Habit Swap - Book Review

Hugh G. Byrne's Habit Swap is different from other books on changing habits that I've read (such as Atomic Habits, which is referenced in this book). That's because it's all about using meditation to swap out bad habits for mindful ones. The habits are divided up by chapter, so you've got cravings, judgment and anger, distraction, stress and busyness, consumption, and habits of speech and communication. The first few chapters outline the premise of the book, and there's even a 10-day mindfulness meditation exercise to get you started. Online resources provide a more extensive explanation of the 10-day routine as well as an audio version for you to listen to.

Being mindful seems to mean changing the way you think, and that's a message I've heard over and over again in countless books. It's hard to change the way we think - negative thinking is a bad habit! But it's worth the time and effort to change those negative and judgmental and angry thoughts for a more positive outlook on life.

I liked what the book had to say, and it's a small size - perfect for my nightstand or taking with me for mindfulness reminders on the go. I've been wanting to try meditation ever since reading Arianna Huffington's Thrive, but even though I did some brief meditation during Fit4Mom's Month of Mama a few years ago, the practice didn't stick. I'm hoping that the resources in this book will help me get started or at least help me reflect on my feelings and actions when I'm in the midst of a bad habit.

Habit Swap is published by New Harbinger Publications and is on bookstore shelves now. I received a free review copy.

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