“Small, easy steps for big, life-changing results—this book is genius.”—Jamie Oliver A Nielsen study in 2015 found that Americans' top New Year's resolutions are to improve health, fitness, and happiness. But it's hard to make a change. Everyone struggles with finding the perfect “work-life balance,” and figuring out how to feed our minds and bodies right without becoming bogged down in the stresses of everyday life. Now,
The Book of You makes it
easy: devote just one minute each day to a micro-action—something small, like eat more fruit, take the stairs, or do a random act of kindness—and achieve a happier, healthier, and more full life.
The Book of You offers 365 micro-actions, one for each day of the year, grouped under four areas:
?
- Food: Make-Ahead Grub – Today, prepare one thing to save you time and stress over the next few days. You could try cooking a big batch of super-healthy grains or freeze portions of fruit ready to blitz into an easy breakfast smoothie. What can you do to make meals a little bit easier this week?
- Mind: Set a Go-To-Sleep Alarm – We use alarm clocks to get us up in the morning, but for many the challenge is actually the night before. Tonight, decide on a bedtime and set an alarm for when it's time to go to sleep.
- Move: Activate Your Abs – While you are, for example, making breakfast or on the bus, pull your belly button in. This activates your deep abdominal muscles that are usually asleep, which is amazing for your lower back to provide support.
- Love: Smile at a Stranger – Has someone ever suddenly smiled at you on a busy street? Remember the feeling after the initial surprise? Today when you are out and about, smile at a stranger.
The action host contributors include chef Jamie Oliver, productivity expert and author of
Small Move, Big Change Caroline Arnold, fitness trainer Jamie Sawyer, neurologists Dr. Tara Swart and Dr. Darya Rose, and fitness guru Dani Stevens.
The book comes from the creators of YOU-app, a trio of engineers, who have built a vibrant community around accomplishing small micro-actions to build the habit of success. The authors encourage readers to avoid the stress of diet-crazy, transformation-obsessed brands of self-improvement and instead behave
just a bit differently to inspire awareness and personal progress.
New actions are being developed all the time: Gretchen Rubin of
The Happiness Project recently guest hosted an action of the day. (“At first, I didn't appreciate the importance of keeping memories vivid. But as I thought about it, I realized the tremendous value of mementos that help prompt positive memories. Studies show that recalling happy times from the past helps boost happiness in the present.”)
Life is not about how many steps you walk, how many calories you eat, or your place on the leaderboard. It's about feelings, moments, shared experiences; enjoying every victory, celebrating balance, and showing vulnerability.
