'A bracingly honest, galvanising and necessarily provocative look at "self-care" through a political and feminist lens' Pandora Sykes

'This isn't just another self-help book. A clear-eyed look at the way social systems drain our energy, and a concrete set of principles to rely on as we declare independence from these systems' Martha Beck

'A helpful and timely book that every woman needs' Julia Samuel

What does self-care really mean? From puppy yoga to gua shas, we are promised pastel-coloured 'quick fixes' to long-term social problems that cause burnout and stress. But the truth is you can't meditate your way out of a 40-hour work week with no childcare. So when these promises prove empty, we are made to feel like failures within a system that is failing us.

Now, psychiatrist Dr. Pooja Lakshmin offers a sustainable practice for real self-care. Based on her clinical and personal experience, Dr Lakshmin's revolutionary framework reimagines self-care as an ongoing, internal process that involves making difficult decisions in line with your values, putting boundaries in place, treating yourself with compassion and asserting your power. Practising it has the power to change your relationships, your workplace, and our broken systems. Her work serves as a wake-up call, reminding us that wellbeing is not a product to buy, but a way to be.

It is time to let go of the illusions of wellness and start practising real self-care. Because the result - having ownership over your life - is nothing less than a personal and social revolution.

About the Author
Dr Pooja Lakshmin, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist, New York Times contributor and a leading voice at the intersection of mental health and gender, focused on helping women and people from marginalized communities escape the tyranny of self-care. In 2020, Lakshmin founded Gemma - a physician led women's mental health education platform. She maintains an active private practice, where she treats women struggling a plethora of mental health-related issues. Having gone down the rabbit hole of extreme wellness herself, Real Self-Care is the author's answer to a happier, and healthier future not only for ourselves, but for our society.

Reviews
In Real Self-Care, Pooja explores what it really means to take care of ourselves and provides a revolutionary self-care framework that is honest, compassionate, and completely actionable. * Dr Becky Kennedy, no. 1 New York Times bestselling author of Good Inside *
A compassionate and powerful approach to true wellbeing. Real Self-Care is a helpful and timely book, and one that every modern woman needs. -- Julia Samuel
A bracingly honest, galvanizing and necessarily provocative look at what 'self-care' looks at - through a political and feminist lens. Expect to fold down every other page. -- Pandora Sykes
Invaluable. For anyone mothering, working, simply trying to be their 'best self', this book will offer clarity and a new way forward. -- Katherine Ormerod
This isn't just another self-help book. It gives us a clear-eyed look at the way social systems drain our energy, and a concrete set of principles to rely on as we declare independence from these systems. Pooja is just the kind of wise, compassionate, experienced advisor who can help us claim health and happiness for the long term, despite the near-impossible demands that face us all. Real Self-Care is a much-needed sanctuary for the minds and hearts of its readers. -- Martha Beck



Book Information
ISBN 9781847943729
Author Pooja Lakshmin
Format Paperback
Page Count 288
Imprint Penguin (Cornerstone)
Publisher Cornerstone
Weight(grams) 199g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 130mm * 17mm