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Best Books on Burnout & Recovery for 2022

Published: April 27, 2022 Updated: July 22, 2022
Published: 04/27/2022 Updated: 07/22/2022
Headshot of Melissa Boudin, PsyD
Written by:

Melissa Boudin

PsyD
Headshot of Trishanna Sookdeo, MD, MPH, FAAFP
Reviewed by:

Trishanna Sookdeo

MD, MPH, FAAFP
  • Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle1.
  • Can’t Even: How Millennials Became The Burnout Generation2.
  • 52-Week Mental Health Journal: Guided Prompts and Self-Reflection to Reduce Stress and Improve Wellbeing3.
  • Mindfulness for Stress Management: 50 Ways to Improve Your Mood and Cultivate Calmness4.
  • Do Nothing: How to Break Away from Overworking, Overdoing, and Underliving5.
  • The Art Of Saying NO: How To Stand Your Ground, Reclaim Your Time And Energy, And Refuse To Be Taken For Granted6.
  • Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No To Take Control of Your Life7.
  • Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less8.
  • The Burnout Fix: Overcome Overwhelm, Beat Busy, and Sustain Success in the New World of Work9.
  • Burnout to Breakthrough: Building Resilience to Refuel, Recharge, and Reclaim What Matters10.
  • When to See a Therapist for BurnoutFind a Therapist
  • Additional ResourcesResources
Headshot of Melissa Boudin, PsyD
Written by:

Melissa Boudin

PsyD
Headshot of Trishanna Sookdeo, MD, MPH, FAAFP
Reviewed by:

Trishanna Sookdeo

MD, MPH, FAAFP

Burnout is marked by chronic stress, a loss of motivation, a sense of failure, and feeling trapped by your job or circumstance. It can be a symptom of depression or other mental health issues and is often indicative of a larger problem. If you’re struggling with burnout from work or other circumstances, then these books on burnout recovery are here to help.

Before you burnout, talk with a therapist. BetterHelp has over 20,000 licensed therapists who provide convenient and affordable online therapy. BetterHelp starts at $60 per week. Complete a brief questionnaire and get matched with the right therapist for you.

Choosing Therapy partners with leading mental health companies and is compensated for referrals by BetterHelp

Visit BetterHelp

Choosing Therapy’s editorial team maintains complete editorial independence and the content below represent their views after careful consideration of the products and services covered in this article. Choosing Therapy may earn a commission from companies mentioned within this article. Read more about our high editorial standards and advertising policy.

 Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle1. Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle

Burnout is no joke, especially for women. Emily and Amelia Nagoski’s book doesn’t just talk about how burnout seriously affects women, but also offers concrete advice and exercises to combat it. It shows how to get your body out of the stress cycle and into true relaxation in a world determined to tell you you’re not doing enough.

Can't Even: How Millennials Became The Burnout Generation2. Can’t Even: How Millennials Became The Burnout Generation

Whether you’re looking for validation or want more information on the wave of burnout that seems to be sweeping through the nation, this book delivers the cultural discussion and context needed to understand the issue. Buzzfeed columnist Anne Helen Petersen expands upon her viral article on the same topic with clarity and familiarity. Petersen outlines how burnout impacts millennial lives, the generational circumstances that got them there in the first place, and what burnout does to a generation in the long term.

52-Week Mental Health Journal: Guided Prompts and Self-Reflection to Reduce Stress and Improve Wellbeing3. 52-Week Mental Health Journal: Guided Prompts and Self-Reflection to Reduce Stress and Improve Wellbeing

This therapist-written guided journal is a solid tool for bettering mental health, including burnout recovery. Quick, guided prompts help you better understand yourself and provide you with tools to reduce your stress. You’ll also learn tips for finding your goals, healthy living, increasing your mental energy, and more.

Mindfulness for Stress Management: 50 Ways to Improve Your Mood and Cultivate Calmness4. Mindfulness for Stress Management: 50 Ways to Improve Your Mood and Cultivate Calmness

Not adequately managing your stress can lead to burnout. If quitting your job isn’t in the cards at the moment, it may be worthwhile to take a look at other ways to navigate your stress. This workbook specifically focuses on mindfulness to help you cultivate a more content, peaceful life.

Do Nothing: How to Break Away from Overworking, Overdoing, and Underliving5. Do Nothing: How to Break Away from Overworking, Overdoing, and Underliving

We live in a world where we are constantly told to do more: More at work, more at home, more with our friends. Our society rarely allows us to do nothing. The very idea usually implies laziness or something inherently wrong with us. Author Celeste Headlee argues these habits aren’t just burning us out—they’re deeply damaging and do more harm than good, and can even lead to depression.

Before you burnout, talk with a therapist. BetterHelp has over 20,000 licensed therapists who provide convenient and affordable online therapy. BetterHelp starts at $60 per week. Complete a brief questionnaire and get matched with the right therapist for you.

Choosing Therapy partners with leading mental health companies and is compensated for referrals by BetterHelp

Visit BetterHelp

The Art Of Saying NO: How To Stand Your Ground, Reclaim Your Time And Energy, And Refuse To Be Taken For Granted6. The Art Of Saying NO: How To Stand Your Ground, Reclaim Your Time And Energy, And Refuse To Be Taken For Granted

Saying no is a skill many don’t have. This can lead to burnout, stress, and anxiety. Learning how to say no to things you don’t care about (and making time for things you do care about) is an important step in your burnout recovery. This book provides tips, tools, and exercises to get you flexing your “no” muscles when you’re feeling overwhelmed.

Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No To Take Control of Your Life7. Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No To Take Control of Your Life

When you’re used to people-pleasing, putting your needs last, or otherwise letting others be more important than you, the idea of establishing boundaries can sound rude and unkind. But setting boundaries is how you ensure your needs are met and that you’re being taken care of first and foremost, before you run up against exhaustion or social fatigue. Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend take their years of research on the subject and offer practical advice for anyone attempting to draw more lines in the sand. Christians may find it especially helpful.

 Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less8. Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less

Author Greg Mckeown challenges readers to consider exactly what they need in their life to be truly happy. The rest? Let it go.

By forcing readers to consider what is absolutely essential—and letting the rest fall away—there can finally be room for a stress-free life. For those struggling with burnout, this might be exactly what they need to reduce mental and emotional burnout.

The Burnout Fix: Overcome Overwhelm, Beat Busy, and Sustain Success in the New World of Work9. The Burnout Fix: Overcome Overwhelm, Beat Busy, and Sustain Success in the New World of Work

Psychologist and board-certified leadership coach Dr. Jacinta M. Jiménez provides a step-by-step, concrete guide to overcoming burnout in your career. It focuses on cultivating your personal pulse: the thing that motivates you, gets you out of bed and keeps you going. These pulses, Dr. Jiménez writes, keep you grounded while working and set you up for future success and prevent further burnout.

Burnout to Breakthrough: Building Resilience to Refuel, Recharge, and Reclaim What Matters10. Burnout to Breakthrough: Building Resilience to Refuel, Recharge, and Reclaim What Matters

Motivational speaker Eileen McDargh doesn’t just help you identify your burnout type, she provides the framework to recover from it. By better managing your energy, she writes, you become more resilient, which in turn helps combat stress, burnout, and more.

This book outlines how to recharge and refuel in ways that make sense for you while providing you with the tools you need to keep yourself happy and healthy in the face of burnout

When to See a Therapist for Burnout

While some cases of burnout can be recovered from with a better job or a break, other cases can be quite severe. If you’re struggling with burnout and find yourself depressed, anxious, or otherwise struggling, consider seeing a therapist. They can help you get to the root of your burnout, establish boundaries, and create a self-care plan for you. Find a therapist in your area today.

Additional Resources

Education is just the first step on our path to improved mental health and emotional wellness. To help our readers take the next step in their journey, Choosing Therapy has partnered with leaders in mental health and wellness. Choosing Therapy may be compensated for referrals by the companies mentioned below.

BetterHelp Online Therapy – BetterHelp has over 20,000 licensed therapists who provide convenient and affordable online therapy. BetterHelp starts at $60 per week. Complete a brief questionnaire and get matched with the right therapist for you. Get Started

Talkspace Online Therapy – Online therapy is convenient with Talkspace. Get therapy for as little as $69 per week, or potentially much less if you have insurance from Cigna, Optum, or UHR. Try Talkspace

Choosing Therapy’s Directory – Find an experienced therapist who is committed to your wellbeing. You can search for a therapist by specialty, availability, insurance, and affordability. Therapist profiles and introductory videos provide insight into the therapist’s personality so you find the right fit. Find a therapist today.

Mindfulness & Meditation App – Headspace is an easy way to incorporate mindfulness and meditation into your routine. See for yourself how a few minutes each day can impact your stress levels, mood, and sleep. A monthly subscription for Headspace is only $12.99 per month and comes with a 7-day free trial. Try Headspace

Choosing Therapy partners with leading mental health companies and is compensated for referrals by BetterHelp, Talkspace, and Headspace

For Further Reading

  • Mental Health America
  • National Alliance on Mental Health
  • MentalHealth.gov

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Headshot of Melissa Boudin, PsyD
Written by:

Melissa Boudin

PsyD
Headshot of Trishanna Sookdeo, MD, MPH, FAAFP
Reviewed by:

Trishanna Sookdeo

MD, MPH, FAAFP
  • Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle1.
  • Can’t Even: How Millennials Became The Burnout Generation2.
  • 52-Week Mental Health Journal: Guided Prompts and Self-Reflection to Reduce Stress and Improve Wellbeing3.
  • Mindfulness for Stress Management: 50 Ways to Improve Your Mood and Cultivate Calmness4.
  • Do Nothing: How to Break Away from Overworking, Overdoing, and Underliving5.
  • The Art Of Saying NO: How To Stand Your Ground, Reclaim Your Time And Energy, And Refuse To Be Taken For Granted6.
  • Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No To Take Control of Your Life7.
  • Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less8.
  • The Burnout Fix: Overcome Overwhelm, Beat Busy, and Sustain Success in the New World of Work9.
  • Burnout to Breakthrough: Building Resilience to Refuel, Recharge, and Reclaim What Matters10.
  • When to See a Therapist for BurnoutFind a Therapist
  • Additional ResourcesResources
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