Self Care Year

Overwhelmed with insomnia and an incurable autoimmune disease, Shannon Harvey needed to make a change. But while the award-winning health journalist found plenty of recommendations on diet, sleep and exercise, when she looked for the equivalent of a 30-minute workout for her mental well-being, there was nothing. Also worried for the future mental health of her kids, who were growing up amidst critical levels of stress, anxiety, depression and addiction, Shannon enlisted a team of scientists to put meditation to the test.

In The Self-Care Solution, physician and ABC News medical correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton offers readers a peek into her world as she shares the 12 wellness challenges that helped her transform her health and well-being. She shows us that it is possible to live the lives we desire by simply taking small steps and recasting our challenges as opportunities for change.

The post-partum period is challenging. Everyone - your mom, well-meaning strangers, and your OB/Gyn - constantly tells you to get more sleep, make sure you're eating well-balanced meals, and drink lots of water. But every time someone offers you a bit of advice, you want to throw your hands to the sky and shout, "But how?"

We live such busy lives and have completely lost touch with nature. This is a handbook for reconnecting back with nature's energy, wisdom and a natural way of living. It will make you more observant, pausing to take stock of each season and how it's making you feel so you can take care of yourself all year round. Packed with nourishing rituals, practices and Kirsty's trademark wisdom, Sacred Seasons will show you how to draw on inspiration from nature's events, including the spring equinox, the summer solstice, the autumn equinox and Imbolc.

There are plenty of books and resources about how to properly care for your new baby, but what about caring for yourself? Maria Lianos-Carbone, founder of AMotherWorld.com, outlines the proper care and feeding of mothers during their baby's first year. From the physical and emotional changes a new mom will undergo to rekindling intimacy with her partner, Oh Baby! A Mom's Self-Care Survival Guide for the First Year keeps the focus on moms.