Turn lemons into lemonade with these entertaining, calming and motivating listens
You slept in by accident. Your kids are tugging at your sleeves (as “Baby Shark” plays for the hundredth time this week). You’re down to your last groceries, bracing yourself for a trip to the store. You search another recipe online, what meals can I make with canned beans? You daydream about lounging on a quiet beach with swaying palm trees overhead – but that Caribbean vacation you planned, at least for now, has been delayed. You’re having a not-so-good day.
Life is a lot like the weather. A few rainstorms and overcast days are inevitable. But, just like the weather, the worst of it does eventually pass and the sun has a habit of reappearing. At the end of a trying day it’s okay to feel sad, mad or just plain bad – your emotions, whatever form they take, are valid. The best you can do on those bad days is focus on self-care.
If your day isn’t going as planned, we’ve got titles to help you get through. Laugh along with an audio comedy, find a soul mate in struggle with a touching memoir or mindfully put the day behind you with a meditation audiobook.
Together, let’s get through this!
Laugh It Off with John Lutz and Paul Rudd
Escape from Virtual Island: A Scripted Audio Comedy
Sometimes, the very best thing you can do at the tail end of a hard day is laugh. Not smirk, not snicker – but full-on, wake-your-neighbours belly laugh. And for those laughs, you need a comedy so bold, epic and immersive that it demands your attention.
Escape from Virtual Island is that comedy. Written by John Lutz (of SNL, Late Night with Seth Meyers and 30 Rock) and voiced by a who’s who cast of comedic talents, including Paul Rudd, Amber Ruffin and Olivia Wilde, this Audible Original has the star power to turn even the worst day around.
And once you’ve finished laughing your way through Virtual Island, check out a few of the funniest audiobooks we have to offer, as well as shows and series that will have you cracking up.
Take a Deep Breath with Jay Shetty
Think Like a Monk: Train Your Mind for Peace and Purpose Every Day (Unabridged)
Instead of graduating from college, Jay Shetty did the unthinkable: he packed his bags, flew to India and became a monk. After three years, his teacher proposed that perhaps the best way for Shetty to do good in the world was to share his learning with others. And share he did, as Shetty became one of the world’s most popular influencers, drawing on ancient wisdom to help others deal with modern day problems.
If work has you stressed, if relationships have you down, Shetty’s forthcoming audiobook can offer the advice and exercises you need to find balance. Until then, check out our article on how to inspire a healthier you, as well as our collection of self-care listens, for more title recommendations.
Overcome Obstacles with David Goggins
David Goggins’ memoir begins with a boy beaten down by poverty, racism, weight issues and depression. But it ends with a man becoming a Navy SEAL and elite endurance athlete. His journey is a bold wake up call for people who feel they have no power over their own successes. He did. You do.
Goggins’ audiobook has affected scores of listeners (just check out the reviews on the title’s Audible page), encouraging them to face their obstacles head on with grit and determination. A longstanding fixture in our list of best selling inspirational titles to get you motivated, Can’t Hurt Me may prove to be exactly the shot in the arm you need after a hard day.
Get Relationship Advice from Mark Manson
Some days you can’t really pinpoint what’s got you down – it’s cloudy, seeming to come out of nowhere. Other days, however, you know exactly what’s causing you grief. It’s relationship troubles.
In the case of the latter, it can be helpful to hear from an expert. Love Is Not Enough follows the paths of five real people, over the course of six months, as they navigate the complexities of their relationships with bestselling self-help creator Mark Manson. Hearing how other people struggle through – and eventually overcome – relationship obstacles is a powerful reminder that there’s light at the end of the relationship tunnel.
Read about Love Is Not Enough, as well as more of the latest audiobooks at Audible.
Relax with the Sweet Sounds of James Taylor
Break Shot: My First 21 Years: James Taylor
In Break Shot, Taylor lends his trademark, honeyed voice to songs as well as his own coming-of-age story. The story, a memoir from birth to the age of 21, details his struggles with family and personal addiction – struggles that would later shape his song writing.
The audiobook is soothing in two ways. One, you get to relax to the sweet sound of Taylor’s voice, narrating his story and singing classic songs like “Fire and Rain.” Secondly, and more profoundly, Taylor welcomes you into his hardships, drawing a clear line between them and his eventual success. Lest we forget that from pain there often comes personal triumph.
Crack a Cold One with Scotts Jason
At the end of the day, all you might need is a cold beer. And that beer’s going to be doubly satisfying if you brewed it yourself. Sink your energy into a useful, drinkable hobby with Scotts Jason’s easy-to-follow brewing guide.
If you feel like you can “barley” make it through the day, Home Brewing can help put the “hop” back in your step.
Whatever you need to pick up the pieces of a bad day, whether it’s laughter, meditation, motivation, relationship advice or a humble beer, Audible has titles to help.
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