What’s on your self isolation reading list?

If you are not a parent and not having to work from home, how are you enjoying having more free time? Either you are loving it and doing all the things that you never normally have the time to do or you are pulling your hair out with the boredom.

It may be tempting to binge watch Netflix series all day long, however you run the risk of developing a box set disorder. One way to pass huge chunks of time is to get lost in a good book. It has the power to transport you to a different world.  Apparently, Waterstones online sales shot up by 400% last week.

Here are some of my favs to add to your Amazon wishlist.

The one that might change your life Atomic Habits by James Clear

This is the book that I have been telling everyone to read. I read it last year and it made a really big impression on me in a way that not a lot of books do nowadays. The book shows you how minuscule changes (like improving just !% each day) can grow into life altering outcomes. Read more in the blog I published in September 2019.

The one that will make you realise you will get through this An Evil Cradling by Brian Keenan

Brian Keenan was spent four years in isolation when taken hostage in Beirut in 1986. I first read this book when backpacking in India. I loved it because I had tears of laughter and tears of sadness at every chapter. I was able to identify with so much which is ironic, as I had all the freedom in the world and he had none, however I recognised some of his struggles … my mind teetered on the edge between reality and insanity due to prolonged times not talking to anyone, loss of routine, lack of purpose and structure. If you need some motivation to get through the Coronavirus lock down this book is it.

The one that will give you a mood boost The Source by Tara Swart

Understanding how our brains work can help us seize life changing opportunities that might otherwise pass us by, says neuroscientist and author Dr Tara Swart. ‘The things we want most — health, happiness, wealth, love — are governed by our ability to think, feel and act.’  The book explains how to work against negativity that can arise from tricky situations. Each page details how to ‘rewire’ your thoughts and think more positively about the situation you find yourself in.

The one that will take you on a journey The Salt Path by Raynor Winn

What makes this story so special is that it’s a true story. This book is so much more than a guidebook or travel log. A couple begin their journey when they discover one of them is terminally ill and then their home is taken away from them. They find themselves penniless and homeless. With no real options before them, they make the brave decision to walk the 630 miles along the South West Coast Path. They buy tents, sleeping bags and set off with the bare minimum they need to live with, as they have to carry everything. I devoured every page of this book and was left in awe.

The one that you can scribble over The Little Book of Mindfulness Colourin by Holly MacDonald

Have you tried colouring in recently? You can’t do it and be distracted, well not if like me you are focusing so hard on not colouring over the line! This really helps to be fully present and not linger on regrets of the past or worries for the future. What I like about this book is that it is accompanied by a collection of mindful quotes. Switch off, relax your mind and find your calm.

The one for the kids Write Your Own Story Book by Jane Chisholm and Louie Stowell

With our kids off school, we need to find ways to keep them entertained, as well as educated. Write your own story book is a beautiful spiral bound activity journal, which contains writing exercises and hints that can motivate children to get creative when writing their own stories.