The Joy of Well-Being: A Practical Guide to a Happy, Healthy, and Long Life

by Colleen Wachob, Jason Wachob

In this empowering and accessible collection of health and wellness advice, the co-founders of mindbodygreen challenge our definition of self-improvement by revealing what a healthy lifestyle looks like at the fundamental level—and how it’s not what we think.  On your journey toward a more health-conscious life, you’ve likely been bombarded by an overwhelming amount of information—from the Kardashian-like wellness influencers who (unrealistically) insist upon sustainably sourced Epsom salt baths every night, to the elite longevity optimizers who measure their lactate levels after a workout. The echo chamber of the internet, and social media algorithms that favor polarizing opinions to drive views and engagement, have hijacked our understanding of health. No matter which corner of the wellness world you inhabit, our social feeds are filled with advice that presumes we all have the same amount of time, money, and resources. In this saturated landscape, how can you avoid the potential scams and dodge the doctors-turned-celebrities to find what really works for you?

Over the past decade, Colleen and Jason Wachob, co-founders of mindbodygreen, have cultivated a leading wellness lifestyle media brand for everyone seeking to cut through this noise, and live a happier, healthier, and greener lifestyle. The Joy of Well-Being is a distillation of almost fifteen years of this experience on the forefront of the well-being they’ve done the legwork so you don’t have to. The book explores the spectrum of well-being, from how we breathe to how we love,   …and so much more.

The Wachobs are a product of their mentors and years of working with hundreds of the world’s most brilliant well-being minds, PhDs, MDs, therapists, movement specialists, spiritual leaders, and journalists. They’ve developed ways to discern meaningful points of information amidst the chaos, an act they consider both a science and an art. The Joy of Well-Being is more than a book, it’s a reawakening, marking a crucial shift away from the do-this-then-do-that paradigm, to cultivating a joyful lifestyle that centers each individual, and their own health and happiness. True well-being isn’t something you chase, it is something you weave together, as each new day presents an opportunity to make choices that support feeling good in your body, in your relationships, and in your life.
 

Genres: Health

288 pages, Hardcover

Published May 23, 2023

Reviews

[Saltygalreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick overview: "the joy of well-being" is billed as a practical and do-able guide to healthy living from the husband and wife duo behind "mindbodygreen". You may be familiar with them through their Instagram™ presence or their podcast where they present advice from a variety of experts on an endless list of health, fitness and food topics. In this guide, they present their vision of well-being, which they define as follows: "Wellness is about optimization and outcome. Well-being is about joy and journey."

Thoughts: I appreciated the broader definition of overall well-being including aspects like breath, human connection and spirituality. While touching on the more traditional aspects of health, they also discussed the crucial importance of sleep, coping with stress and the concept of healthy stress, having connected relationships with other humans (and animals), and our relationship with our planet. There were no hard and fast rules presented here - only common sense advice sprinkled with some scientific and anecdotal evidence to support it. The Wachobs were honest about choosing activities that could be easily incorporated into everyday life so that they are a source of happiness and not a chore that will be dropped at some point. Overall, I found this guide a quick read in an engaging tone that never veered off into preachiness. If you are looking to introduce some positive changes, big or small, I recommend it.

[Kalle Marie Red-Horse · Rating 3 out of 5]

a good overview of foundational elements that facilitate well-being. while i appreciated the accessibility of the tips and all the cited research included, there just wasn’t much new information to me, personally (breathe, exercise, sleep, have a community and purpose). maybe that’s just because i often look into this topic so perhaps more helpful for someone else—overall it was okay!

actually my one new takeaway was the importance of breathing through your nose, even when exercising. g

[Eada Gendelman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book exceeded my expectations! I loved it. Had a few qualms but fortunately they were all very tiny parts of this book :) would recommend to almost anyone!

[Mom2triplets04 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened on audio. Was hoping to like it more but part of the book was written like a textbook. Just not what I expected to be joyful.

[Synthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is divided into 8 points to focus on for your well-being. The distinction with this book is that it’s not focusing on a specific diet or plan, but rather areas in your life that you can easily improve. 1. Breathe 2. Sleep 3. Eat real food 4. Move 5. Stress - this chapter actually has to do with cold baths/showers 6. Regenerate - talks about the environment and being more aware of our impact on the earth 7. In it together - addresses quality relationships 8. Something bigger - talks about purpose and spirituality

[Zibby Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

This refreshing take on well-being emphasizes joy, connection, and mindfulness in our daily lives. In a world saturated with rigid wellness routines and noise on social media, the author is trying to shift the focus from wellness to well-being, a transition that feels like a breath of fresh air. The book offers practical insights on enhancing well-being, from simple activities like walking by the water to focusing on breath and the importance of sleep. She shares personal stories, including her struggles with fertility, which adds relatability to the book. Her level of resilience brings hope to those navigating similar struggles.

As a mother of two, her perspective resonated deeply, reminding me that well-being should be joyful rather than strict protocols. We can all find ways to integrate activities that bring joy into our lives, making well-being a priority, not a punishment. Whether spending time in nature, playing pickleball, or simply enjoying a good book, finding joy is a central theme throughout the book. I appreciated the refreshing departure from your typical wellness guide. The Joy of Well-Being is for anyone wanting a more joyful and holistic approach to well-being. I highly recommend it to those looking to embark on a journey to a happier, healthier, and more fulfilled life.

To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at: https://shows.acast.com/moms-dont-hav...

[Meredith Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up

Probably one of the best self help books I’ve read - and I’ve read a lot!!! All of the advice was delivered so gently, and the format of the book made for a super easy read. I love the authors’ writing style, I felt like I was just chilling on a podcast with them or something!

Took off 0.5 stars for a couple reasons, first that I didn’t really learn anything new. This book is great for clarifying all the things you’ve heard about health and wellness and figuring out what works best for you, but not a great resource for new information. Second, the last 1/4 of the book was a little slow. The first 3/4 had a pretty quick pace so it felt odd to end slower.

Overall great book, would recommend to anyone who’s curious about making some small steps to improve their life!

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fine book but it had absolutely no new information for me. To be fair, I read a lot on these topics so those who don’t know a lot about things like the importance of sleep and exercise will find lots of good information. The advice boils down to there are no bad foods, get enough sleep, manage stress, exercise, try interval fasting, don’t drink much, etc. I didn’t agree with it all but it’s the basic sound advice currently out there.

I read a digital copy of this book via NetGalley.

[Nan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ebook. This book combines a lot of my journey so far. It’s a lovely book for anyone who is just starting a mindbody wellness journey, someone stuck working what to try next and for those journeying an encouragement. What is working, what isn’t? What can you tweak? Be water like my friends! We’re in this together.

[Mari-Jo Hill]

Love this book! It is an excellent manual for lifestyle goals as we age, written by a couple who have faced their own physical challenges even at a younger age and overcome, now sharing what they've learned. Both became founders of "Mind Body Green," a wellness business and podcast of same name.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The authors spent 15 years researching all the expertise and trends in wellness and boil it down to practical changes in 8 focus areas that will improve well-being. The book is comprehensive, yet simple to put into practice.

[Donnelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really helpful perspective on how to take small actions towards big changes to be a better you.
This is a good reminder that people are unique and individual so what works for one person might not work for you and that’s okay, and you shouldn’t give up because of it.

[brit · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were things in this book that were notable but most of it was common sense and just kind of mid. Some chapters I didn’t find anything to take away from it and the good ones were few and far between. It was good but I wouldn’t read it again.

[Cassandra Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing particularly new or revolutionary but I liked their perspective that the key to sticking with any healthy change is ensuring it also makes you happy. Very practical, realistic and individualized in their approach of there is no “one size fits all” for health and well-being.

[Amber Hoots · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best wellness books I have read to date!

[Blooming · Rating 4 out of 5]

Provides some good perspectives on taking care of yourself.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this read, especially the chapters on community/spirituality at the end because that is a lesser discussed topic of wellness.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Breathe through your nose.

Drink half your body weight in ounces daily.

80% perimeter of grocery store.

Choose movement that doesn't add more stress to your life.

[Devin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was great! Will read again

[elena dahae · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars

We say it again because it’s so important: You deserve joy. You deserve to be healthy. You deserve to live a long life. You deserve more.

this book was quite long, but kinda excited to read it, although I skipped some parts; chapter six generally talked about cold-exposure stress, not stress in general. My first non-fiction book read.

At MindBodyGreen, Colleen and Jason Wachob specifically mention the topic of well-being, sleep, moving our bodies, regenerating plastics and the climate change.

Don’t let wellness frustrate you — it should be a sanctuary, it should bring you joy, and it should pull you away from your phone. Do what feels good and makes you happy, and understand that living the good life is the ultimate alchemy: true well-being, You have to experiment, mix and match, learn and try and fail and try again.