In this post, you’ll find six self-care and caregiving books you may want to add to your ‘to be read’ pile. I’ve read less non-fiction this summer since I’ve been traveling with purpose (caregiver retreat, helping a grieving cousin, moving my daughter to Chicago) and traveling for fun (Amalfi Italy trip, Michigan getaway). If you want to see video snippets of these trips check out Happy Healthy Caregiver on Instagram or TikTok. Flexibility to dial up and down my work and nurture my family and spirit is agreeing with me.
This post continues a regular blog series where I feature a collection of caregiving and self-care books. Here’s the latest book haul!
As a bonus, I include my latest favorite fiction read.
Prayer Journal for Women (52 Weeks) by Julie Kersten
Ideal Reader: For any woman looking to infuse more spiritual self-care into their days.
Description: There is a spread in this large print 8.5×11 workbook for each week of the year. Each spread contains:
- A theme for the week along with a focused scripture verse. Some themes include: Praying for gratefulness & mercy, praying for wisdom, and praying for health.
- Some written words from the author pertaining to the focused verse along with a question for your reflection.
- Space to write your reflections and thoughts, things you are grateful for, things on your mind, prayer requests, and prayers answered
What You’ll Learn
- How to build a habit of spiritual reflection, journaling, and studying scripture into your routine.
Also Noteworthy
- The introduction shares the 10 scientifically proven benefits of prayer such as reducing negative emotions.
- This would make a great gift for a Christian Women.
You’re a Caregiver, Not a Saint (Yeah, Write!) by Lori Ramos Lemasters
Ideal Reader: A current or beginner journal writer who wants to explore different journaling techniques to help release the emotional pressure valve caused by stressful life events (including caregiving!).
Description: This book is part author’s memoir and part workbook. The author uses her caregiving experiences and expertise in journaling to share six different journaling techniques that come from a practice called Journal to the Self. The workbook summarizes the each technique (description, benefit, and suggested time) and then offers the family caregiver one to four journaling exercises with room to write. For example one technique is the Unsent Letter and there is an exercise to write a unsent letter to the disease or your care partner. Another technique is the 5-minute sprint where you use prompts to help you ask for or accept help.
What You’ll Learn
- Intimate details about the author’s personal eight year caregiving journey that helped her process feelings of guilt, anger, fear, and grief. The book includes unedited excerpts from her personal journals.
- Try on the six different journaling techniques such as captured moments, character sketch, and dialogue to determine which techniques are most effective for you. Keep doing those!
Also Noteworthy
- Lori is a certified Journal to the Self therapeutic writing instructor and the founder of Care Partners Resource. On her site you can find talking points for holding a family meeting and tips to find skilled professional help.
Finding the Light in Dementia by Dr. Jane M. Mullins
Ideal Reader: A dementia caregiver or their care partner who is looking for a simple and yet sensitive guide to better understand the common changes that can occur with persons living with dementia.
Description: A practical resource to help family caregivers navigate common hurdles encountered during a dementia journey and space to write notes about each topic.
What You’ll Learn
- How to maintain a positive connection between yourself and your care partner as the disease progresses.
- Practical tips for common challenges related to sleeping, eating, hallucinations, mood changes, home safety, and personal care.
- Reminders to look out for yourself while caregiving.
Also Noteworthy
- The book’s appendix includes pertinent information about a hospital admission including a packing list and information to share with the staff.
- On her website, Dr. Mullins also offers an online course.
Late Migrations: A Natural History of Love and Loss by Margaret Renkl
Ideal Reader: Memoir lovers who appreciate descriptive, gorgeous writing.
Description: While I wouldn’t classify this as a caregiving book, this book is non-fiction and talks much about caregiving responsibilities and feelings. The author grew up in Alabama and through her essays we get glimpses of her family life and the bittersweet moments as she transitions into a caregiving role for her aging parents. Renkl also shares magnificent details of her backyard surroundings.
What You’ll Learn
- How one woman lovingly cared for her family while nurturing her passion for nature and writing.
- An appreciation for nature and being present for all the glory Earth has to offer.
Also Noteworthy
- This is a book that I recommend you pick up and read an essay or two at a time to savor the writing. There isn’t necessarily a continuous plot but rather a reflection from different points in time.
- Margaret Renkl is a contributing opinion writer for the New York Times.
- The author’s brother provided the cover illustration.
Intuitive Eating – A Revolutionary Anti-Diet Approach by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch
Ideal Reader: Anyone who is tired of chronic dieting, labeling food as ‘bad’ or ‘good’, and is ready to make peace with food.
Description: This book doesn’t give you more rules about what and when to eat, rather it asks you to erase all the ‘shoulds’ you’ve been told about food, and the feelings of shame, and tune into your body’s needs. Seems like a basic concept but it’s complicated since we have so many learned behaviors, diet rules, and societal noise to navigate through. The authors explain intuitive eating and illustrates the practice through ten principles such as ‘cope with your emotions with kindness’, ‘discover the satisfaction factor’, and ‘challenge the food police.’
What You’ll Learn
- Make peace with food and rediscover the pleasure of eating.
- Release yourself from chronic dieting and obsessing over measuring your health by a number on the scale.
Also Noteworthy
- Both authors are health professionals in the field of nutrition and eating disorders. This is the fourth edition of this book.
- My curiosity around this book and learning more about intuitive eating came from TikToker Sam Previte.
- My personal Goodreads review of this book: I’ve been dieting or obsessed or felt shame about what I have eaten for my entire adult life. A fundamental fear of mine is to be morbidly obese like my parents resulting in a shortened life span. This book is empowering and refreshing. I’m inspired to learn more about my body and make peace with food…all foods. I am also trying to balance this with awareness around food sensitivities I have. I can eat these foods if I’m ok with how they make me feel. The focus is on health at every size. Weight is not a reflection of health.
Love Anyway: A Mother Daughter Journey of Caregiving by Patricia Covone
Ideal Reader: For any daughter caring for a chronically ill mother.
Description: A humorous and heart-breaking memoir that describes how the daily demands of being a caregiver altered the relationship between mother and daughter.
What You’ll Learn
- You’ll identify with many of Patricia’s emotions and fears and feel validated as she too struggled with adjusting to her new caregiver role.
- Tips for coping with family dynamics. Patricia is the oldest of four siblings. She also talks about the impacts caregiving had to her marriage.
- The feelings to anticipate when the caregiving role ends.
Also Noteworthy
- Patricia is a also a Registered Nurse and worked as a home health consultant and became certified in Legal Nurse Consulting.
My Fiction Book Pick
If you are looking for light, fun, and escape reading – this probably isn’t it. If you enjoyed Before They Were Yours by Lisa Wingate, you’ll want read this one. Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain has been on my to be read shelf for a while. I’m so grateful I picked it up! It’s in the historical fiction genre and takes place in a small southern town in North Carolina fifty years ago. Back then, welfare social workers were following through with state-mandated sterilizations (aka Eugenics Program). They targeted young women who were epileptic or ‘feeble minded’. Some of the individuals who were sterilized never gave their consent and thought they were getting their appendix out! This program was in place until the mid 1970s!
You’ll get wrapped up in the tobacco farm families who are working hard to better themselves and the women who are trying to disrupt the system. I don’t physically cry in many books. As a woman and mom this one broke me. There are fabulous characters, secrets to uncover, and wrongs to right. I read the paperback and rated it 5 out of 5 stars. I will definitely read more from this author.
