By Daniel Lefferts for Bookish.com[1]


With summertime winding down, work and school back in full swing and the holiday season just around the corner, it's natural to feel discombobulated, short on time and pulled in every direction. To survive the busy-schedule onslaught -- and enjoy yourself while you're at it -- you'll need a clear head. These books show you how to mentally de-clutter from a variety of angles, from schedule rehab to meditation. Take the tips provided by these expert authors and you'll be able to weather any post-summer, pre-holiday panic with panache.


More From Bookish.com:

9 Ways To Make Your Home A Happier Place

5 Life Challenges and How To Make Them Work for You

Productivity Tips: 7 Ways To Create Efficiency in Work and Life

Best Books On How To Get Organized

Must-Read Books for Motivation[2] [3] [4] [5] [6]


1. Happier At Home

books to clear mind 1

Photo: Amazon.com[7]


De-clutter

Clutter in the home is both a cause and symptom of clutter in the mind. In "Happier at Home[8] ," Gretchen Rubin[9] follows her smash hit "The Happiness Project" with insights into how everything from broken appliances to awkward furniture arrangements[10] can create turmoil, in ways both subtle and obvious, within one's inner state. Going room by room and issue by issue ("Possessions," "Time," "Interior Design") Rubin offers nuanced wisdom not only on paring down and simplifying, but also on emphasizing those elements of the home that are special and make family members feel good.


2. Power Foods For The Brain

books to clear mind 2

Photo: Amazon.com[11]


Fuel your mind with the right food

Diet can plays a significant role in your mental functioning, according to some experts. In his new book, "Grain Brain[12] ," David Perlmutter[13] argues that gluten, an ingredient in most breads, can lead to cognitive maladies such as ADHD, depression and dementia. On the other hand, there are a number of foods that studies have shown to be beneficial to the brain[14] . In "Power Foods for the Brain[15] ," Barnard[16] spotlights comestibles—such as salmon, broccoli and berries—that contribute to memory, concentration and mental agility.


3. 168 Hours

books to clear mind 3

Photo: Amazon.com[17]


Tame your schedule

In comprehensive guide to organizing your schedule, efficiency expert Laura Vanderkam[18] breaks down the reasons why many of us can't seem to keep up with our itineraries and spotlights the solutions to taking more ownership of your time[19] . The key to staying ahead of the clock, Vanderkam argues, is isolating those activities that you deem most important and slashing less essential time-wasters completely. "There's little point…in spending much time on activities in which you can't excel," she writes.


4. Real Happiness

books to clear mind 3

Photo: Amazon.com[20]


Find your 'om'

People have resorted to meditation for thousands of years of find inner peace and mental clarity, but many today are put off by what they perceive to be an esoteric practice that won't "understand" or, paradoxically enough, that they don't have time for. In "Real Happiness[21] ," mindfulness and meditation guru Sharon Salzberg[22] breaks down meditation into a step-by-step 28-day process that introduces readers to the discipline and isolates its most valuable benefits. Those who have already discovered the wonders of "om" can look to a range of varying techniques[23] , such as Zazen or Transcendental Meditation.




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  • <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Obsessed-Americas-Food-Addiction---ebook/dp/B00BKRVTYI/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1370015429&sr=1-1&keywords=Obsessed%3A+America%27s+Food+Addiction--and+My+Own" target="_blank">Mika Brzezinski, "Obsessed: America's Food Addiction--and My Own."</a>




  • <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fourth-Instinct-The-Call-Soul/dp/0743261631" target="_blank">Arianna Huffington: "The Fourth Instinct: The Call Of The Soul."</a>




  • <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Quiet-Power-Introverts-World-Talking/dp/0307352145" target="_blank">Susan Cain, "Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking."</a>




  • <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Unbinding-Heart-Wisdom-Generosity-Unconditional/dp/1401930735" target="_blank">Agapi Stassinopolous, " Unbinding the Heart: A Dose of Greek Wisdom, Generosity, and Unconditional Love."</a>




  • <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Relish-Adventure-Style-Everyday-ebook/dp/B0089LOGHU/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1370025073&sr=1-1&keywords=Daphne+Oz%2C+%22Relish%3A+An+Adventure+in+Food%2C+Style+and+Everyday+Fun%22" target="_blank">Daphne Oz, "Relish: An Adventure in Food, Style and Everyday Fun."</a>




  • <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Finermans-Rules-Daughters-Business-ebook/dp/B00A2DK4MO/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1370025030&sr=1-1&keywords=Karen+Finerman%2C+%22Finerman%27s+Rules%3A+Secrets+I%27d+only+tell+My+Daughters+about+Business+and+Life.%22" target="_blank">Karen Finerman, "Finerman's Rules: Secrets I'd only tell My Daughters about Business and Life."</a>




  • <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Power-Nice-Business-Kindness-ebook/dp/B000JMKRBG/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1370019240&sr=1-1&keywords=Linda+Kaplan+Thaler%2C+%22The+Power+of+Nice%3A+How+to+Conquer+the+Business+World+With+Kindness%22" target="_blank">Linda Kaplan Thaler, "The Power of Nice: How to Conquer the Business World With Kindness."</a>




  • <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Giving-2-0-Transform-World-ebook/dp/B005PETY0I/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1370026897&sr=1-1&keywords=Laura+Arrillaga-Andreessen%2C+%22Giving+2.0%3A+Transform+Your+Giving+and+Our+World%22" target="_blank">Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen, "Giving 2.0: Transform Your Giving and Our World."</a>




  • <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Gifts-Imperfection-Supposed-Embrace/dp/159285849X/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1370027054&sr=1-1-fkmr0&keywords=Bren%C3%A9+Brown%2C+%22The+Gifts+Of+Imperfection%3A+Let+Go+Of+Who+You%27re+Supposed+To+Be+and+Embrace+You+You+Are%22" target="_blank">BrenĂ© Brown, "The Gifts Of Imperfection: Let Go Of Who You're Supposed To Be and Embrace You You Are."</a>




  • <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Self-Compassion-Beating-Yourself-Insecurity-Hardcover/dp/B00BP0OEOW/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1370026945&sr=1-2&keywords=Kristin+Neff%2C+%22Self-Compassion%3A+Stop+Beating+Yourself+Up+and+Leave+Insecurity+Behind.%22" target="_blank">Kristin Neff, "Self-Compassion: Stop Beating Yourself Up and Leave Insecurity Behind."</a>




  • <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Better-Mistake-Unexpected-Benefits-ebook/dp/B00475ARKC/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1370026422&sr=1-1&keywords=Alina+Tugend%2C+%22Better+by+Mistake%3A+The+Unexpected+Benefits+of+Being+Wrong%22" target="_blank">Alina Tugend, "Better by Mistake: The Unexpected Benefits of Being Wrong." </a>




  • <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Traveling-Light-Releasing-Intended-ebook/dp/B0050OX3C8/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1370025725&sr=1-1&keywords=Max+Lucado%2C+%22Traveling+Light%3A+Releasing+the+Burdens+You+Were+Never+Intended+to+Bear.%22" target="_blank">Max Lucado, "Traveling Light: Releasing the Burdens You Were Never Intended to Bear."</a>




  • <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tweak-Make-Matters-Happen-Every/dp/089296880X/ref=sr_1_1_title_1_har?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1370025596&sr=1-1&keywords=Cali+Williams+Yost%2C+%22Tweak+It%3A+Make+What+Matters+to+You+Happen+Every+Day%22" target="_blank">Cali Williams Yost, "Tweak It: Make What Matters to You Happen Every Day."</a>




  • <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Power-Vulnerability-Teachings-Authenticity-Connection/dp/1604078588/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1370027103&sr=1-1&keywords=Bren%C3%A9+Brown%2C+%22The+Power+Of+Vulnerability%3A+Teachings+on+Authenticity%2C+Connection+%26+Courage.%22" target="_blank">BrenĂ© Brown, "The Power Of Vulnerability: Teachings on Authenticity, Connection & Courage." </a>




  • <a href="http://www.amazon.com/How-Will-Measure-Your-Life/dp/0062102419/ref=sr_1_1_title_1_har?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1370025262&sr=1-1&keywords=Clay+Christensen%2C+%22How+Will+You+Measure+Your+Life%3F%22" target="_blank">Clay Christensen, "How Will You Measure Your Life?" </a>




  • <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Things-Every-Woman-Should-ebook/dp/B007FHGIE8/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1370025196&sr=1-1&keywords=%2230+Things+Every+Woman+Should+Have+and+Should+Know+by+the+Time+She%27s+30.%22" target="_blank">Cindi Leive, "30 Things Every Woman Should Have and Should Know by the Time She's 30."</a>




  • <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Blood-Sugar-Solution-UltraHealthy/dp/031612737X" target="_blank">Mark Hyman, "The Blood Sugar Solution: The UltraHealthy Program for Losing Weight, Preventing Disease, and Feeling Great Now!"</a>




  • <a href="http://franticworld.com/" target="_blank">Mark Williams & Danny Penman, "Mindfulness: Finding Peace in a Frantic World."</a>




  • <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Detox-Solution-Missing-Radiant-Abundant/dp/0970829906/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1370018909&sr=1-1&keywords=Patricia+Fitzgerald%2C+%22The+Detox+Solution%3A+The+Missing+Link+to+Radiant+Health%2C+Abundant+Energy%2C+Ideal+Weight%2C+and+Peace+of+Mind%22" target="_blank">Patricia Fitzgerald, "The Detox Solution: The Missing Link to Radiant Health, Abundant Energy, Ideal Weight, and Peace of Mind."</a>




  • <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Success-Under-Stress-Confident-Productive/dp/0814432123" target="_blank">Sharon Melnick, Ph.D., "Success Under Stress: Powerful Tools for Staying Calm, Confident, and Productive When the Pressure's On."</a>




  • <a href="http://www.amazon.com/What-Would-Susie-Say-ebook/dp/B002QZPJ9Y" target="_blank">Susie Essman, "What Would Susie Say?: Bullsh*t Wisdom About Love, Life, and Comedy."</a>




  • <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mindful-Nation-Practice-Performance-Recapture/dp/1401939295" target="_blank">Rep. Tim Ryan, "A Mindful Nation: How a Simple Practice Can Help Us Reduce Stress, Improve Performance, and Recapture the American Spirit."</a>




  • <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Be-Excellent-Anything-Four-Transforming/dp/1451610262" target="_blank">Tony Schwartz, "Be Excellent at Anything: The Four Keys To Transforming the Way We Work and Live."</a>




  • <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Biology-Belief-Unleashing-Consciousness-Miracles/dp/1401923127" target="_blank">Bruce Lipman, "The Biology of Belief: Unleashing the Power of Consciousness, Matter, & Miracles."</a>




  • <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Soul-Centered-Transform-Your-Weeks-Meditation/dp/1401935869" target="_blank">Sarah McLean, " Soul-Centered: Transform Your Life in Eight Weeks with Meditation."</a>