2025 wellness wisdom: Expert tips to transform your year

Discover books and podcasts recommended by W. P. Carey faculty to guide your mental and physical wellness journey.

The new year is a time for self-reflection and goal-setting, with many New Year's resolutions focusing on improving physical and mental wellness. To kick off 2025, W. P. Carey faculty are sharing their favorite book and podcast recommendations on navigating personal fulfillment, nutrition research, intentionality, and mindfulness to guide your wellness journey — however that might look for you!

"How Will You Measure Your Life?" by Clayton Christensen

Recommended by Rachel Balven, clinical assistant professor of management and entrepreneurship

Before I entered my PhD program almost 12 years ago, I asked my advisor for reading material recommendations. I thought he would give me academic material, but instead, he recommended this book. As my life has unfolded with many ups and downs, I very recently found myself thinking about one of its core tenets: "choosing the right yardstick." Some of us academics are prone to attaching our self-worth to our degrees, publications, and other professional accomplishments. Despite health issues, motherhood, and various community involvement endeavors, I too fell prey to this mindset. Indeed, I found myself choosing the "wrong" yardstick time and time again. However, a recent confluence of professional and personal circumstances has helped me truly embrace Christensen’s message: "Don't worry about the level of individual prominence you have achieved; worry about the individuals you have helped become better people."

"The Anxious Generation" by Jonathan Haidt

Recommended by Tracey Lauterborn, assistant teaching professor of supply chain management

I read this book a few months ago because I wanted to learn more about the growing epidemic of mental health issues in our youth. I was surprised to learn that it provided me with the resources to make me a better educator.

"The Anxious Generation" sheds light on the problem of increased incidents of mental illness and anxiety among teenagers and young adults in their 20s. This is especially intriguing because the author attributes these problems to the decline in play and excessive screen time that has increased exponentially in the past 15 years. The author identifies the importance of collective action and outlines suggestions for reducing this crisis. This book is insightful because it can help you join the coalition to combat this growing problem. It is easy to embrace technology; however, it is considerably more difficult to challenge it.

"Devotions" by Mary Oliver

Recommended by Maziar Kazemi, assistant professor of finance

"Devotions" is a collection of poet Mary Oliver’s greatest hits, so to speak. Oliver won a Pulitzer and was a beloved author, while simultaneously being somewhat unfashionable, as far as literature was concerned. She wrote poems about nature, her dog(s), being present — before the concept was commodified by self-help books — and other quaint and seemingly parochial things. Of course, as you no doubt inferred, I think her poems are far from small or unimportant, especially now in a world of speed, screens, and vanishing attention spans.

The final lines of her most famous poem, "The Summer Day," are often incorrectly taken as a clarion call to "seize the day" or other productivity-culture drudgery. A few lines earlier, we see they are saying the opposite.

So let me channel the late, great Oliver and suggest that the best thing for you, right now, is to step outside and watch that bird (yes, that one right there) flit from branch to branch, cactus to cactus. At the very least, read Oliver’s work, and find some words that remind you that you too are alive and here, right now.

Kazemi also recommends Oliver's poems "Wild Geese," "Invitation," and "The First Time Percy Came Back."

"Stronger By Science" podcast hosted by Greg Nuckols

Recommended by Justin Bina, assistant professor in the Morrison School of Agribusiness

I highly recommend the Stronger By Science (SBS) podcast which delves into exercise and nutrition research, health and fitness trends, and listener questions. In addition to communicating exercise-related science in understandable ways, the SBS team discusses what matters on your fitness journey and how to sustainably pursue your health and productivity goals. I also appreciate the hosts' sarcasm and dry wit, which makes each episode quite enjoyable. In addition to the podcast, the SBS team — composed of graduate nutrition and exercise scientists — provides summaries of research articles, training programs (which I have used myself), a calorie-tracking app, and personal coaching. All in all, SBS provides some of the most practical and accessible information to guide you on your health journey.

"Finding Your Own North Star: How to Claim the Life You Were Meant to Live" by Martha Beck

Recommended by Julie Nelsen, clinical associate professor of marketing

This insightful guide helps readers reconnect with their authentic selves and navigate the complex path to personal fulfillment. Beck blends humor, stories, and actionable advice to help readers identify what truly makes them happy and take steps toward creating a life aligned with their core values.

On a personal note, I relied on this book when I was navigating a major career transition from corporate America to academia. It gave me clarity and helped define what personal fulfillment looked like — a perspective that continues to guide my professional and personal life. Although the book was published some time ago, I still find its lessons highly relevant today. It makes it a valuable resource for anyone seeking greater alignment between their life choices and their authentic self.

"We Can Do Hard Things" podcast hosted by Glennon Doyle and Abby Wambach

Recommended by Allison Cole, assistant professor of finance

"We Can Do Hard Things" is a podcast hosted by bestselling author Glennon Doyle and her wife, soccer legend Abby Wambach. Each episode dives into various aspects of mental health, relationships, and the general challenges of life. The episodes feel like honest, heart-to-heart conversations with friends as they tackle big topics, often bringing in guests to share their insights. Past guests include Brené Brown, Malcolm Gladwell, and Elizabeth Warren — they cover it all! Glennon brings her thoughtful, vulnerable perspective, while Abby adds her no-nonsense practicality, creating a dynamic that’s comforting and empowering. Whether you’re figuring out boundaries, dealing with anxiety, or just trying to make it through the day, "We Can Do Hard Things" reminds you that you’re not alone and often comes with useful advice.

"Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals" by Oliver Burkeman

Recommended by Carrie Wang, clinical assistant professor of management and entrepreneurship

In today’s hustle-and-grind culture in which endless to-do lists reign supreme, Burkeman’s "Four Thousand Weeks" offers a refreshing and liberating perspective on our modern relationship with time. Drawing on ancient and contemporary sources, he challenges our obsession with productivity and the illusion of control over time. Instead, Burkeman urges us to embrace our human finitude and limitations to rethink how we approach the moments we have. Ironically, this isn’t a book about time management and squeezing every last drop of efficiency, but an invitation to live more intentionally by letting go of the fantasy of "getting it all done" and focusing on the few things and commitments that truly matter. For those seeking respite from the demands of modernity, this book will be thought-provoking, insightful, and deeply reassuring.

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