Wellness Your Way: Celebrate National Wellness Month
August is National Wellness Month, and if you’ve been meaning to slow down, breathe, and take care of yourself, this is your sign. Now, if you’re already thinking, “I wish I had the time for something like that,” take heart. We’ve got options no matter how much time you do (or don’t) have. Sixty minutes? A day? A whole week? Your library card unlocks free resources that fit your time and your lifestyle. With Hoopla, you can stream guided meditations, audiobooks on mindfulness, comics about calming, bodywork videos, and more. No waitlists, no late fees, just wellness on your schedule.
Not sure where to start? We’ve put together a collection called Wellness Your Way to help you build a plan that actually sticks. Below, choose your own adventure: a one-hour reset, a one-day reset, or a full one-week reset.
The One-Hour Reset: Quick Mindfulness Exercises
Short on time? An hour is plenty. Turn your lunch break, commute, or evening walk into a quick reset.
Hoopla picks for your one-hour reset:
Balance written and read by Touré Roberts
Change is a constant, but that doesn’t mean it has to knock you off course. This book shows you how to actually use life’s shifts to grow, build stronger relationships, and boost your everyday productivity. Packed with honest personal stories, it’s a down-to-earth guide to finding real purpose.
Niksen: The Dutch Art of Doing Nothing by Annette Lavrijsen
This book introduces a simple Dutch idea about the underrated power of doing absolutely nothing. It’s packed with practical tips for slowing down, setting boundaries, and easing burnout. You’ll pick up easy exercises for relaxing, boosting creativity, and finally catching a break from your endless to-do list.
Thinking About Thinking by Grant Snider
Ever feel stuck in your own head? This funny little comic collection gets it, using bright illustrations and clever visuals to capture self-doubt, fear, and overthinking. No easy answers here, just humor, comfort, and a reminder that you’re definitely not alone in the chaos.
Ocean Waves Nature Sounds: Calm Relaxing Ocean Waves
This collection of 21 new-age tracks is basically a mini vacation for your ears. It’s filled with soothing ocean wave sounds perfect for winding down, meditating, or drifting off to sleep. Great for background noise while you relax, study, or just need a calm moment. Simple, natural, and instantly relaxing.
Yoga for Health with Jenny Cornero: Fears & Anxiety
This gentle, slow-paced yoga video pairs movement with deep breathing techniques to help calm anxious thoughts and ease everyday stress. It’s a relaxing, mindful practice designed to support your overall well-being. Calming and easy to follow.
This pass unlocks a whole lineup of clever puzzle and word games, perfect for unwinding after a long day. Enjoy fresh twists on classics like crosswords, chess, and solitaire, plus original games you won’t find anywhere else. Great for relaxing your mind while still keeping things fun and engaging.
BingePasses give you instant access to entire collections and premium streaming services for a single borrow through your local public library. With a BingePass you get free, unlimited seven-day access to binge movies, magazines, books, and more with your library card.
Tip: These one-hour offerings are a great entry point if you’re new to mindfulness exercises and want a taste of what a longer practice might feel like.
The One-Day Reset: Self-Care Activities That Actually Fit Your Schedule
A full day gives you room to combine a few self-care activities without turning your whole life upside down. Think of it as a wellness “sampler”: a little movement, a little quiet, a little something for your mind.
Hoopla picks for your one-day reset:
Kintsugi Wellness by Candace Kumai and read by Caitlin Kelly and the author
Kintsugi is the Japanese art of mending broken pottery with gold, making the cracks part of the beauty. This book borrows that idea for wellness, showing how embracing our flaws can lead to healing. It mixes Japanese traditions, mindfulness, and food into one graceful guide.
101 Ways to Be Less Stressed by Dr. Caroline Leaf
This book offers a whole toolkit of simple, science-backed ways to ease stress and boost your mental well-being. Written by a bestselling neuroscientist, it covers everything from building resilience to shifting your mindset. A practical, encouraging read for anyone looking to feel a little steadier day to day.
Self-Love Club: Real Talk and Reminders for Discovering That We’re Enough by Hyesu Lee
This charming, illustrated collection mixes humor and heart to explore self-love, healing, and embracing what makes you unique. It’s full of relatable little moments and honest reflections that feel like a warm hug. A sweet, comforting read on your journey toward self-love.
You’ll get over three hours of soothing piano music, perfect for relaxing, meditating, or studying. There are classical favorites here, of course, with modern neo-classical pieces. There are even gentle piano covers of popular songs (including, to our surprise and delight, David Bowie’s “Life on Mars”!).
The Love Destination Courses: Breathe for Anxiety
This video of gentle breathing exercises is paired with calming nature sights and sounds to help you unwind and ease anxiety. It’s designed to help you reconnect with your body and quiet a stressed-out mind. A soothing pick whenever you need a moment of calm.
This collection gives you access to over 100 popular magazines, from Us and Good Housekeeping to Reader’s Digest and Time. There’s something genuinely calming about flipping through pages at your own pace, no notifications, no scrolling. It’s a simple way to slow down and be present.
Tip: Mixing formats—audio in the morning, video in the afternoon, reading before bed—keeps the day feeling varied instead of like a checklist.
The One-Week Reset: Building a Mindfulness Habit
If you’re ready for something deeper, a one-week reset lets you build momentum. Consistency, even in small doses, is what turns mindfulness exercises into an actual habit rather than a one-off good day.
Hoopla picks for your one-week reset:
Holotropic Breathwork by Stanislav Grof and Christina Grof and read by Paul Brion
Holotropic Breathwork is a unique approach to self-exploration that uses breathing, music, and bodywork to access deeper states of consciousness. It draws on psychology, spirituality, and consciousness research to help unlock healing and personal insight.
Tai Chi Walking by Robert Chuckrow
This book breaks down how to walk in a way that’s actually natural and good for your body, since bad habits and the wrong shoes can add up over time. It shows how mindful walking can double as a kind of meditation while improving balance and health. A helpful read if you’re on your feet a lot and want to feel better doing it.
You Will Be Okay: An Anti-Anxiety Pocket Book by Meggie Ramm
This little pocketbook is packed with simple exercises, gentle advice, and helpful resources to get you through anxiety attacks. It’s a quick, reassuring companion for moments when things feel overwhelming. A comforting reminder that no matter what, you’re going to be okay.
100 Most Relaxing Classical Music in the Universe
Most relaxing in the universe—quite a claim, isn’t it? Hear us out; this collection includes 100 pieces of soothing favorites from the likes of Debussy, Mozart, Bach, Chopin…all the composers you love and more. It’s a wide collection, so we’ll give it to them: in all the universe, these 100 pieces just might be the most relaxing.
Calming Music for Meditation and Self-Reflection
Remember the video of a crackling fireplace with holiday music in the background? This is like that, but the video is a peaceful snowy forest scene with gentle, falling flakes. The music is calm and soothing, offering space to pause, breathe, and meditate.
Turn your living room into a full-on fitness studio with workouts led by expert trainers across strength, cardio, kickboxing, barre, yoga, and more. There’s something for every fitness level and schedule, from quick sessions to longer burns. Motivating, varied, and easy to stick with.
Tip: By day seven, you’ll have a better sense of what kind of wellness routine actually fits your lifestyle, which is the whole point.
What Is National Wellness Month, and Why Does It Matter?
National Wellness Month takes place every August and encourages healthy routines, stress management, mindfulness, and self-care. It’s a reminder that wellness doesn’t have to mean making huge changes. Small habits, from taking a short walk to spending a few quiet minutes breathing, can become part of your everyday routine.
What Is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention to the present moment without judgment. If you’re wondering how to practice mindfulness, start small: focus on your breathing, take a mindful walk, listen to a guided meditation, or simply spend a few minutes slowing down and noticing what’s around you.
Looking for another way to slow down and reconnect? Explore our Yoga Month collection and find a practice that works for you.
Make Wellness Your Way, All Year Long
National Wellness Month is a great time to start, but the habits you build in August don’t have to end in September. And you don’t have to wait for a new year or a fresh calendar to reset, either. Whether you have one hour, one day, or one week, Hoopla’s free wellness resources can help you start where you are and find a routine that fits your time and lifestyle.
Ready to begin? Explore the Wellness Your Way collection and choose your reset.
Happy National Wellness Month!
* Titles may vary by library
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