I was going through my bookshelf earlier this week, and I came across some books that I’ve read but haven’t thought about in a while. Among them was An Invitation to Self-Care by Tracey Cleantis. It was such a good read that I wanted to take the chance to write a review.
As I reread the book, my notes and highlighting brought back memories from a few years ago. I had done some reading about self-care in preparation for episodes three and four of the ELT in Chile podcast about a year and a half ago, and An Invitation to Self-Care stuck out as the book that had the biggest impact.
What it’s about
The author really goes into a lot of detail about self-care. She writes about the seven guiding principles of self care and the various domains of self-care which include psychological and mental, caring for your body, relationships and boundaries, physical possessions, work and play, spirituality, and the role of money in self care. In addition, she clarifies what self-care is not, which is valuable for helping readers see beyond the surface level.
What’s good about it
The book is very down to earth. The author explains things in a way that readers can relate to, and I particularly like her metaphor of white magic self-care as things that are wholesome and restorative, black magic self-care as providing short-term relief but with long-term consequences, and gray magic self-care that falls somewhere in the middle. The book also provides many practical examples of how the author and others practice their self-care as well as phrases that can be used to set boundaries in a variety of contexts. As I read, I found myself nodding in agreement and making connections to my life experiences.
In addition to all the practical information presented, it almost feels like a workbook. Throughout the book there are self-care quizzes to help you evaluate your current situation and what you’d like to change. I recommend keeping a notebook handy to jot down key ideas and write down answers to the questions presented.
Last but not least, it is grounded in research. It incorporates the research seamlessly without becoming too dense. The book makes reference to other sources, and it also provides additional reading for those interested. It strikes a fine balance between being anecdotal and academic.
What’s missing
An Invitation to Self-Care was published in 2017, and it gives a great overview of self-care in each of the domains. One area that I think would be beneficial to add would be about digital clutter and possessions. I don’t know about anyone else, but I have accumulated a lot of teaching resources from others, e-books that I have yet to read, and online courses that I have yet to start. My desktop is also covered with icons to the point that it feels like they are shouting at me whenever I turn on my computer. An updated version would do well to add this as a section.
An updated version would also do well to add the author’s experience during the pandemic. While I have found the book helpful during this challenging time, it would be interesting to hear about her and others’ experiences with self-care.
In conclusion
This is a great book for anyone thinking about their self-care, no matter how well or poorly they are taking care of themselves. I’ve found it to be of great benefit with thinking about how I can use money to help my self-care, putting boundaries into place with students, and reflecting on my previous life experiences and how they have shaped who I am today.
If you’ve read it and have any thoughts feel free to share them in the comments. Thanks for reading!
