About the Book
From the author of Hyperfocus, a treasure trove of practical, science-backed strategies that reveal how the key to a less anxious life, and even greater productivity, is a calm state of mind
“After rebounding from his own burnout, Bailey devised a clear-eyed, concise method that marries science and self-help; he’s equally proficient in probing the roles of serotonin and endorphins while charting concrete steps in chapters titled ‘The Mindset of More’ and ‘Heights of Stimulation.’ Slow down, breathe, and submerge into these pages.” —Oprah Daily
A PENGUIN LIFE BOOK
It took an on-stage panic attack for productivity expert Chris Bailey to recognize how critical it is to invest in calm at the same time that we invest in becoming more productive. Productivity advice works—and we need it now more than ever—but it’s just as vital that we develop our capacity for calm. By finding calm and overcoming anxiety, we don’t just feel more comfortable in our own mind—we build a deeper, more expansive reservoir of energy to draw from throughout the day. The pursuit of calm ultimately leads us to become more engaged, focused, and deliberate—while making us more satisfied with our lives. And because calm saves us time by making us more productive, we don’t even need to feel guilty about the time we spend investing in it.
How to Calm Your Mind is our crucial guide to achieving calm, navigating anxiety, and staving off burnout. It explains how our digital world drains us, and what we can do to abate the hidden sources of stress that burden our days. Bailey has learned to embrace the analog world and “stimulation fasts,” to use the science of “savoring” to become more focused and present, and to relax without guilt—and he shows us how we can reclaim calm, too. In an anxious world, investing in calm might be the best productivity strategy around.
About the Author :
Chris Bailey is an author and lecturer who explores the science behind living a deeper, more intentional life. He has written hundreds of articles on the subject and has garnered coverage in media as diverse as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, GQ, HuffPost, New York magazine, Harvard Business Review, TED, Fast Company, and Lifehacker. The bestselling author of The Productivity Project and Hyperfocus, Bailey's books have been published in twenty-six languages. He lives in Ottawa, Canada.
Review :
Praise for How to Calm Your Mind:
“After rebounding from his own burnout, Bailey devised a clear-eyed, concise method that marries science and self-help; he’s equally proficient in probing the roles of serotonin and endorphins while charting concrete steps in chapters titled ‘The Mindset of More’ and ‘Heights of Stimulation.’ Slow down, breathe, and submerge into these pages.”
—Oprah Daily
"Bailey’s reckoning with productivity, and his revelation that 'investing in calm' is the secret to a truly productive life, may come as welcome news."
—San Francisco Chronicle
"This science-backed book guides readers to productivity during anxious times. . . . In How to Calm Your Mind, Bailey discusses how finding calm and reducing our mental load can lead to a more fulfilled life, and for those looking to become more engaged and focused, Bailey’s teachings can help."
—Reader's Digest
"Insightful."
—Apple Books
“How to Calm Your Mind is an oasis in a sea of productivity porn. It is the antidote for the chaos of our daily lives and the relentless pursuit of more at the expense of meaning. In this enlightening book, Bailey not only explains why finding calm matters, he provides a step-by-step guide for how to find it and keep it. Reading it will help you find balance between getting things done and doing things that matter.”
—Samantha Boardman, MD, author of Everyday Vitality
“How to Calm Your Mind inspires us to do the unimaginable—to remain calm in a world filled with stress and anxiety. Chris Bailey helps us understand why calm seems so hard to achieve, and then gives us the means to achieve it. This is a book that shows how to regain one's inborn resilience and tap into a calm mind to create a thriving life.”
—Henry Emmons, MD, author of The Chemistry of Joy and The Chemistry of Calm
“People have said that Chris is one of the most productive men you could hope to meet. Personally, I know him as one of the calmest. This book explains how both statements can be true for him, and how they can be true for you too.”
—Cait Flanders, author of The Year of Less and Adventures in Opting Out
Praise for Hyperfocus:
“In this practical and widely applicable manual, Bailey identifies distraction as an endemic problem plaguing the business world, and just about every facet of modern life as well. . . . Highly germane to any fast-paced workplace, this book is a must-read for readers seeking to regain control of their ability to concentrate.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Becoming more productive isn’t about time management; it’s about attention management. I’d tell you more about that, but I lost my train of thought. Luckily this attention-grabbing book is here to help. Chris Bailey offers actionable, data-driven insights for sharpening your focus—and finding the right moments to blur it.”
—Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again
“The best productivity plans call for strategy, not just hacks or tactics—and Hyperfocus gives you strategy in spades. When you read this book, get ready to do your most important work!”
—Chris Guillebeau, author of The $100 Startup, The Art of Non-Conformity, and The Happiness of Pursuit
“There’s no question: your attention is your most valuable asset. Everything in your life—your experience of life—comes from your attention. And Hyperfocus will teach you how to use this tool, how to hone it, leverage it, and even enjoy it. Pay attention to Chris Bailey—this book is well worth the focus.”
—Peter Bregman, author of 18 Minutes
“Attention may be the most important asset of the twenty-first century. Hyperfocus takes decades of scientific insights and pairs them with practical applications to show us how best to manage and multiply our attention.”
—David Burkus, author of Under New Management and Friend of a Friend
“I read Hyperfocus on my phone . . . but this book was so engaging I stopped checking email entirely! I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to do more of what matters in a distracted world.”
—Laura Vanderkam, author of What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast and 168 Hours
“Let me guess. You’re like me. You don’t have time to read this book. Or any book! Who has time for books anymore? Well, that’s perfect. Because it means you have the disease. And right now you’re holding the cure.”
—Neil Pasricha, author of The Book of Awesome and The Happiness Equation
“Hyperfocus does a remarkable job of unpacking the realities, obstacles, and best practices of managing the subtle but ever-present world of our conscious attention. All of us can get better at how, when, and on what we focus. This is an extraordinary, eye-opening, and research-based report of what affects us in this regard, and how to take advantage of this information to achieve greater satisfaction in our lives. Bravo, Chris.”
—David Allen, author of Getting Things Done
