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For some people, the holidays bring unwelcome guests — stress and depression. And it's no wonder. In an effort to pull off a perfect Hallmark holiday, you might find yourself facing a dizzying array of demands — work, parties, shopping, baking, cleaning, caring for elderly parents or kids on school break, and scores of other chores. So much for peace and joy, right?
Stress and depression can ruin your holidays and hurt your health. Being realistic, planning ahead and seeking support can help ward off stress and depression.
Actually, with some practical tips, you can minimize the stress and depression that often accompany the holidays. You may even end up enjoying the holidays more than you thought you would.
The trigger points of holiday stress and depression Holiday stress and depression are often the result of three main trigger points. Understanding these trigger points can help you plan ahead on how to accommodate them.
The three main trigger points of holiday stress or depression:
1. Relationships. Relationships can cause turmoil, conflict or stress at any time. But tensions are often heightened during the holidays. Family misunderstandings and conflicts can intensify — especially if you're all thrust together for several days. Conflicts are bound to arise with so many different personalities, needs and interests. On the other hand, if you're facing the holidays without a loved one, you may find yourself especially lonely or sad.
2. Finances. Like your relationships, your financial situation can cause stress at any time of the year. But overspending during the holidays on gifts, travel, food and entertainment can increase stress as you try to make ends meet while ensuring that everyone on your gift list is happy. You may find yourself in a financial spiral that leaves you with depression symptoms such as hopelessness, sadness and helplessness.
3. Physical demands. The strain of shopping, attending social gatherings and preparing holiday meals can wipe you out. Feeling exhausted increases your stress, creating a vicious cycle. Exercise and sleep — good antidotes for stress and fatigue — may take a back seat to chores and errands. High demands, stress, lack of exercise, and overindulgence in food and drink — all are ingredients for holiday illness.
12 tips to prevent holiday stress and depression
When stress is at its peak, it's hard to stop and regroup. Try to prevent stress and depression in the first place, especially if you know the holidays have taken an emotional toll in previous years.
Tips you can try to head off holiday stress and depression:
1. Acknowledge your feelings. If a loved one has recently died or you aren't able to be with your loved ones, realize that it's normal to feel sadness or grief. It's OK now and then to take time just to cry or express your feelings. You can't force yourself to be happy just because it's the holiday season.
2. Seek support. If you feel isolated or down, seek out family members and friends, or community, religious or social services. They can offer support and companionship. Consider volunteering at a community or religious function. Getting involved and helping others can lift your spirits and broaden your friendships. Also, enlist support for organizing holiday gatherings, as well as meal preparation and cleanup. You don't have to go it alone. Don't be a martyr.
3. Be realistic. As families change and grow, traditions and rituals often change as well. Hold on to those you can and want to. But accept that you may have to let go of others. For example, if your adult children and grandchildren can't all gather at your house as usual, find new ways to celebrate together from afar, such as sharing pictures, e-mails or videotapes.
4. Set differences aside. Try to accept family members and friends as they are, even if they don't live up to all your expectations. Practice forgiveness. Set aside grievances until a more appropriate time for discussion. With stress and activity levels high, the holidays might not be conducive to making quality time for relationships. And be understanding if others get upset or distressed when something goes awry. Chances are they're feeling the effects of holiday stress and depression, too.
5. Stick to a budget. Before you go shopping, decide how much money you can afford to spend on gifts and other items. Then be sure to stick to your budget. If you don't, you could feel anxious and tense for months afterward as you struggle to pay the bills. Don't try to buy happiness with an avalanche of gifts. Donate to a charity in someone's name, give homemade gifts or start a family gift exchange.
6. Plan ahead. Set aside specific days for shopping, baking, visiting friends and other activities. Plan your menus and then make one big food-shopping trip. That'll help prevent a last-minute scramble to buy forgotten ingredients — and you'll have time to make another pie, if the first one's a flop. Expect travel delays, especially if you're flying.
7. Learn to say no. Believe it or not, people will understand if you can't do certain projects or activities. If you say yes only to what you really want to do, you'll avoid feeling resentful, bitter and overwhelmed. If it's really not possible to say no when your boss asks you to work overtime, try to remove something else from your agenda to make up for the lost time.
8. Don't abandon healthy habits. Don't let the holidays become a dietary free-for-all. Some indulgence is OK, but overindulgence only adds to your stress and guilt. Have a healthy snack before holiday parties so that you don't go overboard on sweets, cheese or drinks. Continue to get plenty of sleep and schedule time for physical activity.
9. Take a breather. Make some time for yourself. Spending just 15 minutes alone, without distractions, may refresh you enough to handle everything you need to do. Steal away to a quiet place, even if it's to the bathroom for a few moments of solitude. Take a walk at night and stargaze. Listen to soothing music. Find something that reduces stress by clearing your mind, slowing your breathing and restoring inner calm.
10. Rethink resolutions. Resolutions can set you up for failure if they're unrealistic. Don't resolve to change your whole life to make up for past excess. Instead, try to return to basic, healthy lifestyle routines. Set smaller, more specific goals with a reasonable time frame. Choose only those resolutions that help you feel valuable and that provide more than only fleeting moments of happiness.
11. Forget about perfection. Holiday TV specials are filled with happy endings. But in real life, people don't usually resolve problems within an hour or two. Something always comes up. You may get stuck late at the office and miss your daughter's school play, your sister may dredge up an old argument, your partner may burn the cookies, and your mother may criticize how you're raising the kids. All in the same day. Accept imperfections in yourself and in others.
12. Seek professional help if you need it. Despite your best efforts, you may find yourself feeling persistently sad or anxious, plagued by physical complaints, unable to sleep, irritable and hopeless, and unable to face routine chores. If these feelings last for several weeks, talk to your doctor or a mental health professional. You may have depression.
Take back control of holiday stress and depression
Remember, one key to minimizing holiday stress and depression is knowing that the holidays can trigger stress and depression. Accept that things aren't always going to go as planned. Then take active steps to manage stress and depression during the holidays. You may actually enjoy the holidays this year more than you thought you could.
Reprint with Permission from the Mayoclinic, © 1998-2008 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). http://ping.fm/NLFpD
What do you do, to reducess Holiday stress?
Share your thoughts with the community.
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Tuesday, December 29, 2009
New Years Resolution? 50 things everyone should know how to do
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Self-reliance is a vital key to living a healthy, productive life. To be self-reliant one must master a basic set of skills, more or less making them a jack of all trades. Contrary to what you may have learned in school, a jack of all trades is far more equipped to deal with life than a specialized master of only one.
While not totally comprehensive, here is a list of 50 things everyone should know how to do. ... wonderful suggestion for your New Years Resolutions
Self-reliance is a vital key to living a healthy, productive life. To be self-reliant one must master a basic set of skills, more or less making them a jack of all trades. Contrary to what you may have learned in school, a jack of all trades is far more equipped to deal with life than a specialized master of only one.
While not totally comprehensive, here is a list of 50 things everyone should know how to do. ... wonderful suggestion for your New Years Resolutions
Monday, December 28, 2009
20 Amazing and Essential Non-fiction Books to Enrich Your Library
20 Amazing and Essential Non-fiction Books to Enrich Your Library
I’m an avid reader of fiction and just love a novel that transports me, that is so gripping that I can’t put it down. But I also enjoy a good non-fiction book, from self-help stuff to philosophy to biographies to just about anything that makes me think.
After the warm reception of my post on novels (50 Amazing and Essential Novels to Enrich Your Library), a number of people asked for a list of non-fiction as well. Well, here it is!
I was hesitant to do this as there are so many classic non-fiction texts, from the Greeks to philosophers through the ages to biographies of amazing people to first-hand accounts of surviving wars and much more. It’s overwhelming, and it would be hard to be comprehensive.
But then I decided not to be comprehensive. Instead, I wanted to find 20 books that convey some of the philosophy of Zen Habits in different ways, books that influenced this site and that I think will enrich your library and your life if you haven’t read them yet.
So this list is far, far from being authoritative or comprehensive. It leaves off just about every classic work — histories, philosophy works, scientific classics, and so on. It doesn’t have the autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, anything by Descartes or Nietzsche or Kant, accounts by Anne Frank or slaves, or anything else on the 100 Best Non-fiction Books list. Not that those books don’t hold great value — they do — but they’ve been done elsewhere.
This list is just a few of my favorites. I hope you enjoy them, find inspiration from them, and share some of your favorites in the comments below!
Your Money or Your Life, by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robins. No book on money is more important. If you haven’t read this book yet, you must. It’s simply life transforming, and takes the way most people look at money and turns it on its head. My philosophy about money stems from this book.
Slowing Down to the Speed of Life, by Richard Carlson and Joseph Bailey. I only discovered this book recently but it is simply transformational. At its core, it is about learning to live and think in the moment, which is far from new — Buddhism has had this for 2,500 years. But this book explores the idea from a psychological point of view, showing us how our thoughts are what create our emotions, how we can become calm in the middle of chaos, how we can minimize stress, become better parents, improve our relationships, and much more. I’ve been trying this myself recently and it works wonders.
Simplify Your Life, by Elaine St. James. This is one of the books that most influenced the simple philosophy behind this site. I began simplifying my life when I first read this book a decade ago, and though I’ve had some ups and downs, I credit my love for simplifying to Elaine St. James. It’s an easy read and there are some great tips in there.
The Art of Happiness, by the Dalai Lama. I love the Dalai Lama mostly because he always seems so happy and compassionate. I don’t know if the actual person is like that, but his writings on compassion and happiness are simple yet insightful, and even if there’s nothing overly profound, I found them to be great reminders about why living a more compassionate life can have incredible meaning for ourselves and those around us.
Getting Things Done, by David Allen. The quintessential productivity book, it’s a must-read for anyone looking to get more organized and efficient. This was my starting point, and while I’ve modified my system, GTD taught me some really important skills: emptying my inbox, getting everything on paper and out of my head, creating a system to keep everything in, and so forth.
The 4-Hour Workweek, by Timothy Ferriss. This book inspired legions of us to simplify and focus on that which has the most impact on our lives and our businesses. The concepts can be applied to any life — whether you’re a CEO, office worker, stay-at-home parent, blogger, you name it. You might not actually get to a 4-hour workweek, but you’ll learn to look at your work in new ways and do it in smarter ways.
The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield. For anyone who writes or creates, the battle to actually get the creating done is well known. We struggle sometimes, often daily, to focus on our work, to actually do the writing or creating, to avoid the great abyss of procrastination and distraction. This book shows you how to overcome this struggle by working like a professional. Great stuff.
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff, by Richard Carlson. Carlson is the co-author of the above-mentioned “Slowing Down to the Speed of Life”, but he’s more famous for this book (actually a series of books that started with this book). The book’s title becomes more meaningful when you hear the subtitle: “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff — and it’s all small stuff”. This book teaches you to keep things in perspective and in doing so, stop stressing out about things. It teaches you to appreciate the things — and especially people — around you. Really an excellent book.
Running to Win, by George Sheehan. Sheehan was a running philosopher. I thought this book was going to be about competitive running, and in some ways it is, but really it’s about a philosophy of life, of living life to its fullest in every way. Sheehan’s essays are beautiful and inspiring. He’s written a bunch of excellent books, but this one was written after he learned he had a terminal disease.
Upgrade Your Life, by Gina Trapani. This is Lifehacker in book form — all the tips and tricks that will help you turn technology from something that distracts and overwhelms you into something that makes you more productive and effective.
The Essential Gandhi, by Louis Fischer. Whether you’re a fan of Gandhi or not, his writings are inspiring and his words have had deep and widespread impact. I am a subscriber to his writings on non-violence and civil disobedience and truth. I’m inspired every time I pick up this book.
Manufacturing Consent, by Noam Chomsky and Edward Herman. If you haven’t read or heard anything by Chomsky, this book could be eye-opening. It was for me when I read it more than a decade ago, and it taught me a lot about political systems and the media, and from this I’ve become more critical of the information I consume (and perhaps a little more cynical about politics as well). Anyway, I highly recommend this or other Chomsky works if you’d like to get a completely different perspective on things, from one of the most famous dissidents of our times.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen Covey. Indispensable reading for anyone who wants to learn to focus on the important things and become more effective in work and in life. The 7 Habits include being proactive, beginning with the end in mind, putting first things first, thinking win/win, seeking first to understand, synergizing, and sharpening the saw. His 8th habit boils down to “Find your voice and inspire others to find theirs.”
Tao Te Ching, by Lao Tzu. This fundamental Taoist classic is an excellent read for something that’s 1,500 years old (or thereabouts). It’ll teach you the basics of Eastern philosophy and a thing or two about life itself.
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Robert Pirsig. A modern classic, Pirsig travels the countryside with his son and friends, and explores the competing principles of a Zen-like world view with those of logic and reason. While Pirsig might seen to represent logic and reason for some of the book, it later becomes apparent that he believes the two should be merged. He writes that despite the book’s title, “it should in no way be associated with that great body of factual information relating to orthodox Zen Buddhist practice. It’s not very factual on motorcycles, either.”
The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, by Robin Sharma. The book is a fable, and it’s one that will certainly make you give some thought to your life, your goals, your dreams and how your daily habits help you reach those dreams. While I don’t think you can actually implement everything discussed in the book (it would be too overwhelming), Sharma explores a lot of interesting ideas, and I’m sure anyone will find some that are worth trying. Read my review.
The Elements of Style, by Strunk and White. An absolutely indispensable resource for anyone who writes in the English language. Seriously. This isn’t only for writers — it’s for bloggers, people who write reports, people who write emails and write things online. In short, for just about everyone. I read this when I first became a journalist 18 years ago, and I’ve read it every year since. It’ll teach you to be more concise, to avoid common mistakes, and to generally be clearer and more powerful with your words.
Fever Pitch, by Nick Hornby. This book is a bit different from the others on this list, but I loved it so much I thought I’d share it here. It’s an autobiographical look at the author’s obsession with soccer (or football to most of the world) through his lifetime. This series of essays (each focused on a different match) is an absorbing read and incredibly interesting.
A People’s History of the United States, by Howard Zinn. The book that changed history for many people who had previously only studied the usual textbooks. Zinn tells the story of the United States from an entirely different perspective — the powerless, instead of the rich and powerful. It’s the story of the blacks, the women, the Chinese who built the railroads, the poor, the workers, those oppressed by force and power, the voiceless, and many other minorities. An eye-opener.
The Power of Less, by Leo Babauta. OK, it’s cheesy and self-promotional to put your own book on a list you created. I know. But I couldn’t help it — sometimes you have to be self-promotional … and plus, I really think you’ll find value in this book. Teaches you to focus on the essentials in order to simplify your life and become more effective in your work. Also see: the Power of Less video, the free Thriving on Less ebook, audio tips podcasts, and The Power of Less New Year’s Challenge!
Bonus update — I forgot a few that I really want to add to this list. So here are a few more books:
Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life, and True Love: A Practice for Awakening the Heart, by Thich Nhat Hanh. As someone in the comments pointed out, I quote Nhat Hanh all the time. His writings are very very simple, and yet there is a profoundness in them that is apparent after you’ve read a chapter or two.
In Praise of Slowness: Challenging the Cult of Speed, by Carl Honore. Discusses the growing slow movement — slow food, slow travel, slow living — and how it counters our current culture of speed.
The Tao of Pooh, by Benjamin Hoff. A great introduction to Taoism using one of the best-known characters in Western literature.
So there are hundreds and thousands of great non-fiction books that I’ve left off this list, mostly because I don’t have the time to compile a bigger list, and also largely because there are so many I haven’t read personally.
I’m an avid reader of fiction and just love a novel that transports me, that is so gripping that I can’t put it down. But I also enjoy a good non-fiction book, from self-help stuff to philosophy to biographies to just about anything that makes me think.
After the warm reception of my post on novels (50 Amazing and Essential Novels to Enrich Your Library), a number of people asked for a list of non-fiction as well. Well, here it is!
I was hesitant to do this as there are so many classic non-fiction texts, from the Greeks to philosophers through the ages to biographies of amazing people to first-hand accounts of surviving wars and much more. It’s overwhelming, and it would be hard to be comprehensive.
But then I decided not to be comprehensive. Instead, I wanted to find 20 books that convey some of the philosophy of Zen Habits in different ways, books that influenced this site and that I think will enrich your library and your life if you haven’t read them yet.
So this list is far, far from being authoritative or comprehensive. It leaves off just about every classic work — histories, philosophy works, scientific classics, and so on. It doesn’t have the autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, anything by Descartes or Nietzsche or Kant, accounts by Anne Frank or slaves, or anything else on the 100 Best Non-fiction Books list. Not that those books don’t hold great value — they do — but they’ve been done elsewhere.
This list is just a few of my favorites. I hope you enjoy them, find inspiration from them, and share some of your favorites in the comments below!
Your Money or Your Life, by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robins. No book on money is more important. If you haven’t read this book yet, you must. It’s simply life transforming, and takes the way most people look at money and turns it on its head. My philosophy about money stems from this book.
Slowing Down to the Speed of Life, by Richard Carlson and Joseph Bailey. I only discovered this book recently but it is simply transformational. At its core, it is about learning to live and think in the moment, which is far from new — Buddhism has had this for 2,500 years. But this book explores the idea from a psychological point of view, showing us how our thoughts are what create our emotions, how we can become calm in the middle of chaos, how we can minimize stress, become better parents, improve our relationships, and much more. I’ve been trying this myself recently and it works wonders.
Simplify Your Life, by Elaine St. James. This is one of the books that most influenced the simple philosophy behind this site. I began simplifying my life when I first read this book a decade ago, and though I’ve had some ups and downs, I credit my love for simplifying to Elaine St. James. It’s an easy read and there are some great tips in there.
The Art of Happiness, by the Dalai Lama. I love the Dalai Lama mostly because he always seems so happy and compassionate. I don’t know if the actual person is like that, but his writings on compassion and happiness are simple yet insightful, and even if there’s nothing overly profound, I found them to be great reminders about why living a more compassionate life can have incredible meaning for ourselves and those around us.
Getting Things Done, by David Allen. The quintessential productivity book, it’s a must-read for anyone looking to get more organized and efficient. This was my starting point, and while I’ve modified my system, GTD taught me some really important skills: emptying my inbox, getting everything on paper and out of my head, creating a system to keep everything in, and so forth.
The 4-Hour Workweek, by Timothy Ferriss. This book inspired legions of us to simplify and focus on that which has the most impact on our lives and our businesses. The concepts can be applied to any life — whether you’re a CEO, office worker, stay-at-home parent, blogger, you name it. You might not actually get to a 4-hour workweek, but you’ll learn to look at your work in new ways and do it in smarter ways.
The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield. For anyone who writes or creates, the battle to actually get the creating done is well known. We struggle sometimes, often daily, to focus on our work, to actually do the writing or creating, to avoid the great abyss of procrastination and distraction. This book shows you how to overcome this struggle by working like a professional. Great stuff.
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff, by Richard Carlson. Carlson is the co-author of the above-mentioned “Slowing Down to the Speed of Life”, but he’s more famous for this book (actually a series of books that started with this book). The book’s title becomes more meaningful when you hear the subtitle: “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff — and it’s all small stuff”. This book teaches you to keep things in perspective and in doing so, stop stressing out about things. It teaches you to appreciate the things — and especially people — around you. Really an excellent book.
Running to Win, by George Sheehan. Sheehan was a running philosopher. I thought this book was going to be about competitive running, and in some ways it is, but really it’s about a philosophy of life, of living life to its fullest in every way. Sheehan’s essays are beautiful and inspiring. He’s written a bunch of excellent books, but this one was written after he learned he had a terminal disease.
Upgrade Your Life, by Gina Trapani. This is Lifehacker in book form — all the tips and tricks that will help you turn technology from something that distracts and overwhelms you into something that makes you more productive and effective.
The Essential Gandhi, by Louis Fischer. Whether you’re a fan of Gandhi or not, his writings are inspiring and his words have had deep and widespread impact. I am a subscriber to his writings on non-violence and civil disobedience and truth. I’m inspired every time I pick up this book.
Manufacturing Consent, by Noam Chomsky and Edward Herman. If you haven’t read or heard anything by Chomsky, this book could be eye-opening. It was for me when I read it more than a decade ago, and it taught me a lot about political systems and the media, and from this I’ve become more critical of the information I consume (and perhaps a little more cynical about politics as well). Anyway, I highly recommend this or other Chomsky works if you’d like to get a completely different perspective on things, from one of the most famous dissidents of our times.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen Covey. Indispensable reading for anyone who wants to learn to focus on the important things and become more effective in work and in life. The 7 Habits include being proactive, beginning with the end in mind, putting first things first, thinking win/win, seeking first to understand, synergizing, and sharpening the saw. His 8th habit boils down to “Find your voice and inspire others to find theirs.”
Tao Te Ching, by Lao Tzu. This fundamental Taoist classic is an excellent read for something that’s 1,500 years old (or thereabouts). It’ll teach you the basics of Eastern philosophy and a thing or two about life itself.
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Robert Pirsig. A modern classic, Pirsig travels the countryside with his son and friends, and explores the competing principles of a Zen-like world view with those of logic and reason. While Pirsig might seen to represent logic and reason for some of the book, it later becomes apparent that he believes the two should be merged. He writes that despite the book’s title, “it should in no way be associated with that great body of factual information relating to orthodox Zen Buddhist practice. It’s not very factual on motorcycles, either.”
The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, by Robin Sharma. The book is a fable, and it’s one that will certainly make you give some thought to your life, your goals, your dreams and how your daily habits help you reach those dreams. While I don’t think you can actually implement everything discussed in the book (it would be too overwhelming), Sharma explores a lot of interesting ideas, and I’m sure anyone will find some that are worth trying. Read my review.
The Elements of Style, by Strunk and White. An absolutely indispensable resource for anyone who writes in the English language. Seriously. This isn’t only for writers — it’s for bloggers, people who write reports, people who write emails and write things online. In short, for just about everyone. I read this when I first became a journalist 18 years ago, and I’ve read it every year since. It’ll teach you to be more concise, to avoid common mistakes, and to generally be clearer and more powerful with your words.
Fever Pitch, by Nick Hornby. This book is a bit different from the others on this list, but I loved it so much I thought I’d share it here. It’s an autobiographical look at the author’s obsession with soccer (or football to most of the world) through his lifetime. This series of essays (each focused on a different match) is an absorbing read and incredibly interesting.
A People’s History of the United States, by Howard Zinn. The book that changed history for many people who had previously only studied the usual textbooks. Zinn tells the story of the United States from an entirely different perspective — the powerless, instead of the rich and powerful. It’s the story of the blacks, the women, the Chinese who built the railroads, the poor, the workers, those oppressed by force and power, the voiceless, and many other minorities. An eye-opener.
The Power of Less, by Leo Babauta. OK, it’s cheesy and self-promotional to put your own book on a list you created. I know. But I couldn’t help it — sometimes you have to be self-promotional … and plus, I really think you’ll find value in this book. Teaches you to focus on the essentials in order to simplify your life and become more effective in your work. Also see: the Power of Less video, the free Thriving on Less ebook, audio tips podcasts, and The Power of Less New Year’s Challenge!
Bonus update — I forgot a few that I really want to add to this list. So here are a few more books:
Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life, and True Love: A Practice for Awakening the Heart, by Thich Nhat Hanh. As someone in the comments pointed out, I quote Nhat Hanh all the time. His writings are very very simple, and yet there is a profoundness in them that is apparent after you’ve read a chapter or two.
In Praise of Slowness: Challenging the Cult of Speed, by Carl Honore. Discusses the growing slow movement — slow food, slow travel, slow living — and how it counters our current culture of speed.
The Tao of Pooh, by Benjamin Hoff. A great introduction to Taoism using one of the best-known characters in Western literature.
So there are hundreds and thousands of great non-fiction books that I’ve left off this list, mostly because I don’t have the time to compile a bigger list, and also largely because there are so many I haven’t read personally.
20 Amazing and Essential Non-fiction Books to Enrich Your Library
20 Amazing and essential non-fiction books to enrich your library
Written by Leo Babatua
I’m an avid reader of fiction and just love a novel that transports me, that is so gripping that I can’t put it down. But I also enjoy a good non-fiction book, from self-help stuff to philosophy to biographies to just about anything that makes me think.
After the warm reception of my post on novels (50 Amazing and Essential Novels to Enrich Your Library), a number of people asked for a list of non-fiction as well. Well, here it is!
I was hesitant to do this as there are so many classic non-fiction texts, from the Greeks to philosophers through the ages to biographies of amazing people to first-hand accounts of surviving wars and much more. It’s overwhelming, and it would be hard to be comprehensive.
But then I decided not to be comprehensive. Instead, I wanted to find 20 books that convey some of the philosophy of Zen Habits in different ways, books that influenced this site and that I think will enrich your library and your life if you haven’t read them yet.
So this list is far, far from being authoritative or comprehensive. It leaves off just about every classic work — histories, philosophy works, scientific classics, and so on. It doesn’t have the autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, anything by Descartes or Nietzsche or Kant, accounts by Anne Frank or slaves, or anything else on the 100 Best Non-fiction Books list. Not that those books don’t hold great value — they do — but they’ve been done elsewhere.
This list is just a few of my favorites. I hope you enjoy them, find inspiration from them, and share some of your favorites in the comments below!
Your Money or Your Life, by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robins. No book on money is more important. If you haven’t read this book yet, you must. It’s simply life transforming, and takes the way most people look at money and turns it on its head. My philosophy about money stems from this book.
Slowing Down to the Speed of Life, by Richard Carlson and Joseph Bailey. I only discovered this book recently but it is simply transformational. At its core, it is about learning to live and think in the moment, which is far from new — Buddhism has had this for 2,500 years. But this book explores the idea from a psychological point of view, showing us how our thoughts are what create our emotions, how we can become calm in the middle of chaos, how we can minimize stress, become better parents, improve our relationships, and much more. I’ve been trying this myself recently and it works wonders.
Simplify Your Life, by Elaine St. James. This is one of the books that most influenced the simple philosophy behind this site. I began simplifying my life when I first read this book a decade ago, and though I’ve had some ups and downs, I credit my love for simplifying to Elaine St. James. It’s an easy read and there are some great tips in there.
The Art of Happiness, by the Dalai Lama. I love the Dalai Lama mostly because he always seems so happy and compassionate. I don’t know if the actual person is like that, but his writings on compassion and happiness are simple yet insightful, and even if there’s nothing overly profound, I found them to be great reminders about why living a more compassionate life can have incredible meaning for ourselves and those around us.
Getting Things Done, by David Allen. The quintessential productivity book, it’s a must-read for anyone looking to get more organized and efficient. This was my starting point, and while I’ve modified my system, GTD taught me some really important skills: emptying my inbox, getting everything on paper and out of my head, creating a system to keep everything in, and so forth.
The 4-Hour Workweek, by Timothy Ferriss. This book inspired legions of us to simplify and focus on that which has the most impact on our lives and our businesses. The concepts can be applied to any life — whether you’re a CEO, office worker, stay-at-home parent, blogger, you name it. You might not actually get to a 4-hour workweek, but you’ll learn to look at your work in new ways and do it in smarter ways.
The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield. For anyone who writes or creates, the battle to actually get the creating done is well known. We struggle sometimes, often daily, to focus on our work, to actually do the writing or creating, to avoid the great abyss of procrastination and distraction. This book shows you how to overcome this struggle by working like a professional. Great stuff.
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff, by Richard Carlson. Carlson is the co-author of the above-mentioned “Slowing Down to the Speed of Life”, but he’s more famous for this book (actually a series of books that started with this book). The book’s title becomes more meaningful when you hear the subtitle: “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff — and it’s all small stuff”. This book teaches you to keep things in perspective and in doing so, stop stressing out about things. It teaches you to appreciate the things — and especially people — around you. Really an excellent book.
Running to Win, by George Sheehan. Sheehan was a running philosopher. I thought this book was going to be about competitive running, and in some ways it is, but really it’s about a philosophy of life, of living life to its fullest in every way. Sheehan’s essays are beautiful and inspiring. He’s written a bunch of excellent books, but this one was written after he learned he had a terminal disease.
Upgrade Your Life, by Gina Trapani. This is Lifehacker in book form — all the tips and tricks that will help you turn technology from something that distracts and overwhelms you into something that makes you more productive and effective.
The Essential Gandhi, by Louis Fischer. Whether you’re a fan of Gandhi or not, his writings are inspiring and his words have had deep and widespread impact. I am a subscriber to his writings on non-violence and civil disobedience and truth. I’m inspired every time I pick up this book.
Manufacturing Consent, by Noam Chomsky and Edward Herman. If you haven’t read or heard anything by Chomsky, this book could be eye-opening. It was for me when I read it more than a decade ago, and it taught me a lot about political systems and the media, and from this I’ve become more critical of the information I consume (and perhaps a little more cynical about politics as well). Anyway, I highly recommend this or other Chomsky works if you’d like to get a completely different perspective on things, from one of the most famous dissidents of our times.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen Covey. Indispensable reading for anyone who wants to learn to focus on the important things and become more effective in work and in life. The 7 Habits include being proactive, beginning with the end in mind, putting first things first, thinking win/win, seeking first to understand, synergizing, and sharpening the saw. His 8th habit boils down to “Find your voice and inspire others to find theirs.”
Tao Te Ching, by Lao Tzu. This fundamental Taoist classic is an excellent read for something that’s 1,500 years old (or thereabouts). It’ll teach you the basics of Eastern philosophy and a thing or two about life itself.
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Robert Pirsig. A modern classic, Pirsig travels the countryside with his son and friends, and explores the competing principles of a Zen-like world view with those of logic and reason. While Pirsig might seen to represent logic and reason for some of the book, it later becomes apparent that he believes the two should be merged. He writes that despite the book’s title, “it should in no way be associated with that great body of factual information relating to orthodox Zen Buddhist practice. It’s not very factual on motorcycles, either.”
The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, by Robin Sharma. The book is a fable, and it’s one that will certainly make you give some thought to your life, your goals, your dreams and how your daily habits help you reach those dreams. While I don’t think you can actually implement everything discussed in the book (it would be too overwhelming), Sharma explores a lot of interesting ideas, and I’m sure anyone will find some that are worth trying. Read my review.
The Elements of Style, by Strunk and White. An absolutely indispensable resource for anyone who writes in the English language. Seriously. This isn’t only for writers — it’s for bloggers, people who write reports, people who write emails and write things online. In short, for just about everyone. I read this when I first became a journalist 18 years ago, and I’ve read it every year since. It’ll teach you to be more concise, to avoid common mistakes, and to generally be clearer and more powerful with your words.
Fever Pitch, by Nick Hornby. This book is a bit different from the others on this list, but I loved it so much I thought I’d share it here. It’s an autobiographical look at the author’s obsession with soccer (or football to most of the world) through his lifetime. This series of essays (each focused on a different match) is an absorbing read and incredibly interesting.
A People’s History of the United States, by Howard Zinn. The book that changed history for many people who had previously only studied the usual textbooks. Zinn tells the story of the United States from an entirely different perspective — the powerless, instead of the rich and powerful. It’s the story of the blacks, the women, the Chinese who built the railroads, the poor, the workers, those oppressed by force and power, the voiceless, and many other minorities. An eye-opener.
The Power of Less, by Leo Babauta. OK, it’s cheesy and self-promotional to put your own book on a list you created. I know. But I couldn’t help it — sometimes you have to be self-promotional … and plus, I really think you’ll find value in this book. Teaches you to focus on the essentials in order to simplify your life and become more effective in your work. Also see: the Power of Less video, the free Thriving on Less ebook, audio tips podcasts, and The Power of Less New Year’s Challenge!
Bonus update — I forgot a few that I really want to add to this list. So here are a few more books:
Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life, and True Love: A Practice for Awakening the Heart, by Thich Nhat Hanh. As someone in the comments pointed out, I quote Nhat Hanh all the time. His writings are very very simple, and yet there is a profoundness in them that is apparent after you’ve read a chapter or two.
In Praise of Slowness: Challenging the Cult of Speed, by Carl Honore. Discusses the growing slow movement — slow food, slow travel, slow living — and how it counters our current culture of speed.
The Tao of Pooh, by Benjamin Hoff. A great introduction to Taoism using one of the best-known characters in Western literature.
So there are hundreds and thousands of great non-fiction books that I’ve left off this list, mostly because I don’t have the time to compile a bigger list, and also largely because there are so many I haven’t read personally.
Written by Leo Babatua
I’m an avid reader of fiction and just love a novel that transports me, that is so gripping that I can’t put it down. But I also enjoy a good non-fiction book, from self-help stuff to philosophy to biographies to just about anything that makes me think.
After the warm reception of my post on novels (50 Amazing and Essential Novels to Enrich Your Library), a number of people asked for a list of non-fiction as well. Well, here it is!
I was hesitant to do this as there are so many classic non-fiction texts, from the Greeks to philosophers through the ages to biographies of amazing people to first-hand accounts of surviving wars and much more. It’s overwhelming, and it would be hard to be comprehensive.
But then I decided not to be comprehensive. Instead, I wanted to find 20 books that convey some of the philosophy of Zen Habits in different ways, books that influenced this site and that I think will enrich your library and your life if you haven’t read them yet.
So this list is far, far from being authoritative or comprehensive. It leaves off just about every classic work — histories, philosophy works, scientific classics, and so on. It doesn’t have the autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, anything by Descartes or Nietzsche or Kant, accounts by Anne Frank or slaves, or anything else on the 100 Best Non-fiction Books list. Not that those books don’t hold great value — they do — but they’ve been done elsewhere.
This list is just a few of my favorites. I hope you enjoy them, find inspiration from them, and share some of your favorites in the comments below!
Your Money or Your Life, by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robins. No book on money is more important. If you haven’t read this book yet, you must. It’s simply life transforming, and takes the way most people look at money and turns it on its head. My philosophy about money stems from this book.
Slowing Down to the Speed of Life, by Richard Carlson and Joseph Bailey. I only discovered this book recently but it is simply transformational. At its core, it is about learning to live and think in the moment, which is far from new — Buddhism has had this for 2,500 years. But this book explores the idea from a psychological point of view, showing us how our thoughts are what create our emotions, how we can become calm in the middle of chaos, how we can minimize stress, become better parents, improve our relationships, and much more. I’ve been trying this myself recently and it works wonders.
Simplify Your Life, by Elaine St. James. This is one of the books that most influenced the simple philosophy behind this site. I began simplifying my life when I first read this book a decade ago, and though I’ve had some ups and downs, I credit my love for simplifying to Elaine St. James. It’s an easy read and there are some great tips in there.
The Art of Happiness, by the Dalai Lama. I love the Dalai Lama mostly because he always seems so happy and compassionate. I don’t know if the actual person is like that, but his writings on compassion and happiness are simple yet insightful, and even if there’s nothing overly profound, I found them to be great reminders about why living a more compassionate life can have incredible meaning for ourselves and those around us.
Getting Things Done, by David Allen. The quintessential productivity book, it’s a must-read for anyone looking to get more organized and efficient. This was my starting point, and while I’ve modified my system, GTD taught me some really important skills: emptying my inbox, getting everything on paper and out of my head, creating a system to keep everything in, and so forth.
The 4-Hour Workweek, by Timothy Ferriss. This book inspired legions of us to simplify and focus on that which has the most impact on our lives and our businesses. The concepts can be applied to any life — whether you’re a CEO, office worker, stay-at-home parent, blogger, you name it. You might not actually get to a 4-hour workweek, but you’ll learn to look at your work in new ways and do it in smarter ways.
The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield. For anyone who writes or creates, the battle to actually get the creating done is well known. We struggle sometimes, often daily, to focus on our work, to actually do the writing or creating, to avoid the great abyss of procrastination and distraction. This book shows you how to overcome this struggle by working like a professional. Great stuff.
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff, by Richard Carlson. Carlson is the co-author of the above-mentioned “Slowing Down to the Speed of Life”, but he’s more famous for this book (actually a series of books that started with this book). The book’s title becomes more meaningful when you hear the subtitle: “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff — and it’s all small stuff”. This book teaches you to keep things in perspective and in doing so, stop stressing out about things. It teaches you to appreciate the things — and especially people — around you. Really an excellent book.
Running to Win, by George Sheehan. Sheehan was a running philosopher. I thought this book was going to be about competitive running, and in some ways it is, but really it’s about a philosophy of life, of living life to its fullest in every way. Sheehan’s essays are beautiful and inspiring. He’s written a bunch of excellent books, but this one was written after he learned he had a terminal disease.
Upgrade Your Life, by Gina Trapani. This is Lifehacker in book form — all the tips and tricks that will help you turn technology from something that distracts and overwhelms you into something that makes you more productive and effective.
The Essential Gandhi, by Louis Fischer. Whether you’re a fan of Gandhi or not, his writings are inspiring and his words have had deep and widespread impact. I am a subscriber to his writings on non-violence and civil disobedience and truth. I’m inspired every time I pick up this book.
Manufacturing Consent, by Noam Chomsky and Edward Herman. If you haven’t read or heard anything by Chomsky, this book could be eye-opening. It was for me when I read it more than a decade ago, and it taught me a lot about political systems and the media, and from this I’ve become more critical of the information I consume (and perhaps a little more cynical about politics as well). Anyway, I highly recommend this or other Chomsky works if you’d like to get a completely different perspective on things, from one of the most famous dissidents of our times.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen Covey. Indispensable reading for anyone who wants to learn to focus on the important things and become more effective in work and in life. The 7 Habits include being proactive, beginning with the end in mind, putting first things first, thinking win/win, seeking first to understand, synergizing, and sharpening the saw. His 8th habit boils down to “Find your voice and inspire others to find theirs.”
Tao Te Ching, by Lao Tzu. This fundamental Taoist classic is an excellent read for something that’s 1,500 years old (or thereabouts). It’ll teach you the basics of Eastern philosophy and a thing or two about life itself.
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Robert Pirsig. A modern classic, Pirsig travels the countryside with his son and friends, and explores the competing principles of a Zen-like world view with those of logic and reason. While Pirsig might seen to represent logic and reason for some of the book, it later becomes apparent that he believes the two should be merged. He writes that despite the book’s title, “it should in no way be associated with that great body of factual information relating to orthodox Zen Buddhist practice. It’s not very factual on motorcycles, either.”
The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, by Robin Sharma. The book is a fable, and it’s one that will certainly make you give some thought to your life, your goals, your dreams and how your daily habits help you reach those dreams. While I don’t think you can actually implement everything discussed in the book (it would be too overwhelming), Sharma explores a lot of interesting ideas, and I’m sure anyone will find some that are worth trying. Read my review.
The Elements of Style, by Strunk and White. An absolutely indispensable resource for anyone who writes in the English language. Seriously. This isn’t only for writers — it’s for bloggers, people who write reports, people who write emails and write things online. In short, for just about everyone. I read this when I first became a journalist 18 years ago, and I’ve read it every year since. It’ll teach you to be more concise, to avoid common mistakes, and to generally be clearer and more powerful with your words.
Fever Pitch, by Nick Hornby. This book is a bit different from the others on this list, but I loved it so much I thought I’d share it here. It’s an autobiographical look at the author’s obsession with soccer (or football to most of the world) through his lifetime. This series of essays (each focused on a different match) is an absorbing read and incredibly interesting.
A People’s History of the United States, by Howard Zinn. The book that changed history for many people who had previously only studied the usual textbooks. Zinn tells the story of the United States from an entirely different perspective — the powerless, instead of the rich and powerful. It’s the story of the blacks, the women, the Chinese who built the railroads, the poor, the workers, those oppressed by force and power, the voiceless, and many other minorities. An eye-opener.
The Power of Less, by Leo Babauta. OK, it’s cheesy and self-promotional to put your own book on a list you created. I know. But I couldn’t help it — sometimes you have to be self-promotional … and plus, I really think you’ll find value in this book. Teaches you to focus on the essentials in order to simplify your life and become more effective in your work. Also see: the Power of Less video, the free Thriving on Less ebook, audio tips podcasts, and The Power of Less New Year’s Challenge!
Bonus update — I forgot a few that I really want to add to this list. So here are a few more books:
Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life, and True Love: A Practice for Awakening the Heart, by Thich Nhat Hanh. As someone in the comments pointed out, I quote Nhat Hanh all the time. His writings are very very simple, and yet there is a profoundness in them that is apparent after you’ve read a chapter or two.
In Praise of Slowness: Challenging the Cult of Speed, by Carl Honore. Discusses the growing slow movement — slow food, slow travel, slow living — and how it counters our current culture of speed.
The Tao of Pooh, by Benjamin Hoff. A great introduction to Taoism using one of the best-known characters in Western literature.
So there are hundreds and thousands of great non-fiction books that I’ve left off this list, mostly because I don’t have the time to compile a bigger list, and also largely because there are so many I haven’t read personally.
How to Be Mindful During the Holidays, in 350 words
Being Mindful during the holidays
“Smile, breathe and go slowly.” - Thich Nhat Hanh, Zen Buddhist monk
The holidays are a busy and stressful time for most people — with work and gift shopping and get-togethers and all kinds of other events and worries, it’s a wonder we stay sane at all.
The secret to survival — and in fact to having a wonderful time during these holidays and any stressful situation — is to stay in the moment, as much as possible. This is something I work on all the time, and it’s easy to forget.
However, it’s also easy to do, if you stay conscious of it. Here’s how:
1. A simple practice. Take a fruit — an apple, a pear, a peeled banana or kiwi, some berries — and eat them mindfully. Slowly. Take a small bite, and really experience it. Feel the texture in your mouth. Savor the taste. Smell the fruit. Think about how you feel as you eat the fruit. Feel the juices in your mouth. Feel yourself swallow the bite. Eat the entire fruit this way, one bite at a time, really feeling and tasting and smelling and experiencing this fruit.
2. A simple mantra. Each time you feel yourself getting stressed or overwhelmed, remember the fruit. Say to yourself “apple” or “banana” or “berries” (or whatever fruit you ate), and remember what it was like to be mindful as you ate that fruit. Now do the same thing with whatever you’re doing right now — whether you’re out shopping, or spending time with loved ones, or doing a work task. Focus on one thing, and really be in the moment with that thing or that person.
3. Remember what’s important. During these holidays, think about what’s most important to you. That might be your loved ones, or a loved one, whether that’s a spouse or friends or kids or parents or whatever. It might be your work — what you create and are passionate about. It might be something else. Focus on that during these holidays, and remember that the rest is just noise. It’s not important. Fully experience what's important to you, and let the rest fade away.
“Smile, breathe and go slowly.” - Thich Nhat Hanh, Zen Buddhist monk
The holidays are a busy and stressful time for most people — with work and gift shopping and get-togethers and all kinds of other events and worries, it’s a wonder we stay sane at all.
The secret to survival — and in fact to having a wonderful time during these holidays and any stressful situation — is to stay in the moment, as much as possible. This is something I work on all the time, and it’s easy to forget.
However, it’s also easy to do, if you stay conscious of it. Here’s how:
1. A simple practice. Take a fruit — an apple, a pear, a peeled banana or kiwi, some berries — and eat them mindfully. Slowly. Take a small bite, and really experience it. Feel the texture in your mouth. Savor the taste. Smell the fruit. Think about how you feel as you eat the fruit. Feel the juices in your mouth. Feel yourself swallow the bite. Eat the entire fruit this way, one bite at a time, really feeling and tasting and smelling and experiencing this fruit.
2. A simple mantra. Each time you feel yourself getting stressed or overwhelmed, remember the fruit. Say to yourself “apple” or “banana” or “berries” (or whatever fruit you ate), and remember what it was like to be mindful as you ate that fruit. Now do the same thing with whatever you’re doing right now — whether you’re out shopping, or spending time with loved ones, or doing a work task. Focus on one thing, and really be in the moment with that thing or that person.
3. Remember what’s important. During these holidays, think about what’s most important to you. That might be your loved ones, or a loved one, whether that’s a spouse or friends or kids or parents or whatever. It might be your work — what you create and are passionate about. It might be something else. Focus on that during these holidays, and remember that the rest is just noise. It’s not important. Fully experience what's important to you, and let the rest fade away.
Mercury Retrograde
Mercury retrograde provides the opportunity to adjust our thoughts, attitudes and decisions about our issues and adjust our new direction as we move through 2009. The adjustments of Mercury retrograde typically occur three times a year (four in 2009) and become similar to a course correction during the flight from one destination to another. The adjustments that occur during Mercury retrograde typically have a theme that occurs all year long, shown by the elements of the signs affected. In 2009 the adjustments that are slated to occur during the retrogrades begin in air signs and return back to earth signs. Thus these Mercury retrogrades take our ideas, decisions and attitudes about specific events and utilize the information to put new processes, contracts,and the like into place.
The purpose of Mercury retrograde is to review and revise our life and our connection with reality. The timing of this universe is geared toward the Sun as it moves through the zodiac. Mercury has an orbit that at times gets ahead of the Sun allowing us to look into the future toward new and innovative ideas. However, we cannot continue in that vein until we come back to the present designated by the Sun and put our new ideas into manifestation. During the time that Mercury jumps ahead, we ultimately have to bring the ideas back into the present to test and evaluate to see how they fit into our life. As Mercury retrogrades back into the present, the connection with the Sun happens as we test drive our ideas and re-align with reality and the natural timing of the universe.
The purpose of Mercury retrograde is to review and revise our life and our connection with reality. The timing of this universe is geared toward the Sun as it moves through the zodiac. Mercury has an orbit that at times gets ahead of the Sun allowing us to look into the future toward new and innovative ideas. However, we cannot continue in that vein until we come back to the present designated by the Sun and put our new ideas into manifestation. During the time that Mercury jumps ahead, we ultimately have to bring the ideas back into the present to test and evaluate to see how they fit into our life. As Mercury retrogrades back into the present, the connection with the Sun happens as we test drive our ideas and re-align with reality and the natural timing of the universe.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
TONIGHT FREE PHONE SEMINAR! How to get your power back in a relationship!
Tonight: FREE PHONE SEMINAR! How to get your power back in a relationship! Dial in number:218-862-1000 Access code: 985632#
Free LIVE phone seminar - TONIGHT - 10PM EST/7PM PST!
Seminar withDee of Love Solutions - Call Now!
Profile
Topic: "How to get your 'power back'!"
How to get your 'power back' and feel in control, when inside you feel all is lost. Whether your relationship has fallen apart, or ended - you may feel powerless, or there is nothing you can do to fix it. The feeling that your ex is in control, and your subject to his/her feelings makes you feel powerless or helpless. ... tonights call will discuss these topcis and help you regain your power. Get your power back.
Date:Wed. Dec 9th
Time:10pm EST/ 7pm PST
Cost:FREE!
Dial in number:218-862-1000
Access code:985632#
Avoid relationship mistakes! Have the perfect relationship by New Years. ...Talk now with Relationship Coach Dee.
Free LIVE phone seminar - TONIGHT - 10PM EST/7PM PST!
Seminar withDee of Love Solutions - Call Now!
Profile
Topic: "How to get your 'power back'!"
How to get your 'power back' and feel in control, when inside you feel all is lost. Whether your relationship has fallen apart, or ended - you may feel powerless, or there is nothing you can do to fix it. The feeling that your ex is in control, and your subject to his/her feelings makes you feel powerless or helpless. ... tonights call will discuss these topcis and help you regain your power. Get your power back.
Date:Wed. Dec 9th
Time:10pm EST/ 7pm PST
Cost:FREE!
Dial in number:218-862-1000
Access code:985632#
Avoid relationship mistakes! Have the perfect relationship by New Years. ...Talk now with Relationship Coach Dee.
Just in time for The Holidays: Less Toys, Please!
by Leo Babauta @ http://satorination.com
Toys aren’t evil. But we’ve gotten out of hand lately.
Starting at a young age we are bombarded with bright colors, blinking lights, talking monkeys, and television programs with non-stop singing and laughter.
We just don’t have a couple of these things. We have all of them.
Look, toys have amazing potential. They help kids channel curiosity, develop imagination, and hone motor skills. They demonstrate principles of ownership and sharing. As we grow, exploring computers and technology builds skills that we can leverage as adults.
The thing is, we can achieve these benefits with far less.
Minimalist Milligan
Milligan is our first child. You know how this story goes. In addition to our own craziness, our parents, family, and friends made sure that she had enough rattles, whistles, clothes, books, and music machines to entertain an army.
Do you know what Milligan enjoyed the most? The empty boxes the toys came in. Her love of the toy lasted 5-10 minutes. But give her a couple different sized boxes and you could watch her go for hours.
Not only did she not need the overwhelm of stuff, she didn’t even want it. Rather, she’s now perfectly content with:
* Her Blue Puppy
* A couple books (Wooly Lamb, mostly)
* Spatulas or a wooden spoon
* Whatever mommy and daddy are playing with, and
* Just a few other things
In the past Milligan would completely disregard a large portion of her toys. With fewer options, she’s began to develop a deeper connection and thus a deeper mastery of them.
She’s banged around a wooden spoon enough to realize that it makes different sounds on the kitchen table, the carpet, or the couch. She’s noticed how the same plastic ball rolls differently across the title in the bathroom, then in does through the grass outside.
This seems much more intimate and meaningful than a light up piano that plays 80’s pop songs when you press the right buttons. Sure, she’s young. But I’m not convinced much of this changes as we age.
The ‘development’ excuse
It seems every product targeted at infants or toddlers has the same message:
“This product has been designed by a team of experts, armed with ground-breaking neuro-technology. The rhythm of the lights and the cadence of the beeps have been optimized to maximize your child’s growth and development.”
Ugh. Am I the only one overwhelmed by these messages?
These products may be fantastic, but are they really any more scientific than discovering how a slinky works? As parents, we need to make sure we are the ones consciously deciding what’s best for the growth of our children.
I’m all for supporting Milligan’s development, but I’d much rather take advice and toy suggestions from my grandmother, than from your highly compensated team of experts.
Simple, time-tested toys
Legacy toys are legacy toys for a reason.
* Hula Hoops
* Play Doh
* Lego Sets
* Bicycles
* Simple Sports (a football, mitt, skates, etc…)
I don’t know about you, but I had every video game system imaginable when I was growing up. Atari, Nintendo, Sega, Dreamcast, Playstation, Xbox. Every year it seemed like we upgraded systems.
But almost none of my childhood memories stem from these machines. I had a lot of fun, but the impact soon faded. I remember building Legos with my brother, riding bikes down our street, building forts in the woods, throwing the football with my dad, or reading books with my mom.
It was these sorts of regular moments that shaped who I am today. Not the hours I spent playing Deion Sander’s Prime Time Football.
Get started today!
Round up the family and explain that you’ll be doing a new family project. Each member, including yourself, is going to be donating half their ‘toys’ to charity!
If your kids are old enough, have them bring out all their stuff into one place. Help them create one big list. Encourage them to tally up what they have and circle the half they’d most like to keep. Drive with them to donate the toys to needy kids or organize a garage sale and let them participate in the process.
Make it fun. Make it memorable.
Ultimately you may find that you learn more from this process than your children.
Read full article: http://ping.fm/u5IdJ/-Less-Toys--Please
Toys aren’t evil. But we’ve gotten out of hand lately.
Starting at a young age we are bombarded with bright colors, blinking lights, talking monkeys, and television programs with non-stop singing and laughter.
We just don’t have a couple of these things. We have all of them.
Look, toys have amazing potential. They help kids channel curiosity, develop imagination, and hone motor skills. They demonstrate principles of ownership and sharing. As we grow, exploring computers and technology builds skills that we can leverage as adults.
The thing is, we can achieve these benefits with far less.
Minimalist Milligan
Milligan is our first child. You know how this story goes. In addition to our own craziness, our parents, family, and friends made sure that she had enough rattles, whistles, clothes, books, and music machines to entertain an army.
Do you know what Milligan enjoyed the most? The empty boxes the toys came in. Her love of the toy lasted 5-10 minutes. But give her a couple different sized boxes and you could watch her go for hours.
Not only did she not need the overwhelm of stuff, she didn’t even want it. Rather, she’s now perfectly content with:
* Her Blue Puppy
* A couple books (Wooly Lamb, mostly)
* Spatulas or a wooden spoon
* Whatever mommy and daddy are playing with, and
* Just a few other things
In the past Milligan would completely disregard a large portion of her toys. With fewer options, she’s began to develop a deeper connection and thus a deeper mastery of them.
She’s banged around a wooden spoon enough to realize that it makes different sounds on the kitchen table, the carpet, or the couch. She’s noticed how the same plastic ball rolls differently across the title in the bathroom, then in does through the grass outside.
This seems much more intimate and meaningful than a light up piano that plays 80’s pop songs when you press the right buttons. Sure, she’s young. But I’m not convinced much of this changes as we age.
The ‘development’ excuse
It seems every product targeted at infants or toddlers has the same message:
“This product has been designed by a team of experts, armed with ground-breaking neuro-technology. The rhythm of the lights and the cadence of the beeps have been optimized to maximize your child’s growth and development.”
Ugh. Am I the only one overwhelmed by these messages?
These products may be fantastic, but are they really any more scientific than discovering how a slinky works? As parents, we need to make sure we are the ones consciously deciding what’s best for the growth of our children.
I’m all for supporting Milligan’s development, but I’d much rather take advice and toy suggestions from my grandmother, than from your highly compensated team of experts.
Simple, time-tested toys
Legacy toys are legacy toys for a reason.
* Hula Hoops
* Play Doh
* Lego Sets
* Bicycles
* Simple Sports (a football, mitt, skates, etc…)
I don’t know about you, but I had every video game system imaginable when I was growing up. Atari, Nintendo, Sega, Dreamcast, Playstation, Xbox. Every year it seemed like we upgraded systems.
But almost none of my childhood memories stem from these machines. I had a lot of fun, but the impact soon faded. I remember building Legos with my brother, riding bikes down our street, building forts in the woods, throwing the football with my dad, or reading books with my mom.
It was these sorts of regular moments that shaped who I am today. Not the hours I spent playing Deion Sander’s Prime Time Football.
Get started today!
Round up the family and explain that you’ll be doing a new family project. Each member, including yourself, is going to be donating half their ‘toys’ to charity!
If your kids are old enough, have them bring out all their stuff into one place. Help them create one big list. Encourage them to tally up what they have and circle the half they’d most like to keep. Drive with them to donate the toys to needy kids or organize a garage sale and let them participate in the process.
Make it fun. Make it memorable.
Ultimately you may find that you learn more from this process than your children.
Read full article: http://ping.fm/u5IdJ/-Less-Toys--Please
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Weekly Horoscopes - December 7 to 13, 2009
WeeklyScopes for December 7 to 12, 2009
Awareness, Release, Moving Forward, Being Brave
* Dates and times reflect EST
So the week features Jupiter and Chiron blending energies for the third time this year allows for a final release of what holds us back, perhaps let go of old ways, past hurts, or even antiquated precepts. Coupled with Mercury's connection to Pluto and Saturn, our thoughts and communication determined to achieve our objectives. The Sagittarius-Sun and Leo-Mars harmonizing also gives our actions boldness and decisions confidence.
Throughout the week, the Moon makes her own alignments to Uranus and the Triple Conjunction – Jupiter, Chiron, and Neptune – giving our hearts the courage to venture out beyond our comprehension and be hopeful of things to come.
If you haven't checked out the December Horoscopes, here's the link - http://ping.fm/SYFvp
ARIES ~ Lingering drama with a long-time friend may finally come to an end. It's been a long time coming. On a separate note, the Sagittarius-Sun and Leo-Mars coming together makes this is an ideal time to get started on creative projects you've got on your to-do list.
TAURUS ~ Tension/existing problems in the work place finds a release/resolution. Or maybe personal longer term goals need redefinition to clarify any uncertainties. Mercury's links to Pluto and Saturn gives the ability for focused thinking and detailed planning.
GEMINI ~ Mercury's links to Pluto and Saturn give a more serious tone in your thinking and conversation which you might not necessarily be comfortable with. Communication is key. May it be spoken or written. Lest your significant other or business partner become the target of frustrations or confusion.
CANCER ~ Ch-ch-changes... Time to let go. What do you hold on to that keeps you from moving forward? Old ideals. Someone else's dreams or desires. Deeply-rooted hurt. Familiar ways. Just because something has always been doesn't mean it should always be.
LEO ~ Love and relationships get a chance for a renewal this week as Jupiter and Chiron, the Sun and Mars light up the parts of your chart governing romance and partnerships. Listen to your heart when your mind is unable to decide.
VIRGO ~ Has your work situation changed? Or perhaps your day-to-day routine is not your typical routine anymore. Or maybe you've found a new resolve to truly make a lifestyle change that allows for a healthier way of living. Whichever it is, this week's celestial alignments encourage and emboldens you to continue with what's been started.
LIBRA ~ There isn't always reason to matters of the heart or issues relating to loved ones. This week, however, might be an exception. Just make sure you're up to the challenge of truly seeking logical answers to the whats, whys, and hows regarding to family relations and/or your love life.
SCORPIO ~ You feel a shift. Perhaps family roles are changing. Maybe perceptions are different. An alternate view/understanding provides alternative solutions or unique answers to existing problems or issues.
SAGITTARIUS ~ Have new ideas been brewing? Something supplemental to current income or perhaps a change in profession? Mercury, Pluto, and Saturn allow for deep concentration and planning well thought-out steps this week. With the Sun in your sign and in harmony with Mars, decisions are confident and the promises of Jupiter and Chiron in your money house bestow a dose of hope and wisdom.
CAPRICORN ~ Lighten up a bit. Yes, your mind may be full of concern. Limitations and restrictions are quite clear now. Their clarity isn't to weigh you down with worry. They are revealed so, you can make plans on how to handle them. Knowing what's not doable or probable or credible rules out what cannot be so, making it possible to figure out what can be.
AQUARIUS ~ Feeling a little lighter? Standing a little taller? Straighter? A heavy load you've been burdened with for far too long gets lifted this week. Good riddance. Nope, it's done, over, you've given it up. Now, begin to fill that empty space left open by that load with what you desire...
PISCES ~ Friends or a friend may be the source of frustrations. It may be necessary to cut off ties, eliminate frenemies. If that isn't exactly a solution you can live with, channel this frustrating energy and redirect it towards advancing in your professional pursuits or taking a step toward long term goals. The connection between Sagittarius-Sun and Leo-Mars activates the part of your chart governing work and future goals.
Read full article: Satori Nation.com
Awareness, Release, Moving Forward, Being Brave
* Dates and times reflect EST
So the week features Jupiter and Chiron blending energies for the third time this year allows for a final release of what holds us back, perhaps let go of old ways, past hurts, or even antiquated precepts. Coupled with Mercury's connection to Pluto and Saturn, our thoughts and communication determined to achieve our objectives. The Sagittarius-Sun and Leo-Mars harmonizing also gives our actions boldness and decisions confidence.
Throughout the week, the Moon makes her own alignments to Uranus and the Triple Conjunction – Jupiter, Chiron, and Neptune – giving our hearts the courage to venture out beyond our comprehension and be hopeful of things to come.
If you haven't checked out the December Horoscopes, here's the link - http://ping.fm/SYFvp
ARIES ~ Lingering drama with a long-time friend may finally come to an end. It's been a long time coming. On a separate note, the Sagittarius-Sun and Leo-Mars coming together makes this is an ideal time to get started on creative projects you've got on your to-do list.
TAURUS ~ Tension/existing problems in the work place finds a release/resolution. Or maybe personal longer term goals need redefinition to clarify any uncertainties. Mercury's links to Pluto and Saturn gives the ability for focused thinking and detailed planning.
GEMINI ~ Mercury's links to Pluto and Saturn give a more serious tone in your thinking and conversation which you might not necessarily be comfortable with. Communication is key. May it be spoken or written. Lest your significant other or business partner become the target of frustrations or confusion.
CANCER ~ Ch-ch-changes... Time to let go. What do you hold on to that keeps you from moving forward? Old ideals. Someone else's dreams or desires. Deeply-rooted hurt. Familiar ways. Just because something has always been doesn't mean it should always be.
LEO ~ Love and relationships get a chance for a renewal this week as Jupiter and Chiron, the Sun and Mars light up the parts of your chart governing romance and partnerships. Listen to your heart when your mind is unable to decide.
VIRGO ~ Has your work situation changed? Or perhaps your day-to-day routine is not your typical routine anymore. Or maybe you've found a new resolve to truly make a lifestyle change that allows for a healthier way of living. Whichever it is, this week's celestial alignments encourage and emboldens you to continue with what's been started.
LIBRA ~ There isn't always reason to matters of the heart or issues relating to loved ones. This week, however, might be an exception. Just make sure you're up to the challenge of truly seeking logical answers to the whats, whys, and hows regarding to family relations and/or your love life.
SCORPIO ~ You feel a shift. Perhaps family roles are changing. Maybe perceptions are different. An alternate view/understanding provides alternative solutions or unique answers to existing problems or issues.
SAGITTARIUS ~ Have new ideas been brewing? Something supplemental to current income or perhaps a change in profession? Mercury, Pluto, and Saturn allow for deep concentration and planning well thought-out steps this week. With the Sun in your sign and in harmony with Mars, decisions are confident and the promises of Jupiter and Chiron in your money house bestow a dose of hope and wisdom.
CAPRICORN ~ Lighten up a bit. Yes, your mind may be full of concern. Limitations and restrictions are quite clear now. Their clarity isn't to weigh you down with worry. They are revealed so, you can make plans on how to handle them. Knowing what's not doable or probable or credible rules out what cannot be so, making it possible to figure out what can be.
AQUARIUS ~ Feeling a little lighter? Standing a little taller? Straighter? A heavy load you've been burdened with for far too long gets lifted this week. Good riddance. Nope, it's done, over, you've given it up. Now, begin to fill that empty space left open by that load with what you desire...
PISCES ~ Friends or a friend may be the source of frustrations. It may be necessary to cut off ties, eliminate frenemies. If that isn't exactly a solution you can live with, channel this frustrating energy and redirect it towards advancing in your professional pursuits or taking a step toward long term goals. The connection between Sagittarius-Sun and Leo-Mars activates the part of your chart governing work and future goals.
Read full article: Satori Nation.com
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
7 ways to avoid buying new stuff:
Article by Leo Babauta- http://ping.fm/YLA2K
As we talked about in the True Cost of Stuff, buying something new requires the extraction and destruction of a lot of resources, not to mention the destruction of our environment in extracting, hauling, manufacturing, packaging and shipping the item.
So if we want to avoid buying new things, what should we do if we need something? After all, there are always times when we feel we need something -- not just want or desire, but need it for a real purpose. We might need new clothes, or books, or a bike so we can cut back on using a car.
One woman decided to buy nothing new, which is an interesting solution, but probably not for most people. But while you might not want to put such a drastic moratorium on yourself, here are 7 things you can do before even considering buying a new item.
1. Reconsider your need. Do you really really need it? Or is it a want? Or can you change things so you don't need it? This should always be the first thing you do.
2. Borrow. You might only need it temporarily. Borrow books from friends or the library. Borrow a dress for a special occasion. Borrow a tool for a short-term project. Be sure to lend things in return, when you can.
3. Ask friends and family. Sometimes people you know might have the item you need, but not need it any longer. Instead of loaning it to you, they might be glad to give it to you. You only need to ask. I'll often send out an email (or tweet) if I need something that others might have.
4. Freecycle. Same idea, but using a wider network. There are Freecycle networks in many areas -- people who want to give something away, or who need something, post to the list and very often exchanges are made -- for free.
5. Buy used. It's infinitely better than buying new, because when you buy used you're not having new resources taken from the earth and manufactured, but rather extending the life of resources that have already been used. Try thrift shops, charity stores, yard or garage sales, Craigslist or Ebay.
6. Make your own. This won't work in every case (if I had to make my own clothes people would laugh at me more than they already do), but sometimes you can make something that's just as good as buying, with inexpensive materials or materials you already have. This works if you're good with crafts or carpentry especially. It can also be fun to get the family involved.
7. Go without. I know this seems the same as the first item on the list, but actually it's a bit different: say you decide you really do need something, but can't find it anywhere or make it. Should you buy new? Well, maybe you can go without it for awhile, until you do find a used version. Maybe you need it but don't need it right now. Often things will turn up when you keep your eyes open -- someone will happen to mention they have the item, or you'll see it on Freecycle or Craigslist after a week or two. And sometimes, the need for the item will go away, and you'll be glad you waited.
Sometimes you might have to buy a new item, even after exhausting all these options. But if you can run through this list first, often you'll find you didn't need it new.
Article by Leo Babauta- http://ping.fm/YLA2K
As we talked about in the True Cost of Stuff, buying something new requires the extraction and destruction of a lot of resources, not to mention the destruction of our environment in extracting, hauling, manufacturing, packaging and shipping the item.
So if we want to avoid buying new things, what should we do if we need something? After all, there are always times when we feel we need something -- not just want or desire, but need it for a real purpose. We might need new clothes, or books, or a bike so we can cut back on using a car.
One woman decided to buy nothing new, which is an interesting solution, but probably not for most people. But while you might not want to put such a drastic moratorium on yourself, here are 7 things you can do before even considering buying a new item.
1. Reconsider your need. Do you really really need it? Or is it a want? Or can you change things so you don't need it? This should always be the first thing you do.
2. Borrow. You might only need it temporarily. Borrow books from friends or the library. Borrow a dress for a special occasion. Borrow a tool for a short-term project. Be sure to lend things in return, when you can.
3. Ask friends and family. Sometimes people you know might have the item you need, but not need it any longer. Instead of loaning it to you, they might be glad to give it to you. You only need to ask. I'll often send out an email (or tweet) if I need something that others might have.
4. Freecycle. Same idea, but using a wider network. There are Freecycle networks in many areas -- people who want to give something away, or who need something, post to the list and very often exchanges are made -- for free.
5. Buy used. It's infinitely better than buying new, because when you buy used you're not having new resources taken from the earth and manufactured, but rather extending the life of resources that have already been used. Try thrift shops, charity stores, yard or garage sales, Craigslist or Ebay.
6. Make your own. This won't work in every case (if I had to make my own clothes people would laugh at me more than they already do), but sometimes you can make something that's just as good as buying, with inexpensive materials or materials you already have. This works if you're good with crafts or carpentry especially. It can also be fun to get the family involved.
7. Go without. I know this seems the same as the first item on the list, but actually it's a bit different: say you decide you really do need something, but can't find it anywhere or make it. Should you buy new? Well, maybe you can go without it for awhile, until you do find a used version. Maybe you need it but don't need it right now. Often things will turn up when you keep your eyes open -- someone will happen to mention they have the item, or you'll see it on Freecycle or Craigslist after a week or two. And sometimes, the need for the item will go away, and you'll be glad you waited.
Sometimes you might have to buy a new item, even after exhausting all these options. But if you can run through this list first, often you'll find you didn't need it new.
7 ways to avoid buying new stuff
Article by Leo Babauta: http://ping.fm/vKGdX
As we talked about in the True Cost of Stuff, buying something new requires the extraction and destruction of a lot of resources, not to mention the destruction of our environment in extracting, hauling, manufacturing, packaging and shipping the item.
So if we want to avoid buying new things, what should we do if we need something? After all, there are always times when we feel we need something -- not just want or desire, but need it for a real purpose. We might need new clothes, or books, or a bike so we can cut back on using a car.
One woman decided to buy nothing new, which is an interesting solution, but probably not for most people. But while you might not want to put such a drastic moratorium on yourself, here are 7 things you can do before even considering buying a new item.
1. Reconsider your need. Do you really really need it? Or is it a want? Or can you change things so you don't need it? This should always be the first thing you do.
2. Borrow. You might only need it temporarily. Borrow books from friends or the library. Borrow a dress for a special occasion. Borrow a tool for a short-term project. Be sure to lend things in return, when you can.
3. Ask friends and family. Sometimes people you know might have the item you need, but not need it any longer. Instead of loaning it to you, they might be glad to give it to you. You only need to ask. I'll often send out an email (or tweet) if I need something that others might have.
4. Freecycle. Same idea, but using a wider network. There are Freecycle networks in many areas -- people who want to give something away, or who need something, post to the list and very often exchanges are made -- for free.
5. Buy used. It's infinitely better than buying new, because when you buy used you're not having new resources taken from the earth and manufactured, but rather extending the life of resources that have already been used. Try thrift shops, charity stores, yard or garage sales, Craigslist or Ebay.
6. Make your own. This won't work in every case (if I had to make my own clothes people would laugh at me more than they already do), but sometimes you can make something that's just as good as buying, with inexpensive materials or materials you already have. This works if you're good with crafts or carpentry especially. It can also be fun to get the family involved.
7. Go without. I know this seems the same as the first item on the list, but actually it's a bit different: say you decide you really do need something, but can't find it anywhere or make it. Should you buy new? Well, maybe you can go without it for awhile, until you do find a used version. Maybe you need it but don't need it right now. Often things will turn up when you keep your eyes open -- someone will happen to mention they have the item, or you'll see it on Freecycle or Craigslist after a week or two. And sometimes, the need for the item will go away, and you'll be glad you waited.
Sometimes you might have to buy a new item, even after exhausting all these options. But if you can run through this list first, often you'll find you didn't need it new.
As we talked about in the True Cost of Stuff, buying something new requires the extraction and destruction of a lot of resources, not to mention the destruction of our environment in extracting, hauling, manufacturing, packaging and shipping the item.
So if we want to avoid buying new things, what should we do if we need something? After all, there are always times when we feel we need something -- not just want or desire, but need it for a real purpose. We might need new clothes, or books, or a bike so we can cut back on using a car.
One woman decided to buy nothing new, which is an interesting solution, but probably not for most people. But while you might not want to put such a drastic moratorium on yourself, here are 7 things you can do before even considering buying a new item.
1. Reconsider your need. Do you really really need it? Or is it a want? Or can you change things so you don't need it? This should always be the first thing you do.
2. Borrow. You might only need it temporarily. Borrow books from friends or the library. Borrow a dress for a special occasion. Borrow a tool for a short-term project. Be sure to lend things in return, when you can.
3. Ask friends and family. Sometimes people you know might have the item you need, but not need it any longer. Instead of loaning it to you, they might be glad to give it to you. You only need to ask. I'll often send out an email (or tweet) if I need something that others might have.
4. Freecycle. Same idea, but using a wider network. There are Freecycle networks in many areas -- people who want to give something away, or who need something, post to the list and very often exchanges are made -- for free.
5. Buy used. It's infinitely better than buying new, because when you buy used you're not having new resources taken from the earth and manufactured, but rather extending the life of resources that have already been used. Try thrift shops, charity stores, yard or garage sales, Craigslist or Ebay.
6. Make your own. This won't work in every case (if I had to make my own clothes people would laugh at me more than they already do), but sometimes you can make something that's just as good as buying, with inexpensive materials or materials you already have. This works if you're good with crafts or carpentry especially. It can also be fun to get the family involved.
7. Go without. I know this seems the same as the first item on the list, but actually it's a bit different: say you decide you really do need something, but can't find it anywhere or make it. Should you buy new? Well, maybe you can go without it for awhile, until you do find a used version. Maybe you need it but don't need it right now. Often things will turn up when you keep your eyes open -- someone will happen to mention they have the item, or you'll see it on Freecycle or Craigslist after a week or two. And sometimes, the need for the item will go away, and you'll be glad you waited.
Sometimes you might have to buy a new item, even after exhausting all these options. But if you can run through this list first, often you'll find you didn't need it new.
Blog title...
SATORI NATION HOROSCOPES
"There are times in our lives that we will make outward changes in our behavior or appearance. At other times the need for further personal growth comes from inside. Your monthly horoscope forecast can help you identify your current cosmic path and help you along with a better understanding of what lies ahead."
Satori Nation is excited to introduce Astrologers Jan Astrogrrl and Soulistic Shirley to the Satori community. Astrogrrl and Shirley will be writing free weekly and monthly Horoscopes. If you are interested in a more personalized horoscope, call Astrogrrl and/or Soulistic Shirley.
Soulistic Shirley: http://ping.fm/pSqhv
AstroGrrl: http://ping.fm/hicTe
"There are times in our lives that we will make outward changes in our behavior or appearance. At other times the need for further personal growth comes from inside. Your monthly horoscope forecast can help you identify your current cosmic path and help you along with a better understanding of what lies ahead."
Satori Nation is excited to introduce Astrologers Jan Astrogrrl and Soulistic Shirley to the Satori community. Astrogrrl and Shirley will be writing free weekly and monthly Horoscopes. If you are interested in a more personalized horoscope, call Astrogrrl and/or Soulistic Shirley.
Soulistic Shirley: http://ping.fm/pSqhv
AstroGrrl: http://ping.fm/hicTe
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