The More or Less Definitive Guide to Self-Care

this was a great collection of things to do/think about when you need a bit of 'self care'. i liked all the snippets from other people, i liked the variety of things listed. my favourite one was the Laugh one, i tried it and it totally worked. this is definitely a book i'll re-read snippets of when i feel like i need some self love and don't know where to start. i feel like this list is great, full of actual helpful things, different ideas for different people. there's no one thing that will work for every single person, and i feel like this list has a little something for everyone.

This book is perfection! It's basically everything I've heard from trying to read and find ways to implement self-care (and then some) all in one place. I love the layout of the book and think the A-Z was a creative way to share the tips and ideas. The author shares her personal experiences and truly understands what self-care means (and that it can mean different things for different people) which is a great plus. I love how the author included snippets from individuals who share what self-care means to them. This is definitely a book to keep handy when needing a pick me up. Thank you to Netgalley and The Experiment for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

lizabeth W. rated a book it was amazing
The More or Less Definitive Guide to Self-Care by Anna Borges The More or Less Definitive Guide to Self-Care: From A to Z
by Anna Borges (Goodreads Author)
Read
My rating:
1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars[ 5 of 5 stars ]
The More or Less Definitive Guide to Self-Care by Anna Borges is a great reference book for anyone who is looking to make their mental health a priority. Designed in an accessible A to Z format, it is full of tools, tips, tricks and practices that may make the process of caring for your self easier.

While I was reading it, I was shocked by any of the options- I had heard of almost all of them and practiced many of them, but it was nice to have a reminder of the skills that I've learned in going to therapy and reading about self care strategies. The writing is really encouraging and never didactic. Reading this really feels like reaching out to a wise friend who gives you a lot of possible resources without saying "This is how you solve your problems." The flowchart, FAQ about therapy, and list of other resources in the back add to this books value.

I really enjoyed the accompanying illustrations and highlighted quotes. I plan to purchase this book once it is published to add to my collection of resources related to mental health so I can easily flip through when I need a bit of a boost or guiding hand.

Thanks to The Experiment and NetGalley for the ARC!

I loved this collection of self care advice! Like the title says, it is pretty much definitive. I loved the variety (and creativity!) of the tips. This is also a very pretty book that would look great on your shelf and make you feel positive and inspired to care for yourself when you see it.

Self-care can be (and has been) defined many different ways. Many of the resources I've seen over the course of the last year have all been focusing on the "pampering" aspect of self-care. Things like taking baths, getting a pedicure, etc. I've also seen examples around practicing gratitude, journaling, etc. What's great about this book is that is has both and then so much more. I think it's relatively true to its title in that it's pretty exhaustive.

"The goal of self-care is an ever-morphing target, so concentrate on getting to know yourself and your needs instead of thinking in terms of cures and fixes, solutions and antidotes."

This book doesn't pass judgement on how to define self-care and what's acceptable and what's not. It casts a wide net and gives you so many options that you feel empowered to pick what works for you at different times in your journey.

There are so many awesome ideas in this book that I can't imagine there won't be one that speaks to you. I've read several books and hundreds of articles on self-care in the last few years and there were several new-to-me ideas in this book. Many of which I was excited to try immediately.

If self-care is an area where you're interested in exploring or if it's an area where you've explored for a while and would like fresh ideas, I think you will love this book.

thank you to netgalley and the experiment for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

The More or Less Definitive Guide to Self Care by Anna Borges was stellar y'all. It was absolutely stellar. Anna Borges is one of the authors of one of my favorite pieces on self care from the internet, so I was really excited to get the chance to do a deep dive into her work on the topic. This is an A to Z index of a variety of self care strategies. What I appreciate is that it keeps things simple. It's a manageable exploration of the topic. The thing about self care is that it can and should be accessible and easy. More than anything, it's about meeting basic needs and finding fulfillment in your day. I loved that this was the tone of the book. Of all the stuff I've read on self care (and I have read a lot), this is the best and most comprehensive review. I love that it wasn't just about one avenue, but this is really a chance to explore what works best for you. This is a great way to learn the what, the how, and the why of a variety of strategies around self care. This one doesn't hit shelves until November (I know, total bummer), but thanks to NetGalley I got a sneak peek! When this does hit shelves, I'll absolutely be purchasing a copy, so I can read, re-read, and re-read some more!

The More or Less Definitive Guide to Self-Care reads like having a no-nonsense talk with your big sister on how to deal with life issues. It strips away most of the hard-to-understand scientific mumbo jumbo of psychology and present them into a language that everyone can understand and follow through. I like that there are a varieties of options for the same category, so you can just pick and choose the ones that are suitable for you at a particular moment. This is a must-read for anyone who would like to learn how to incorporate self-care into your everyday life physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

I love that this book pours light on how the differences in gender, class, determine what self-care is for an individual. A lot of self-care tips are usually banking on capitalism, making self care a commodity that certain people can’t attain but Anne Borges addresses that.

The More or Less Definitive Guide to Self Care is the type of book that I’d like to read over and over until the pages are bent in my favourite places. I’ve already started some practising some of these tips. This is what a self-help book is supposed to do, it’s supposed to help you help yourself. I’d recommend this book for anyone who’s interested in self-care and doesn’t know where to start, or someone looking for self-care tips that don’t involve buying a candle and a face mask (not that there’s anything wrong with that) it’s all of that and more. Borges talks about how self-care sometimes gets misconstrued and ends up being a negative coping mechanism and how to avoid that.

At some point, I stopped reading this book as a reviewer and started reading it as someone who badly needed it. I haven’t found a self-help book that was actually helpful before, that had helpful actions in them that one could actually undertake. That’s what Anne Borges’ book is. It’s greatly helpful and filled with tangible advice that one can take

This was just so nice to read. Not only did it give great tips and advice, but the experience of reading it itself was calming and felt like I was giving myself some space to reflect and relax.

This was such an interesting book to read, with lots of infos and tips (from hobbies to self improvement) and I will definitely use it again in the future (starting now).

I found it very well structured and easy to understand, truly a good guide.

The More or Less Definitive Guide to Self-Care From A to Z by Anna Borges is definitely More. One of those books that will be reread numerous times. I wanted to highlight so many passages while reading the ARC but will have to wait to get the print edition once it is published. Some new ideas and some older ideas but presented with a different spin making them fresh and relevant. The flowchart will prove to be a very useful tool. A very encouraging and uplifting book.
Thank you to The Experiment Publishing, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

This is a very attractively sized and surprisingly comprehensive guide that was a delight to discover. You’ll get the best experience x in my opinion - flipping through it in paper, but even a digital edition will introduce you to the new ideas it offers to explore.

Arranged alphabetically, the topics are touched on enough to get your teeth into, and offer a remarkable balance between providing the first few steps and neither getting bogged down in details or feeling rushed.

Well done!

My thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the digital preview they provided for this review.