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National Wellness Month

August is National Wellness Month and one of the major focuses of the celebration  is self-care. Self-care takes many forms and can mean different things to different people. One of the ways to determine where there is an imbalance in life, and how to correct the course, is by using a tool like the Self-Care Wheel.

Self-Care Wheel infographic provided by www.olgaphoenix.com

Once there’s a determined course of action, locate the resources that can establish a path to better self-care. Better yet, find FREE resources to help! Milwaukee Public Library offers free access to the Gale Courses database for all valid Milwaukee Public Library cardholders. The database provides a varied selection of self-care courses that can be completed online in just six weeks. Here is a list of possible courses:

• Start Your Own Edible Garden
• Individual Excellence
• Listen to Your Heart, Success Will Follow
• Introduction to Journaling
• Writeriffic: Creativity Training for Writers
• Certificate in Meditation
• Certificate in Mindful Relationships
• Lose Weight and Keep It Off
• Interpersonal Relationships
• Keys to Successful Money Management
• Certificate in Food, Nutrition, and Health
• Marriage and Relationships: Keys to Success
• Get Assertive!

The library offers various materials that can pave the way to better wellness in 2021 and beyond. Below is a short recommended reading list. These items may be placed on hold by either using the CountyCat mobile app, online catalog, or by calling Ready Reference at (414) 286-3011 to have staff place the hold on your behalf.

The “More or Less” Definitive Guide to Self-Care by Anna Borges.
Borges offers tips, activities, and stories that run the gamut from asking for help and burning negative thoughts to the importance of getting enough sleep. Make life a little easier with your own self-care toolkit—and gain the energy to show up for yourself.

Self-Care for Men by Garrett Munce.
Improve your physical/mental health and overall well-being - from grooming to meditation - in this guide that focuses specifically on men’s self-care needs.

Eat Better, Feel Better: My Recipes for Wellness and Healing by Giada De Laurentiis.
Learn how to choose foods that can actually make you feel better and create your own customized wellness routine to support a healthy mind and body.

Wellness by Design by Jamie Gold.
Residential designer Gold demonstrates how making simple changes to our living space can impact health and wellness, such as lighting or furniture placement. Gold offers a room-by-room guide to refreshing your living environment to help you on your wellness journey.