Toxic Striving
Why Hustle and Wellness Culture are Leaving Us Anxious, Stressed, and Burned Out—and How to Break Free
by Paula Freedman
This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app
1
To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
2
Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.
Pub Date Nov 01 2024 | Archive Date Dec 03 2024
New Harbinger Publications | New Harbinger
Talking about this book? Use #ToxicStriving #NetGalley. More hashtag tips!
Description
Reconnect with what matters, reclaim your mental health, and live by your own rules.
Do you strive to have the perfect body, the perfect relationship, the perfect diet and wardrobe, the perfect job, and the perfect life? Have you worked tirelessly at your job-even during illness-so that you can further your career? Do you feel like no matter what, you'll never be as smart, as attractive, or as rich as you'd like? If so, you are far from alone. External influences like social media, wellness culture, and hustle culture pressure us to strive toward unrealistic goals that leave us feeling anxious, burned out, and like we're never enough. Isn't it time we say, enough?
In this groundbreaking book, clinical psychologist Paula Freedman offers a clear path to help you move beyond toxic striving-the relentless pursuit of perfection, societal ideals, and external validation at the expense of your physical, mental, and emotional health-and instead turn inward for guidance. Using a combination of evidence-based tools and strategies grounded in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and intuitive eating, you'll gain the insight needed to reconnect with your true values, reclaim your physical and mental health, develop unwavering self-compassion and confidence, and live by your own rules.
You'll also find profound and practical guidance to:
·Identify how and when you stopped trusting your own mind, body, and emotions-and started living according to society's standards
·Set goals that align with your personal values-instead of society's expectations ·Develop skills to defuse from restrictive and self-punishing thoughts, so you can be kinder to yourself
·Learn how to be an observer of your emotions-rather than letting them control you ·Stop beating yourself up for gaining weight, and view yourself and your body as more than just the perfect selfie
·Set effective boundaries with anyone who makes you feel ashamed of yourself for how you look, how much you get done in your day, or anything else!
If you're exhausted from the daily grind and fed up with feeling like you aren't enough-it's time to look within yourself. From now on, you are the expert on you.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781648484063 |
| PRICE | £15.99 (GBP) |
| PAGES | 192 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Kelly P, Reviewer
What a powerful title and an important book to read. I'm fully aware of the toxicity that wellness and hustle cultures bring to a person. I was happy to have Paula's advice on how to deal with these cycles. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Five stars.
Wajiha T, Reviewer
This book was incredibly insightful and helpful. This self-help book really stands out because it not only offers valuable advice and perspectives but also includes journaling exercises that I found extremely beneficial.
The journaling exercises were a game-changer for me. They prompted me to reflect deeply on my thoughts and feelings, something I hadn't done in a long time. I gained clarity on various aspects of my life, and they genuinely made me think in ways I hadn't before.
The examples in the book were wonderful and made me feel incredibly relatable. Seeing my own experiences reflected in the stories shared helped me realize I wasn't alone in my struggles.
Overall, Toxic Striving truly helped me. It provided practical tools and a fresh outlook that have already made a difference in my daily life. While I’m not sure how to rate it exactly, I can confidently say that it was a transformative read and I highly recommend it to everyone.
Jessica P, Reviewer
In Toxic Thriving, Paula Freedman goes after two of my greatest nemeses : wellness culture and productivity culture which I didn’t even realize are actually two sides of the same coin. Making yourself feel guilty for something you have very little control over and « selling » you a solution that is not sustainable in the long run. It’s everywhere on social media and very difficult to escape. If you are already struggling with anxiety, depression and a general feeling of low self esteem this is downright dangerous.
In this book the authors tried to entangled the myths both industries are forcing down our throats and I’m sorry to say that escaping those might take work. This book uses ACT therapy but I feel like you can take just a few pointers if that’s not something you like.
One thing I really appreciated was that she had advice for neurodivergent folks, the whole listen to your body and yourself doesn’t really work for some of us.
A really good read.
Readers who liked this book also liked:
Art by WHAT, Original story by Chelliace
Comics, Graphic Novels, Manga, LGBTQIAP+, Romance
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Julien Choy
Comics, Graphic Novels, Manga, Mystery & Thrillers, Teens & YA
