How (Not) to Do It All: Energise Your Life

by Emma Short

Dr Emma Short offers a fresh perspective with a simple evidence-based guide to leading a healthier, happier and calmer life. It has a holistic approach to wellbeing, exploring areas as diverse as exercise, nutrition, the impact of the digital and natural environment, sleep, mindset and not taking on too much.

Genres: Nonfiction

220 pages, Paperback

Published June 1, 2023

Reviews

[Mary-Lisa Russo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can literally spend hours perusing physical and digital bookshelves, but one thing is certain: I tend to gravitate to books that educate me on living a better, healthier lifestyle. I believe we all have room for improvement and the moment we think we are perfect in how we function in the everyday world, we are rendered stagnant, and in danger of living a less than stellar life.

Having said the above-noted, this book is a wonderful manual containing research that is evidence-based... a huge welcome in a world littered with self-professed gurus and influencers. I really appreciate the factual information. The author expounds on self-care, goal-setting, exercise, food choices, stress reduction; et al. The author also discusses how to be pro-active in avoiding chronic diseases. I enjoyed the real life accounts. Overall well-being is a priority here. The suggestions were practical and could be easily implemented if you are so inclined.

This author is in the medical field- how awesome is that? It is for me as I am more inclined to digest the facts/advice within this book.

If you are looking to make meaningful, positive change in your life, and want to live more happy and calmly, then this book is right for you. I know I will continue to reference it well into the future. It made the cut where others have failed in my book arsenal. A little support group spread out in chapters.

I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own.

This is a SOLID, well-rounded book I highly recommend. 5/5

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gift yourself the best gift when this book comes out. Because you will be super grateful this book ever existed.

I feel this is the book of the moment. We all need this. Because if you feel that we are all drowning in stress, the digital platform overflowing information era, disturbed sleeping and such, I am saying this is the only book you will ever need if you need that spark to change for better health and well being.

The book focuses mainly on exercise (no, it’s not the same old advice!), what we must focus on what we consume (food, time, habits and the digital lives we live), sleep and on stress reduction.

Take your time reading this short book. I find the writing and the presentation quite witty and insightful.

Thank you, Parthian Books, for the advance reading copy.

[Joselyn Moreno · Rating 5 out of 5]

i liked that it has lots of true life stories of how to do the changes in lifestyle. i have done a few of those myself already and it helps a lot.

Now it does give advice on how not to get overwhelmed with too much compromises, that's important since sometimes I tend to try to over reach a lot and end up exhausted.

This is a pretty good manual on how to live healthy without going overboard.

[Nicola Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great book and a one stop shop for all your mental and physical needs.

It was expertly succinct without being brief and got right to the heart of things without the faff. It was a book written and made to include everyone, no matter you’re job, stage in life, dietary habits or beliefs etc.. and I don’t think anyone could read this and not come away with at least one thing they’ve learnt and could implement into their lives!

Whether its how to sleep better, how to instil better habits, diet, mental well-being and more, it has everything in it you’d need to take a step back and address these areas of your life. It’s written in an informative way without being too heavy or preachy in anyway and it was effortless to read.

It’s a great book to have on your bookshelf and at your beckon call should you need a boost or a slight life overhaul! There’s no obligations to change yourself in this book, just some gentle tips, information and thoughts to make your life better and easier. Definitely not a read you’ll regret!

Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess this isn’t really the book I thought it was going to be. Based on the title and description I was expecting something more mental health related?

The advice covered in the book ranges from healthy eating and exercise to meditation, and learning how to not take on too much. None of it is really new or innovative, especially having read a number of books about diets and “lifestyles”. But other than the short section about not taking on too much, it seems like everything else is actually encouraging you to “do it all.” Of course any book about healthy lifestyles is going to offer advice on exercise, nutrition, even mindfulness and meditation. But all of that is easier said than done, and this didn’t really give any more helpful advice on how to make time and practically do all of those things in our busy lives these days.

I liked the real-life examples that were provided, and some of the parts about self-esteem and mindset, but other than that there was nothing else that really got my attention.

Thank you to NetGalley and Parthian Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

We have all been there, trying to juggle everything, from work to social lives and exercise, but are we ever happy about the balance?

How Not To Do It All by Dr Emma Stone is the Welsh Council Book of the Month, and from someone who usually reads a chapter of a lifestyle book to then put it straight back down, I found How Not To Do It All had me reading more and absorbing the 'message' easier, with the use of bitesized chunks of easy digestible pieces, rather than pages of pages of studies and statistics.

Dr Emma Short refers to several subjects, including how the environment we live in and the food we eat, affecting not only our physical health but our mental one too. Using snippets of quotes from the normal population, she's able to back up these snacks of information without making the point feel dragged out.

[MookNana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a clear, simple, well-researched guide to general wellness, focusing on nutrition, exercise, and mental health. While it is organized and straight-forward, unfortunately it does not cover any new ground (eat the rainbow, move more, prioritize sleep, etc.). It doesn't really present the conventional wisdom in an innovative or compelling new way, either. There isn't much visual variety on the page and while personal anecdotes were included to help illustrate various concepts, I found them long and not as engaging as I'd hoped.

There's no reason not to check this out, and it might make a good first guide to wellness for someone who has never explored the topic, but I would personally want something a bit more lively and engaging.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.

[Achu Aswathi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is really a short and sweet non fiction which describes how we can live an healthy life how we should be mentally, physically. The book talks about why one should exercise, have a balanced diet, how not to be a superwoman/superman taking too much tasks, ideas to practice mindfulness. How we can have healthy life being with nature and thanking for good things in our life. How helping others and being kind can help both receiver and giver.

There are lot of info and suggestion shared by the author who is in medical field and make us understand prevention is better than cure with her guide to How (Not) to do it all & Energise your life. This is written in simple language and sure a read for one who wants to live a healthy, happy and calmer life.

[Julie Charbonnier · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid, well researched book that outlines the key steps for a healthier life. Each chapter addresses one topic and offers practical advice.. This book is ideal for those relatively new to self-care and offers a well rounded summary that will be accessible to all readers. The usual topics are there - like sleep and eating well, but others like kindness and gratitude are also well explained. I am taking off a star for two reasons - first, it's unclear what you should prioritize and when and how -most of us know we should get more sleep and eat better, but how do you juggle all of these different responsibilities? The second issue I have is that calorie counting is not linked to decrease weight gained or happiness, in fact, calorie restriction will lead to weight gain in the long term.

[Louise Foerster · Rating 3 out of 5]

HOW (NOT TO DO IT ALL: ENERGISE YOUR LIFE by Emma Short is a fast, information-packed, actionable approach to whole-life well-being. Tackling the typical areas of nutrition and movement, Short connects and explains other dimensions contributing to a vibrant and enjoyable life such as environment, relationships, and goals. Throughout the guide, Short shares her personal experiences with different of the approaches along with perspectives from others. While I did not discover anything new, I deeply appreciated the connections she made and her all-in enthusiasm and support in acknowledging where experts conflict, the media sensationalizes, and where each individual may differ in their optimal path to living a good life. I received a copy of this book and these are my own, unbiased opinions.

[Corrica · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re anything like me, you’re running on fumes. You think that the more you do the better your life is. This book helps you break that cycle. It helps you see what you should be doing and what you can be doing. You don’t need an hour spin class every morning, there are more practical ways to be active in your daily life.

The author helps you reframe your thoughts and practices to get the most out of life while also being reasonable in expectations, time, and the need for rest.

*I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own and reflect my beliefs.

[Cate · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Thank you to Dr. Emma Short, Parthian, and NetGalley for allowing me to receive an ARC of How (Not) to Do It All: Energise Your Life in exchange for an honest review!!** This book is just great! It is nice to find a book that is mentioning the small choices that we can take that end up making larger differences over time. There are many different tactics to deal with maximizing your time and energy within this book. I especially enjoyed that there was rationale and explanation for making this certain decisions. I also liked that there were even ideas on how to change the way that you cook your meals in order to maximize their health benefits.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a concise and clear overview of a lot of the things every knows they should do for their health, but don't always prioritize. It was full of solid, practical suggestions for the basics.

While I think it could be helpful to the right person as a quick reference, but for anyone who already knows a lot about their own body or health, this may not be what their looking for. I found it a little too focused on a single right path to health; although, it did allow that not everyone can do everything.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Katie Matwiejow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find it very difficult to read self development or personal growth books and have taken to audiobooks for this genre specifically. However, I devoured this book in a matter of 24 hours. The content and easy reading format made this a quick and yet extremely helpful read for me. While I find that a lot of self development books have similar concepts, I enjoyed how this book in particular simplified each section of how to make and obtain goals. I will definitely be recommending this book!

Thank you NetGalley and Parthian Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nowdays life going so fast and we so often feel overwhelming with everything. How (Not) to Do It All Energise Your Life is a small reminder for busy readers to make better focus at life.

The writing style is gentle and encouraging. The topics are variable from nutrition until goal setting, all come with real life stories as inspiration. The book is help me to refocus and only take attention on something important for our life. There is nothing new you never hear before but it is nice to being reminding. Some gems are worth to hear thousands times. I believe this book is a small step and capable to help another people expecially the one who feel overwhelming in daily life.

Thank you Netgalley and Parthian Books for provided my copy. Such an inspiring read and my thoughts always my own.
This book will publish at 1 June 2023.

[kar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a thought-provoking read with tips and advice on various lifestyle choices from sleep to diet. Easy to return to when you need! The author helps you consider how to live well, while also having reasonable expectations. I appreciate the emphasis on the need for rest. This offers suggestions and strategies that you could try right away. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.

[Kate Henderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really interesting book. It covers a lot - and includes a lot of factual info as well as personal stories. I liked this combination. I enjoyed reading this book.

However, I felt that it was just trying to be too much! It covered such a huge range of topics I felt like it couldn't really dig into any of these with any depth. It felt a bit like whiplash! It was just a quick flash of something, and then it moved on.
I would have liked this book to have more of a focus.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 I loved this quote from just a couple of pages in:
"...at the start of your wellness journey [...] immediately see yourself as a healthy person." It was such a positive mindset change!

I feel like I read a lot of these types of self-help books, and I have to say I really liked this one! I just felt like it came from a healthy, non-dieting, no-shortcut mindset. The Exercise and Nutrition chapters were my favorites and ones I might revisit for some motivation. Recommended!

[StrictlySue · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous book to motivate and inspire us to energise our lives. Full of hints, tips and personal stories to help improve diet, sleep, inspire exercise and generally feel better and healthier. Perfect short book to dip in and out. Highly recommended and written by a health professional so you feel that you can trust the advice given.

[Odette Lattimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for the advanced copy, I enjoyed this, I like self help books especially ones that have some stories in them and you can dip in and out of.
This is a book that can help get you motivated and help you make life changes, it has information on all aspects of life from sleep to diet

Highly recommended

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a clear and actionable overview — with many practical tips — for how to improve one’s health and outlook. It’s accessible and covers a wide range of topics, from sleep and exercise to gut health. I will continue to refer to this book as needed. Well done!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy.

[Ann T · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good all round book on becoming healthier . It provides the basics and is the perfect stepping stone for someone wanting to learn more about being proactive with their health or as a book to pick up and read here and there to get a gentle reminder on some of the pillars of health.

[Virginia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe this is a case of me, not you, book, but...I was hoping for a lot less doing. Lots of readers will love this as it explains ways to live a well-rounded healthful lifestyle. However, I missed how any of it was energizing. I'm already doing a lot of it and it's exhausting! J/K kinda. Note that the primary audience is British, not American, but most of the information translates very well.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a digital review copy. Publish date June 1, 2023.

[Susie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some great advice in here and a simple easy read.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.