8 Must-Read Books to pack away in your suitcase this summer
As the summer months approach, the vision of lounging under palm trees with a good book starts to materialize. Summer vacation is a time to unwind and reconnect with yourself. While vacations are generally the time designated for this, it doesn’t mean that there won’t be moments of stress. You may have trouble finding your hotel, you may get lost, or struggle to communicate in a foreign language. Stress is detrimental to your health, which is only worsened by other practicalities of traveling. Jumping around different airports, adapting to climates and time zones can throw your body out of balance. Plus, maintaining a healthy routine may seem like an impossible task when traveling, especially during the hustle and bustle of the summer tourist season. All these factors point towards a need for a vacation from the vacation. Escape can easily be found in a book. Motivation and positivity can be obtained through the same medium. Packing inspirational books on your next vacation will help you re-center. It will keep you in the right frame and help you gain a sense of peace regardless of what your travels may bring.
Here are our top eight picks for summer reading.
LET IT OUT
Why you should consider journaling this summer.
Millennial blogger, speaker, and podcast host Katie Dalebout swears by the transformative powers of journaling in Let It Out. Ok, I know what you must be thinking: I’m not a writer! Worry not: you don’t need to be a writer. The book is loaded with fun and enlightening exercises to help you get started. Plus, Dalebout highlights that journaling is different from any other type of writing because it’s not meant to be shared–it’s purely for you. With this spirit, the book emphasizes writing as a method to sort out issues in your daily life, cope with stress, and achieve self-awareness. For your convenience, the book is divided into seven sections that address different wellness topics, ranging from clearing clutter to dealing with fear. Dalebout’s ultimate goal is to open your eyes to the possibility of creating lasting positive change in your life through journaling.
PRETTY HAPPY
Feel better in your body.
In her book Pretty Happy, Kate Hudson reveals her secret to living well and keeping healthy. The key, she identifies, is to understand that ‘one size does not fit all’ and to be in tune with your body. The book shows how Kate cultivates a positive relationship with her body through exercise, diet, and mindfulness. Kate Hudson remains realistic about her body and her goals, and does not give up when she falls short. In addition to her story, the book is also full of helpful questionnaires. They range from distinguishing your body type to calculating your stress levels.
RETOX
Detox the right way.
Retox is not your typical detox book. Health expert Lauren Imparato draws upon yoga and Tibetan philosophy fused with science and modern practicality to revamp the traditional ‘detox.’ Unlike other detox plans, Retox does not demand you to change who you are or that you practice asceticism. Rather, it offers quick, no-nonsense strategies to improve the quality of the life that you already live. The end result is a better body: lessened anxiety, heightened energy, and an amelioration of back pain, headaches, hangovers, sleep deprivation, and even PMS.
THE SOUL SEARCHERS HANDBOOK
A fun way to dive into healing.
The Soul Searchers Handbook is a fun way to dive into New Age healing practices, touching on everything from aromatherapy to healing crystals and meditation. Emma Mildon, a spiritual personal assistant, develops easy strategies to incorporate anything from dreamology and astrology to mysticism and alternative healing into your everyday life. Better yet, it’s undeniably entertaining and packed with wisdom for every type of spiritual seeker.
CRAVINGS
Summer recipes to inspire you on the road.
If you are a foodie or Chrissy Teigen fan, this one’s for you! Cravings serves as the ‘final cut’ of all Chrissy’s favorite recipes: from John’s famous fried chicken with spicy honey butter to her mom’s Thai delicacies. Cravings is not just any recipe book. Teigen lets her personality shine through the pages with a fun, eclectic collection of comfort food.
THE SACRED SIX
Refocusing your attention and recovering your dreams.
In The Sacred Six: A Simple, Step-by-Step Process for Focusing Your Attention and Recovering Your Dreams, JB Glossinger tells us how he exchanged the shackles of corporate success for a 3 hour workday, allowing him to pursue the things that actually held meaning and brought joy to his life. The book leads readers through the steps that Glossinger took, including identifying your values and goals, and then designing a daily course of action organized around the ‘Sacred Six’ principles. These principles include focus, clarity, consistency, and prioritization. These core principles help remove obstructions to success and serve as a guide to advise in life-changing choices from the perspective of the observer, which Glossinger identifies is the true self, rather than the ego.
THE MIRACLE MORNING
Morning rituals to create a healthy summer routine.
Widely regarded as “one of the most life changing books ever written,” The Miracle Morning may just be the answer to your prayers. Hal Elrod, a man who was declared dead for six minutes after a supposed fatal incident, writes about his realization and transformation upon surviving this incident. The book offers a quick and simple approach that allows you to embrace and reshape your life from the moment you wake up. It shows you how to start your day with more ENERGY, MOTIVATION, and FOCUS, thus taking your life to the next level. Regardless of where your travels find you, having a good, inspirational read will help your mind stay healthy and your body remain in balance. A good book may just be the most important thing that’s tucked away in your carry-on. While I highly recommend these books, I also encourage you to choose readings that resonate with you and where you are in your life. Stay open and flexible to new inspiration. This frame of mind will support you in continuing to choose a healthy lifestyle, regardless of your time zone.
WELLTH
A guide to financial freedom.
In Wellth, Jason Wachob shows us that a ‘wellthy’ existence is one of attainable happiness. It’s a life where work has purpose and friendship has substance. Wachob presents the building blocks of wellth through memoir and reflection. Despite its personal nature, Wachob acknowledges that there is no single definition for a wellthy existence. Rather, he discloses, “I hope this book will serve as a guide to help you embark on your own personal journey that is both unique and meaningful.”
