Intellectual self-care refers to taking care of one’s desire to understand, learn, and be curious. Like the other categories of self-care, intellectual self-care improves overall wellness.
This post continues a regular blog series where I will feature a collection of caregiving and/or self-care books. Check out this latest bundle of books.
As a bonus, I always include my latest favorite ‘Just for Fun’ read – this one may creep you out but will definitely captivate your attention!
The Sudden Caregiver: A Roadmap for Resilient Caregiving by Karen Warner Schueler, MAPP
Description: Karen became a sudden caregiver when her late husband was diagnosed with stage IV cancer. Her experiences and professional training help coach the family caregiver (who she calls “hidden pillars” without our healthcare system), toward a proactive and pragmatic caregiving role.
What You’ll Learn
- How to accept the caregiving role and better prepare for unpleasant events
- The Caregivers Paradox: caregiving can suck AND have a positive impact on your well-being
- Specific and creative ways people have helped her
- Tools to practice and build resilience
Also Noteworthy
- You can find resources to accompany the book’s teachings on Karen’s website.
- Karen is an executive coach and consultant. She has a gift for taking complex things (like caregiving!) and breaking them down into actionable insights and visible steps. She also received her Master’s degree in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania.
The Caregiving Journey: Information, Guidance, Inspiration by Debbie Howard
Ideal Reader: An adult child who is caring for an older adult and needs help particularly with end-stage caregiving conversations and organization.
Description: A supportive guide, infused with personal stories, that will help you and your care recipient create a practical plan to guide you both with love and peace.
What You’ll Learn
- Specific questions to ask your loved one about what they want to be true when they can no longer live independently
- How to recognize and cope with negative emotions such as anger, resentment, and disappointment
- Strategies to relaunch your life after caregiving ends
- How governments and companies worldwide are currently supporting caregivers
Also Noteworthy
- Each chapter ends with ‘key takeaways’ which not only sums up the main points of the chapter but also is a quick source to refer back upon for a refresher.
Air Mask: Poems of Passion, Love, Life & Survival by Vanita Oelschlager
Ideal Reader: Spousal family caregiver, particularly one caring for someone with Multiple Sclerosis, who enjoys poetry.
Description: A collection of over fifty poems that the author often jotted down in the middle of the night. We get a glimpse of Vanita’s vulnerable thoughts, fears, and the changes brought upon by her caregiving role. Vanita dedicates this book ‘to whatever it is that keeps us going without losing ourselves on the way.’
What You’ll Learn
- You’ll identify glimpses of yourself in many of Vanita’s poems for example this one:
The Rapids
Our lives are like rivers
Winding their way to the source
Sometimes life’s easy
Sometimes a long haul.
I have found the river
That has become my life
I say ‘yes’ to that river
Rapids and all.
Also Noteworthy
- This book of poetry was written by a family caregiver who cares for her husband with MS. The author’s husband founded the Oak Clinic in Uniontown, Ohio. The Oak Clinic helps individuals become advocates for themselves and learn how to communicate their interests, desires, and needs. All proceeds from this book support the Oak Clinic.
- The title of this book was inspired by the airline teaching that we must put our own oxygen masks on before helping others.
Our Journey of Love: 5 Steps to Navigate Your Caregiving Journey by Susan J. Ryan
Ideal Reader: A family caregiver who is feeling emotionally and physically exhausted and is ready to positively navigate their role.
Description: This book clearly contrasts Susan’s two experiences through her lens of caregiving. Her first experience was reactive, overwhelming, and frustrating. While she admits she is still learning, her second caregiving experience radiates with confidence, proactive planning, and practical strategies.
What You’ll Learn
- Ways to practice ‘massive acceptance’ and ‘radical presence’
- How to gain control of positive coping mechanisms and not let the disease be in control
- No one is born with the character trait of resilience – this is something all of us can achieve
- Proactive steps to prepare someone for a positive transition to memory care or senior living community
- Become comfortable with accepting help and engaging with support groups (where you’ll gain advice from experience)
Also Noteworthy
- Susan has been a caregiver for multiple people – first her dad, where she felt like she was blindfolded on a rollercoaster, and then for her husband where she strived to find hope, love, and balance.
- The symbolism of the dandelion cover is beautiful. While memories may be blowing away, seeds of potential help are finding their way to others.
- Half of the proceeds from this book go toward providing caregivers respite.
The Self-Care Solution by Jennifer Ashton, M.D., M.S.
Ideal Reader: This book is for anyone who is looking to prioritize their self-care (predominantly physical self-care challenges) and enjoys a focused challenge.
Description: Learn from one person’s 12-month experiment to prioritize her self-care by focusing on one new self-care habit per calendar month. Focused habits include: Dry month, push-ups and planks, meditation, cardio, less meat /more plants, hydration, more step activity, mindful technology, less sugar, stretching, sleep, and laughter.
What You’ll Learn
- You’ll sample up to twelve different types of self-care options to see which of these tiny adjustments just may have a positive impact on your health and happiness.
- For each of the twelve focused self-care strategies, you’ll learn the author’s story around this healthy habit, her week-by-week experiment findings, easy-to-understand medical science, and tips for you to take action on adopting this strategy.
Also Noteworthy
- Dr. Jennifer Ashton is an ob-gyn and ABC chief medical correspondent.
- This is a book you could potentially read one chapter a month or jump around to a habit you are looking to explore.
- You may also like this Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast Small Habits Stack Up or this post which encourages you to pick your 12 habits to focus on over the next 12 months.
Mommy Philosophies: Lessons I Learned from My Mom During Caregiving
Ideal Reader: Any caregiver who enjoys a memoir, appreciates the wisdom of our older adults, and wants insights into caregiving.
Description: Many of the ‘mommy philosophies’ Vivian shared reminded me of my own mom, especially her passion and sayings around food. These popular sayings and philosophies certainly stay with you long after a loved one passes. What a treasure for all those who came in contact with Eleanor and a reminder for all caregivers to take note of a loved one’s philosophies we hold dear and perhaps write them down as a keepsake for others.
What You’ll Learn
- How to appreciate the little things a loved one does and says
- How to positively reflect on your own caregiving journey
- Eleanor’s 20 philosophies such as:
- “When given the choice of ‘either/or’, usually the best answer is BOTH!”
- “There’s plenty of room at the top. Don’t go it alone unless you absolutely have to. Take somebody with you who deserves it.”
Also Noteworthy
- For 10 years, Vivian cared for her mom, Eleanor, after her mom suffered a stroke. Their living arrangement in the Orlando, Florida area wasn’t always easy and they found ways to negotiate and meet in the middle. Vivian offers support and education at Caring for Family Caregivers.
- You’ll enjoy several sweet photos of Eleanor at different stages of her life.
Just for Fun
If you are on TikTok and follow anything related to #booktok, you already know about this book! Before reading this I was familiar with the author, Colleen Hoover. I’ve enjoyed several of her other books, however, all of those have been contemporary romance books. I would not put Verity in the romance genre. For me, this one is a detour from Colleen Hoover’s other books – definitely a mystery thriller. A creepy book that is difficult to put down. I had to set chapter limits or I wouldn’t be able to move on with my other responsibilities in life. If you are looking for 100% believable, you may be slightly disappointed. If you want to be sucked into a great thriller and mystery with a twinge of romance, this is the book for you. I rated it 4.5 out of 5 stars.
If you want even more reading recommendations, check out this prior book haul post, or this one, and/or Elizabeth’s bookshelves on Goodreads. Happy reading!
Besides books, there are other ways to feed your intellectual self-care needs. Visit the Intellectual Self-Care page for other resources, podcast episodes, and product ideas.
