Self Help Guide: Self-Help Introduction

The JWU Library has a Renewal Room where you can go and escape the stress of everyday life. This room is for your benefit- come reset at the library!

Welcome to the Johnson & Wales Charlotte Campus Library's Self-Help reference guide. 

What is a self-help book? A self-help book is one that explains how to improve yourself in some way. These types of books often give you the inspiration and toolkit to feel empowered to improve your life. There are tons of different approaches to self-help.

Here you will find self-help books covering the most popular topics and arranged under the blue tabs across the top of this page.  To browse, simply click on a tab.  To read, click on the desired title to open the book and read online or find the location of the item in the library. 

If you have any questions, feel free to contact JWU Library. We are here to help you help yourself! 

Self care can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be. Self care means prioritizing you and your unique needs in a constructive and healing way; it doesn't mean being selfish and disregarding the needs of others. Self care means investing in the things that bring you joy and help you feel renewed in your ability to take on life. Everyday Health states, "self-care means taking care of yourself so that you can be healthy, you can be well, you can do your job, you can help and care for others, and you can do all the things you need to and want to accomplish in a day". 

It is important to create a self care practice as a student to prevent burn out. Self care can balance out all the academic stressors of being a student. What might self care look like to you? Here are some ideas. 

• Taking a walk and listening to your favorite podcast or music. Create time in your schedule for this activity. 
• Making time to put your phone away and read a book with your morning coffee or work on a journal prompt. 
• Making time once a week to call a friend or family member who you enjoy catching up with. 
• Learn about meditation and schedule a few minutes everyday for a meditation practice and breathing exercise. 
• Explore a new sport or a sport you love to play by yourself or with friends. 
• Cook yourself a meal that is nourishing and makes you happy to eat. 
• Take a dance break and move around in between working on school assignments. 
• Spend time outside in the sun!
• Turn in early, and prioritize enough hours of sleep. 

There are many ways to take care of yourself and recharge your battery.