A general theme of my blog is basically “What the heck am I doing?” I’m twoish years into post-grad, and I’m just as confused as I was the day after I got my bachelor’s degree and was shoved out into the world. I’ve yet to find a fully detailed how-to manual, so I’m trying my hand at self-help books.

During the December after I graduated, I fell into a funk for most of the month. I was six months into my first real job, and I was still trying to get a grip on being a somewhat functional adult. (Spoiler alert: two years later, and I’m still not functioning.) I had fallen out of touch with my roommates, and the ice cream shop was closed for the winter, so I didn’t really get out much. I didn’t know what I was doing, and I was kind of miserable. I ordered You Are a Bad Ass by Jen Sincero. As I read it, I marked it up, underlining and starring things that were relevant to my life. And it helped. One of the things I took away from the book is that you’re in charge of the vibe you put out into the world, and a good vibe opens up doors or attracts new opportunities.

Last year, I ordered Adulthood for Beginners by Andy Boyle, which was a more humorous look at adulthood and how to navigate it. It was an easy read but had some good tips and personal stories from Boyle’s own life. Now that I’m in a new phase in my life, I’m looking for some kind of guidance, and I picked up Adulting: How to Become a Grown-Up in 535 Easy(ish) Ways by Kelly Williams Brown at Barnes & Noble a few weeks ago. I had seen it on social media and it seemed like a good read. Plus, one of the 535 ways has to be relevant to my life. I started it the other night but only got ten or so pages in, and I’m looking forward to reading it.

I’m 100% pro self-help book, whether it’s a deep spiritual book or one that lists how to be self-sufficient in life at age 24. Sometimes we need to look somewhere else, because as much as our family and friends think they know how to help you, reading someone else’s story can be applicable to your life and what you’re going through. The shelves of self-help books at Barnes & Noble can be a little overwhelming, but I think there are books out there that can help. Changing yourself takes time and baby steps, and there’s no shame in picking up a book about adulting. Because does anyone really know what’s going on?

What are your thoughts on self-help books? Have you read any, and did you like them? Do you feel like more of a functional human being, or are you just as lost as the rest of us?