstein, it is filled with “quick and easy strategies to let go of anxiety, worry, and stress.”  Bernstein talks directly to teens, often quoting those he has interviewed and offering visual cues like a section where he suggests using your hand to visualize how your brain works.  He talks further about how worry often gets in the way, wastes energy and even makes people ill. He acknowledges that teens already know how to be mindful (listening to music, walking outside) and encourages them to practice “the power of the present moment” with intention, attention and attitude. There are entire chapters titled “the beginner’s mindfulness toolkit” as well as “getting back in control by letting go.”  Throughout, there are numerous “try it!” sections with suggested activities; some of them (like the body scan), we have already used in advisory. MINDFULNESS FOR TEEN WORRY is another helpful look at an important topic.

The Grit Guide for Teens

I recently previewed THE GRIT GUIDE FOR TEENS written by Caren Baruch-Feldman, a certified school psychologist. While only about 150 pages, the book contains roughly two dozen activities to help teens understand grit, set effective goals and make grit a habit. It is written in a positive, conversational tone and talks, for example, about different types of grit or resilience (academic, social, wellness, extracurricular, and emotional) while providing profiles of various students to further illustrate its points.  A few years ago, I used Sean Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens with a Special Education class and can readily see where THE GRIT GUIDE FOR TEENS will be of interest to both students and faculty, especially to Social Work, Special Education and Advisor Chairs.  

The publisher says this work is research-based and that “studies show that grit isn’t something you have to be born with it can be taught and learned!” They also provide online resources and worksheets for parents and teachers. I am looking forward to pursuing this work with others; as Baruch-Feldman notes, “First, shake your head no. How does that make you feel? Now nod your head yes. How did that feel?” THE GRIT GUIDE FOR TEENS will be a valuable addition to our resources on mindset, stress management, and mindfulness.

Vitamin N by Richard Louv

It is difficult to believe that Richard Louv’s Last Child in the Woods was published almost a decade ago and we are still (perhaps even more so) in need of awareness and action around nature-deficit disorder. Louv attempts to further address this gap with his newest book, Vitamin N: the essential guide to a nature-rich life, which contains over 500 nature centered activities for children and adults.

Louv is an enthusiastic proponent of the benefits of nature and is straightforward in addressing potential barriers and concerns such as living in an urban area, limited time, or budget constraints. He clearly practices what he preaches as he describes activities with his own children. Be a bird counter, a star-gazer or a plant salvager or gardener. Ride a horse, paddle a kayak or visit a zoo. Due to the great deal of variety in the activities that Louv presents, parents, educators, and volunteers will find much to explore with children in their care. An extensive bibliography is provided and numerous organizations are highlighted.  Vitamin N received a starred review from Booklist.