Reading 365 Days of Calm by Becky Goddard-Hill felt a little like being offered small pauses throughout the day in the middle of what can often be a very busy mind. I approached the book both as a therapist and as someone who experiences the world through a neurodivergent lens, while also navigating anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and a nervous system that doesn’t always settle easily. Because of that, calm has never really meant a completely quiet mind for me, it has usually meant finding small ways to steady myself within the noise.

One of the first things that stood out to me was the format of the book. Instead of long chapters or heavy explanations, it’s made up of short daily reflections and prompts. Each page offers a small thought, reminder, or gentle suggestion designed to help you pause and reconnect with the present moment. That structure felt particularly accessible. For minds that can easily become overwhelmed or pulled in multiple directions, the ability to read a small section at a time makes it feel manageable rather than demanding.

What I appreciated most is that the book doesn’t frame calm as something that only exists when life is perfectly organised or stress-free. Instead, many of the reflections encourage simple shifts in awareness like noticing your breathing, stepping outside for a few minutes, slowing down a task, or taking a moment before reacting. These ideas are intentionally simple, but sometimes it’s the simple practices that are the most grounding when your mind is moving quickly.

Reading it from both a professional and personal perspective, I also found the tone of the book reassuring. It doesn’t suggest that calm comes from eliminating difficult thoughts or emotions altogether. Instead, many of the entries encourage a gentler relationship with the mind through recognising that thoughts come and go, that emotions move in waves, and that moments of steadiness can still exist even when things feel mentally busy.

From a creative point of view, I also liked the idea of this book being something you return to throughout the year. It doesn’t feel like a strict programme to follow, but more like a quiet companion that you can dip into whenever you need a small reset. Some days the reflection might focus on gratitude, other days patience or perspective, and sometimes simply the reminder to pause and breathe.

Rather than presenting calm as something you need to achieve all the time, 365 Days of Calm offers a series of small anchors throughout the year. The reflections act as gentle reminders that steadiness doesn’t have to be perfect or long-lasting to matter. Sometimes calm is just a brief pause, a slower breath, or a moment of noticing where you are before continuing with the day.

With Creativity & Kindness, Gemma.

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