Chronic stress happens when the body exhibits symptoms both physically and psychologically due to pressure and demanding situations. Managing stress is crucial to avoid long-term health consequences.
Stress management books may help you with the inevitable stress at home, school, or in the workplace. Cognitive Health and Wellness Institute is all about promoting quality of life with length of life. Therefore, these books are recommended to help you have a better outlook in life and regain control of it.
Learn how to live healthier and happier from these top picks our team has curated for you. Add these books to your reading list to enjoy a more peaceful and calm mind.
Best stress management books of all time
In this article, you will find the books for stress management grouped in their respective categories below. There are a myriad of selections available in the market. But, these are some of the most informative titles on managing stress you might want to consider getting:
Books on stress and health
Stress, when not managed well, can be detrimental to your health. When you’re overwhelmed and overworked, it shows in your physical, mental, and behavioral aspects of your life. When left unnoticed, it can totally disrupt the functions in your body or your way of life. Take a look at some of these books that tackle more about health and stress.
1. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff… and It’s All Small Stuff by Richard Carlson
Oftentimes, it only takes a change in perspective to reduce stress and anxiety. In this book, you can get inspiration on how to achieve your goals through small changes and habits.
From the title itself, you’re in for a treat on what “small stuff” and “little things” you can pick up involving stress management. While the world is rapidly changing around you, this book can teach you how to be calm. That said, you can embrace a less hurried kind of life and enjoy every moment wherever you are.
2. Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers by Robert M. Sapolsky
For more insights on stress and health, here’s a book that gives practical advice and guidance on controlling your response to stress. Sapolsky explains that there are risks for serious medical conditions when stress results from sleep deprivation and addiction, for example.
This book comes with cutting-edge research on how man’s body responds the same as animals do physiologically, hence the title. It’s one of the few stress management books with detailed information on how prolonged stress can be harmful to your health.
3. The Reality Slap by Russ Harris
From the title alone, you’ll be intrigued how a “reality slap” hits hard. And yes, you guessed it right, it talks about the kinds of “slap” that hurts, in varying degrees, as you face the realities of life. Not everybody knows how to deal with pain. So, this book may help you to journey of healing and acceptance as part of stress management.
This self-help book is so realistic that it tells you right off the bat how you wouldn’t actually have full control of your life. And, in fact, you can’t have everything, too! But, that’s okay. Stress often comes from disappointments, frustrations, and rejections, that you can actually learn from. Harris’ book can be your guide to living a fulfilling life regardless of any challenges that come your way.
4. The Stress-Proof Brain: Master Your Emotional Response to Stress Using Mindfulness and Neuroplasticity
One of the best stress management books with raving reviews, this book showcases Greenberg’s objectivity and presentation on how to fight the stigma involving mental health. If you are suffering from stress, you should pick this book up.
Greenberg explains the science and inevitability of stress as part of life. Even more so in today’s chaotic and modern global climate, it’s as if stress piles up. If you always seem to have full schedules, you’re at risk of having a dramatic decline in your health. Moreover, it might be a good time to have a sanity and happiness check.
The Stress-Proof Brain can teach you techniques on how to deal with stress and avoid unhealthy responses altogether. By training your mind and understanding your emotional responses, you can be resilient during difficult times. Backed with research from neuroscience and psychology, you can also use the tools and exercises in the book.
Books on handling pressure
You shouldn’t be crippled by anxiety and stress, whatever is your profession or vocation. While pressure can come from anywhere and in any form, there are stress management books that can help you take control.
5. The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
World-renowned author, Eckhart Tolle, shares his own take on discovering truth and light for people to see their true self. When you find your deepest self, you embark on a spiritual journey that can help you be more present at the moment. And, when this happens, stress and pain no longer has power over you.
Readers of this book share testimonials of how their lives turned around for good healing them from emotional trauma. You may find this book opening you up to possibilities and breaking through limitations. Stress can take people to dark places. Hence, this book hopes to awaken its readers that you have the power to gain access to your consciousness.
6. Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth
Not only is this book one of the best business books available, this is also a gem in providing insights about stress management. Angela Duckworth, a New York Times bestseller author and psychologist suggests that passion and perseverance drive success. With that said, you can expect tips and anecdotes on how struggles due to stress can actually boost performance.
She is fascinated in how mistakes, failures, and pressing demands can make a huge difference in someone’s life. This book can enlighten you especially on how to rise above any challenges where stress is often a factor. She believes tenacity – that ‘grit’ – is one of the key things you can use to handle stress more effectively.
7. Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nagoski
A fellow New York Times bestseller author, Brene Brown, applauds the author of this book, Emily Nagoski, for boldly talking about burnout especially for women. Men and women experience stress differently. In this book, Nagoski hopes that readers better understand how to break the cycle of exhaustion and overwhelming stress.
It’s in the top ten stress management books because it is backed with science and prescriptive advice coming from a PhD, no less. You can even answer the exercises and worksheets provided that may help promote positive change in your life.
Nagoski believes that true wellness is within every single person’s reach. Get to know your brain and body, how you react to stress, and how you can handle burnout more effectively.
Books about stress in school
Students aren’t exempted from stress. High school and college life can be too stressful that there are even cases of depression, anxiety, or worse, suicide. It’s important to remind teenagers and young adults that you are only young once. If you are from this age group, check this list of stress management books that might be helpful to you.
8. Who Moved My Cheese?: An A-Mazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life by Spencer Johnson
This timeless book known to many business entrepreneurs is a good read even for students. Spencer Johnson shares a simple parable throughout this piece unpacking profound messages of success, patience, and acceptance.
Many students are afraid of change. Student life is filled with many ups and downs and, sometimes, you might feel like you’re only playing catch-up. In this book, you can learn how to change your attitude and perspective in the midst of chaos. Find inspiration from this simple story and discover how you can acknowledge changes around you.
It’s a classic title worth reading that can tremendously impact the way you see and respond to stressors. This book talks about situations, not only limited to the school setting, but also in every aspect of your life.
9. Mindfulness for Stress Management: 50 Ways to Improve Your Mood and Cultivate Calmness by Dr. Robert Schachter
Do you want to improve how you respond to stress? Here’s a book that contains exercises on managing stress so you can learn how to be calm and less worried. There are actionable tips, strategies, and mindfulness techniques in this book that you can master. It is designed for all ages and whichever stage in your life. Hence, if you are a student, you can pick a thing or two on sharpening your focus as needed.
You may even be able to stay on top of your thoughts and emotions with mindfulness tips and tools here. You just have to be open, free your mind, and intentionally consider the suggested practices to make a difference in your life. It can also be your guide to healthy eating, sleeping and habits that should help you go through academic life happier.
10. The Strengths-Based Workbook for Stress Relief (A New Harbinger Self-help Workbook) by Ryan Niemiec
School can be tough. It’s a common breeding ground for chronic stress when you don’t take care of your mental health. This book has a positive psychology approach that you may find useful as a student to reduce stress in your chaotic school life.
It is one of the recommended stress management books because it is written as a workbook with strategies on how to play with your strengths, rather than your weaknesses. For example, if you know you can be an emotional trainwreck during exams day but have perseverance, you can use the latter to your advantage by preparing beforehand. After which, that same strength can be your anchor in facing your exam results head on.
Stressed? Seek help!
Cognitive Health and Wellness Institute promotes quality of life with length of life. One way to do that is to learn how stress affects you and what you can do about that. Gain knowledge and have better understanding of how to handle pressure through these stress management books.
Remember, your health is your wealth. No fortune, fame, or any kind of material possession can give you peace of mind when stress overwhelms you. If it’s too much that you’re either hurting yourself or the people around you, it’s time to seek professional help. There are many resources available online or, better yet, go to a doctor to properly prescribe medication as needed.