Today (Jan 6) is the official launch day for the books I co-authored with clinical psychologist Dr Jessamy Hibberd: This Book Will Make You Happy/Calm/Sleep/Confident! (This may explain that distant whooping sound you can hear in the distance.) You can find them in lots of bookshops (including Foyles and lots of independents) and online. They areContinue reading “My books are out now!”
Author Archives: Jo Usmar
This Book Will Make You Happy/Calm/Confident/Sleep
I have co-authored a series of self-help books with the amazing clinical psychologist Dr Jessamy Hibberd that is available to buy now! (Have a gander at them online at Amazon,Waterstones and Foyles or visit any number of bookshops.) There are four in the collection: This Book Will Make You Happy/Calm/Sleep/Confident. Based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy they’re accessible, practical and immediate. No fluffyContinue reading “This Book Will Make You Happy/Calm/Confident/Sleep”
Stop procrastinating and get on with Christmas (and everything else!)
If you’re one of those people who habitually puts stuff off, humming loudly with your fingers in your ears instead of facing what you have to do, then chances are you’re probably in the midst of a Grade A Christmas freak-out right about now. Having promised yourself you’d be more organised this year and despiteContinue reading “Stop procrastinating and get on with Christmas (and everything else!)”
How to stay calm at Christmas
Ah, Christmas. It’s pretty hard not to get excited with the tree sparkling and your stomach making dubious noises from all the mince pies you’ve thrown down both your throat and your festive jumper. However, as amazing, wonderful and air-punchingly lovely as Christmas can be, it can also be a time of immense pressure. Let’sContinue reading “How to stay calm at Christmas”
First copies of the books!
I was beyond excited to receive the first copies of mine and Dr Jessamy Hibberd’s books yesterday. So amazing/bizarre/surreal to actually hold them. It made the whole thing a lot more real – a year ago these didn’t exist! And now they do! And they’re in my living room! Argh! They’re out on Jan 6Continue reading “First copies of the books!”
Stop exploding with rage in the office
I was in an office recently (I’m freelance so jump around) and our desks were so close to together that every time I breathed out the person sitting opposite’s fringe lifted up. When you’re in such tight confines you become, for better or worse, intimately familiar with your desk cohorts’ moods, habits, breathing patterns andContinue reading “Stop exploding with rage in the office”
The Bookseller preview!
We were incredibly excited (there was some mild squealing) when we saw our books previewed in The Bookseller last week. Huzzah! We would just like to flag that they aren’t only for women though. I think that must have been taken from a very early press release – they’re for both sexes! Great to seeContinue reading “The Bookseller preview!”
Why certain words are bad for you
It’s no secret that words hold huge power. Everything from declaring your undying love for someone to accidentally calling your hot neighbour with a hair-loss complex “bald” rather than “Bob”. The old missive “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” is well-intentioned bollocks. Words can do untold damage ifContinue reading “Why certain words are bad for you”
Your new mantra: thoughts aren’t facts
It’s true: thoughts aren’t facts. This may sound like a weird thing to write, but it’s scary how often we just accept totally ridiculous thoughts as fundamental statements of truth…especially when we’re feeling low or insecure. Imagine you’ve had a really terrible day. One of those days that makes you despair of ever getting outContinue reading “Your new mantra: thoughts aren’t facts”
My talk at Birmingham University
I am going to be speechifying at my old shuffling ground, Birmingham University, on the 26 October as part of their Book to the Future literary festival. You can catch me at 4.30pm talking about how I got started in writing, how I first got my job in magazines, who the best people I’ve everContinue reading “My talk at Birmingham University”
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