Be You, Only Better: Real-Life Self-Care for Young Adults (and Everyone Else)

by Kristi Hugstad, PhD Tami Tucker (Foreword by)

Overview

Along with all the perks of becoming an adult come challenges and the need to learn skills that help you self-regulate as you venture into new experiences. Highlighting five key areas of life — physical, mental, emotional, social, and financial — Be You, Only Better offers science- and experience-backed tools and easy-to-implement techniques for success. Skill-building and self-care practices — such as journaling, getting enough sleep and exercise, embracing nature, managing time and money, and practicing gratitude, mindfulness, and optimism — are presented, and each is illustrated with the story of a real young person. These practices will help you create a resilient foundation for your powerful future. You’ll discover a wonderfully accessible lifeline and a realistically inspiring guide to leading — and loving — your best possible life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781608687398
Publisher:	New World Library
Publication date:	03/16/2021
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	168
File size:	3 MB
Age Range:	14 - 17 Years

About the Author

Kristi Hugstad, author of Beneath the Surface, is a certified grief recovery specialist, speaker, credentialed health educator, and grief and loss facilitator for recovering addicts. She frequently speaks at high schools and is the host of The Grief Girl podcast and talk radio show. She lives in Orange County, California.

www.thegriefgirl.com

Table of Contents

Foreword Tami Tucker, PhD ix

Preface xi

Introduction 1

Chapter 1 Write It Down 9

Chapter 2 Get Good Sleep 21

Chapter 3 Get Up and Move 31

Movement Log 41

Chapter 4 Embrace Nature 43

Chapter 5 Cut Down on Sugar 51

Sugar Log 61

Chapter 6 Manage Your Time 63

Monthly Planner 73

Daily Planner 74

Chapter 7 Manage Your Money 75

Budget Worksheet 87

Chapter 8 Have Healthy Relationships 89

Chapter 9 Be Mindful 105

Chapter 10 Be Grateful 115

Chapter 11 Hope 125

Final Thoughts 135

Getting Help and Mental Health Resources 137

Resource Contact List Worksheet 141

Endnotes 143

About the Author 153

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“A readable and practical mental health guide for teens.”
— Kirkus Reviews

“A life changing, life enhancing, life skill building read . . . .”
— Midwest Book Review

“Kristi Hugstad offers a balanced yet thorough, whole-person approach to self-care, equipping you with the necessary tools to maintain healthy living. If you are looking for practical steps that are easy to understand yet innovative at the same time, this book is for you. She covers exercise, diet, and healthy relationships, including prompts for self-reflection to check in so that you can experience the abundant life that you deserve. You’ll be empowered with an attitude that says, ‘I can do this,’ so that you can ‘be you, only better.’ The time to thrive is now.”
— Dave Dicken, creator of Make Someone Great Today and crisis counselor at Crisis Text Line

“For the past thirty-five years, I have watched stress levels and resulting mental health issues increase among both the special education students I teach and the high achievers I coach. Though the two groups are different in nature, the levels of depression and anxiety in both have risen, especially in the midst of a global pandemic. I am grateful that authors such as Kristi Hugstad are tackling the issues that impact our youth, and I am especially happy to see gratitude and hope as part of her self-care regimen.”
— Jorjean Fischer, special education teacher and cross-country running and track coach

“As a veteran high school teacher and coach, I have witnessed students dealing with many of the issues that Kristi Hugstad addresses in Be You, Only Better. . . . I applaud her for focusing on areas such as the importance of sleep, how to maintain a healthy diet, and money and time management.”
— Dan Leer, high school English teacher, athletic coach, and yearbook adviser

“Be You, Only Better offers informed advice for young adults and parents, using science with a capital S to present her stories of self-help in a trusted voice. Hugstad gives easily understood examples of self-care that will resonate with readers. Chapters tell stories based on actual young adults, anchoring us in their lives and transformative behaviors (diet, managing time and money, and finding happy relationships).”
— Dr. John Maitino, professor at Cal Poly Pomona

“Be You, Only Better is an engaging book with real-life stories that quickly teach a lesson. . . . Each chapter is broken up into key sections, making it an easy but meaningful read. As a middle school teacher, I will encourage my students to read this book. I plan to follow these self-care approaches as well!”
— Sara Twiss, middle school leadership teacher

Editorial Reviews

06/01/2021

Gr 6 Up—Self-care is celebrated and explored in Hugstad's new book, which guides young people on a path of self-awareness and action toward healthy behaviors. With a mix of personal anecdotes, research, and accessible assignments, Hugstad shows teens how best to take care of oneself through physical, mental, social, emotional, and financial means. Every chapter is its own unique narrative—complete with stories of teens going through similar situations as well as checklists for completion, what the science says, sample logs and blank pages for writing, and fun facts along the way. This is a well-organized and well-researched book that gives a positive spin to all of these activities. From identifying healthy relationships to helpful tips for managing time and money, teens will find a relatable and approachable format that will encourage them to celebrate and work toward their best selves. VERDICT A great book for teens and adults that recognizes and acknowledges the power of self-care and the variety of ways it can be incorporated as a daily routine.—Traci Glass, Lincoln City Libraries, NE

School Library Journal

2021-02-05
This new self-help book by grief expert Hugstad focuses on guiding teens to be their best selves.

Stemming from the author’s firsthand experience in dealing with grief and mental illness and supported by her own research, this book follows a format that makes it approachable and accessible for teens to use independently or with the assistance of adults. With a holistic philosophy that emphasizes the interconnectedness of physical and mental health, the book offers tips to help adolescents navigate the stresses of growing up by encouraging them to practice self-care. The consistent structure makes the book easy to dip in and out of as needed. Each chapter focuses on a single strategy or tool: journaling, sleep hygiene, physical fitness, the benefits of nature, nutrition, time management, budgeting, healthy relationships, mindfulness, gratitude, and hope. Chapters begin with a story about a teen or new adult who has overcome a problem related to the subject at hand, then covers the benefits of applying this practice or making improvements in this area, includes tips on establishing good habits, and concludes with scientific evidence and explanations. The title contains ample writing space, worksheets, planners, and other interactive tools. Hugstad emphasizes the importance of seeking professional help when needed.

A readable and practical mental health guide for teens. (resources, contact list worksheet, endnotes) (Nonfiction. 12-18)

Kirkus Reviews