Things I Got Wrong So You Don't Have To: 48 Lessons to Banish Burnout and Avoid Anxiety for Those Who Put Others First

by Pooky Knightsmith

An internationally respected campaigner, Pooky Knightsmith has worked tirelessly to promote good child and adolescent mental health. Her knowledge, ideas and advice come not just from years of research and study, but from hard earned experience with PTSD, anorexia, self-harm and depression.

Part mental health guide, part memoir, this book contains 48 life lessons learned from everyday victories to life-changing events. Pooky shares tips on how to avoid burnout, how small acts of self-care can make a big difference, steps you can take to live with anxiety, and how to nurture key friendships and relationships, amongst many other things. Each lesson ends with space for the reader to reflect, and includes exercises to help take the first steps to incorporating these lessons into their own lives.

Unflinching and utterly authentic, Pooky shares the things she got wrong so that you don't have to.

223 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 21, 2022

Reviews

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The advice in here is simply normal good advice. I did find the book compelling because of the personal stories that accompanied each section. And contrary to the subtitle, there's more in here than overcoming anxiety and people-pleasing. The sections include learning/professional competency, self-acceptance, self-care, online stuff, quite a large section on death, anxiety, and finishes with love and friendship.

[Heather Hoyt · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I enjoyed this, but I think I would have preferred the format more like a memoir than a self-help book, as the stories were the most interesting.