About Me

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Tea-drinking introvert found either behind a book or within arm's reach of one. Book reviewer, and book sniffer. You may have seen me on W24, BooksLive, Aerodrome, Bark Magazine, CultNoise Magazine, or Expound Magazine.

17 Apr 2023

Review: How To Calm Your Mind By Chris Bailey


Rating
: Buy it ASAP – a bookshelf essential

What is it? Self help, backed by science

Ideal for fans of: New Scientist and Ed Yong

What makes it special? It offers solutions to the problems it presents 

Get it in South Africa from: Pan Macmillan South Africa



Have you ever looked at a book and just known that it was written specifically for you? That’s exactly how I felt when I spied Chris Bailey’s How To Calm Your Mind. TED (of TEDTalks) described Bailey as ‘The most productive man you’ll ever hope to meet.’ Literally – it’s on the cover. And yet there was a scoffing voice in my head that said ‘Pah, I bet I could rival him for that title.’

You see, I am addicted to busyness. To productivity. To getting things done. For years, I’ve had people asking me ‘how do you do it all? Where do you get the energy? How are you so disciplined?’. Well, dear reader, it turns out I’m just addicted to getting ish done.

And that may look very cool from an outsider’s perspective, but shall I let you in on a secret that Bailey is also desperately trying to share? It’s not necessarily a good thing. Because if, like me, you can’t switch off, you’re heading for burnout and disaster.

But enough about me. If you felt like you could see yourself in my waffling above, you need to read this book. If you’ve ever wondered why you’re so anxious no matter what you try to counteract it, you need to read this book. If you want to find out why you have that constant niggling feeling of something missing, of guilt, of needing to do something, you need to read this book.

Screw it, let me be more clear. Everyone needs to read this book.

Bailey has presented a thoroughly well-researched, humorous and easy to read book that really will improve your life.

First, he starts by defining stress or anxiety, and defining calm. Then he shows how our constant need to be doing more and getting more (and thus our dopamine addiction) is really not leading to fulfilment – it’s leading to burnout.

However, the true value of How To Calm Your Mind is not just Bailey’s extensive definitions and examples – it’s the fact that he lists several useful tools and tricks that will allow the reader to actively shift from anxiety to calm – although the trip certainly won’t be easy.

Of course, you’ll need to get a copy of the book to see these tips, but I can guarantee you they are worth it. I’ve already started following some of Bailey’s advice, and honestly, I can see a difference in my stress levels already. So why not do the same?

To read Bailey is to learn how to change your life for the better, so go on and do it.

How To Calm Your Mind By Chris Bailey is published by Macmillan, an imprint of Pan Macmillan.