A Brain That Breathes : Essential habits for an overwhelming world | What our brains really need to be happy, healthy and productive – 9781761500800

It’s a lot, we say. And it’s true – sometimes everyday life feels like too much. So what habits can we prioritise for mental clarity and creative verve? How can we continue to do what’s normal and necessary but wind back to care for our basic human needs? In this gentle, wise and actionable guide, best-selling author and respected health journalist Jodi Wilson explores the simple, evidence-based changes we can make to give our brains the breathing space they need.

After a lifetime with anxiety, Jodi wanted to better understand herself so she could continue to be creative and productive without slipping into overwhelm and exhaustion. In this fascinating exploration of the brain and body, she discovers that neuroscientists and psychologists, as well as artists and sustainable living experts, all agree on the one habit that can change how we live. It’s something our ancestors had in abundance but we’ve essentially eradicated from our lives: free time, spare time, leisure time – real space to breathe.

The modern concept of self-care we’ve been sold doesn’t help – it costs us time and money and keeps us on an unsustainable treadmill. No one is making any money when we choose to rest and do less, yet it’s the proven antidote to modern stress. Instead of looking ahead for answers, we need to consider our evolutionary biology; our brains were designed for life 10,000 years ago, so what would our ancestors have found helpful? A Brain That Breathes is full of accessible and practical suggestions to embrace the power of ‘enoughness’, ‘soft fascination’ and intentional ‘not-doing’ so you can declutter your mind, restore your attention, and live every day with breathing space.