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Real Self-Care
Real Self-Care: A Transformative Program for Redefining Wellness (Crystals, Cleanses, and Bubble Baths Not Included) | Pooja Lakshmin, MD
8 posts | 7 read | 11 to read
From womens mental health specialist and New York Times contributor Pooja Lakshmin, MD, comes a long-overdue reckoning with the contradictions of the wellness industry and a paradigm-shifting program for practicing real self-care that will empower, uplift, and maybe even start a revolution. You may have noticed that its nearly impossible to go even a couple days without coming across the term self-care. A word that encompasses any number of lifestyle choices and productsfrom juice cleanses to yoga workshops to luxury bamboo sheetsself-care has exploded in our collective consciousness as a panacea for practically all of womens problems. Board-certified psychiatrist Dr. Pooja Lakshmin finds this cultural embrace of self-care incomplete at best and manipulative at worst. Fixing your troubles isnt simple as buying a new day planner or signing up for a meditation class. These faux self-care practices keep us looking outwardcomparing ourselves with others or striving for a certain type of perfection. Even worse, they exonerate an oppressive social system that has betrayed women and minorities. Real self-care, in contrast, is an internal, self-reflective process that involves making difficult decisions in line with our values, and when we practice it, we shift our relationships, our workplaces, and even our broken systems. In Real Self-Care, Lakshmin helps readers understand what a real practice of caring for yourself couldand doeslook like. Using case studies from her practice, clinical research, and the down-to-earth style that she's become known for, Lakshmin provides a step-by-step program for real and sustainable change and solace. Packed with actionable strategies to deal with common problems, Real Self-Care is a complete roadmap for women to set boundaries and move past guilt, treat themselves with compassion, get closer to themselves, and assert their power. The resulthaving ownership over ones own life is nothing less than a personal and social revolution.
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review
TheDaysGoBy
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Pickpick

Finished up this audiobook during work today. I didn‘t do too many of the exercises but I loved the message the author conveyed and the tools provided to help you actually care for yourself. There was one part in particular that resonated with me - talking about how you‘re not entitled/deserving of help/charity/whatever because other people have it worse. I do that all the time. So yeah makes you self-aware about things and how to change it

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ncsufoxes
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Pickpick

There were some parts that I loved. Realizing that most things labeled as self- care is just more stuff to schedule or find time for when most people don‘t have extra time. I like the idea of pushing back on oppressive systems to enforce change because of course it benefits the larger system. Being more gentle with your self talk. I liked that she mentioned working with a parent that has a disabled child & the stress of it. I just wish there was

ncsufoxes more, it would be great if she did a book just for parents of disabled children (talk about tearing down systems of oppression). It‘s an interesting book but a book for people who have money, professional jobs, good support systems. Unfortunately a person working in a non-professional job is going to have a hard time breaking down oppressive systems because capitalism is too large of a beast to take down. Last March review #bookspin #24in2024 (edited) 9mo
TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 9mo
Jas16 Sounds interesting. 9mo
24 likes3 comments
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Avanders
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Oh Chrissy, what a wonderful self-care/housewarming/Christmas package!! 💖💖💖 Thank you!! Everything is so perfect, and hyggeligt and thoughtful. And the card is so beautiful - did you make that? So excited for everything!
♥️🎄❄️💙☃️🤍💖

*not pictured: 2 ornaments that bugga hung immediately 😉

Chrissyreadit glad you liked everything- i bought the PDF of card from Etsy and printed it. so sort of made….. Hope you are having a wonderful holiday! 12mo
Avanders @Chrissyreadit you too!! 💙❄️🤍 12mo
52 likes2 comments
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Chrissyreadit
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my favorite book of the past few years made NPR‘s list too! sharing link in case anyone else wants to see their top picks! https://apps.npr.org/best-books/#view=covers&year=2023

AmyG I loved this one, too….thanks to you, my friend. Came to me at the right time. 😘 12mo
51 likes1 stack add1 comment
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iread2much
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Pickpick

I think this book is a helpful tool to start rebuilding a life that will NOT burn you out, although I wish it had gone into more detail about how to LIVE with the tools, instead of just starting with the tools, but maybe that will be in a second book. I also liked all of the exercises in the book, and will use those to help reshape my life (hopefully) so it‘s more happy.
3.5/5 an east to approach book, good for people with stress and burn out

dabbe It's Castle-Man! 🖤🐾🖤 14mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Awwww 🐾 14mo
iread2much @dabbe in his normal “go away human” pose 14mo
dabbe @iread2much “Go away, human. I'm Castle. As in #thedudeabides. 🖤🐾🖤“ 14mo
28 likes5 comments
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StaceGhost
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Pickpick

My dear friend @Chrissyreadit sent me this lovely book because I‘ve been overdoing it lately 😅 my brain is picky post post-concussion syndrome 🧠 I get migraines if I do too much— thankfully I have great friends who remind me to relax 😎

Chrissyreadit 😘😘😘😘 1y
34 likes1 comment
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Chrissyreadit
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Pickpick

This Book was incredibly well written. There is the acknowledgement that Self Care is currently used as a currency of capitalism and privilege with Systemic issues holding people back from actually meeting physical, social and emotional needs. I felt the power in the statement “work life balance is not possible” and suddenly felt a burden of guilt i hold for never maintaining a work life balance adequately. 👇

Chrissyreadit Dr. Lakshim goes on to provide self care tools and structures that are internalized and available to everyone. They are not meant to replace mental health support that is needed. They are impactful and a process i am excited to engage in. If anyone on litsy is interested in further discussing this book let me know- i listened to audio but am getting a physical copy and happy to lead or co lead a discussion. This is my top pick for the decade. 1y
BethM Oooh this sounds great! 1y
AmyG When I worked, being a mother of 3, I found work life balance so very difficult. So…stacked. (Hope you are well, my friend. 😘) 1y
See All 10 Comments
Chrissyreadit @BethM @AmyG I think this book is impactful no matter where we are in our journey- I am having moments of struggle and moments of joy- and one perspective i‘m hoping to embody is the both/and can be true- and not feel guilty for struggling with realistic purposeful emotions 🧡 1y
mabell Sounds like a really helpful read! Thank you for sharing Chrissy! ❤️❤️❤️ 1y
TheBookHippie Ohhh stacking. My “famous” saying -‘Life: often pain often joy always love‘ applies. Maybe a start the new year with book? 1y
ElizaMarie I haven‘t started it (spent the weekend sleeping) but would love to #BuddyRead it with you when you get the physical copy 1y
MicrobeMom Love this Chrissy! I need to check it! It is so true! There can be no work life balance!! 1y
StaceGhost Just in time for me to revise a conference proposal on this very topic 💕 1y
Avanders Thanks for tagging me w this! 🙏🏽♥️ 1y
77 likes7 stack adds10 comments
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Jen2
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Pickpick

Very good

44 likes1 stack add