I subscribe to a lot of newsletters and blogs and websites that have a focus on wellbeing.
It makes total sense when you consider my job involves communicating these concepts to others 🙂
I thought I’d share the best of the ones that I currently subscribe to.
I don’t recommend you try to follow all of them yourself. You probably already have a lot of email coming in. But adding one or two and seeing if you get value from them over time is something I’d recommend.
The path to wellbeing is one you’ll walk your entire life and the teachers and resources that you collect along the way will influence the directions you take. Surround yourself with good quality content and you are much more likely to adopt habits and practices that build your wellbeing over time.
So here are the resources I subscribe to that regularly fill my email inbox with useful wellbeing-related content. Some of them are student-focused reflecting the nature of my work.
I’ll update this list as I add more sources to my weekly read. Note that many of these have corresponding social media accounts (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook etc), so you might decide to follow them on those platforms, rather than email.
Health and Mental Health
Stanford University’s Student Wellbeing Page – yes it is focused on Stanford students, but there are lots of generic wellbeing articles of value on their site.
Greater Good In Action – science-based practices for a meaningful life.
ABC Newsletters – Specifically select the news you want to get from Australia’s best news source (in my opinion). I get the science and health ones. You can even sign up to get a mental health specific newsletter.
Blue Zones Newsletter – learn how the longest living people in the world achieve this great feat and establish habits in your own life that mimic these behaviours.
Nutrition Facts – daily videos on fascinating nutrition topics
Psyche – “a digital magazine from Aeon that illuminates the human condition through psychology, philosophical understanding and the arts.”
Psychwire – answers from world-leading experts in behavioural science on a range of mental health themed questions.
Relationships
Marriage Minute – email newsletter from the Gottman institute with brief tips for building better relationships.
Better thinking and productivity
Effectiviology – a website exploring concepts from psychology and philosophy.
College Info Geek – US focused but lots of excellent content on studying and productivity.
Farnam Street – articles and links on how to be a better thinker.
Cal Newport’s Study Hacks Blog – tips on productivity and focused work.
Scott Young – articles on learning and productivity.
Learning Scientists – scientific research on learning to make you a better learner or teacher
Huberman Podcast – a fantastic podcast exploring neuroscience-based tools for better sleep, productivity, stress management, focus and more
Life skills
School of Life – Wide range of articles, tools, classes, books, games and more on that explore the philosophy of living – how to live a ‘good’ life.
BPS Research Digest – psychology research, digested, to help you apply it to living a better life.
Financial wellbeing
Moneysmart – articles on all aspects of managing your finances including links to supports for those with money troubles
Spaceship Learn – articles with a focus on investing
Strong Money Australia – a blog by an average guy on how to achieve financial independence
Raiz Invest Blog – articles focused on investing
Self-help books
There are so many self-help/self-development books on the market and everyone’s requirements are unique, it is very hard to make specific recommendations.
Thus I have two pieces of advice.
- Sign up to Goodreads and track your reading and use reviews and recommendations to find new books. You can find me on there. The goal isnt to find the ‘perfect’ self-help book. The goal is to sample many different ones and find the ideas and constructs that resonate with you and help you make practical improvements to your life.
- I do consistently recommend two books that I think help describe an overarching process for self-improvement, rather than make specific suggestions. They are Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg and Atomic Habits by James Clear.
Some bonus ones
Update (4/7/21) – five sites that are not daily reading, but I use them daily are:
Mynoise.net – the ultimate online noise generator. I use it to create sounds that help me focus and relax.
Brainfm – another audio generator that creates music/sounds specifically for study, relaxing and sleep. I often combine it with MyNoise.
Waking Up – the practice and theory of meditation. Currently enjoying a great series on Koans by Henry Shukman and a series on Stoic Philosophy by William B Irvine.
Insight Timer – massive catalogue of lessons and meditations on various topics.
YouTube Music – everyone needs a source of great tunes.
People
Barefoot Investor – sound financial advice
Is there a wellbeing focused newsletter that you receive that brings knowledge and wisdom into your life? Let me know in the comments below.
Dr Gareth Furber 