[Michlib-l] MeL Minute: Create Your Own Definition of Self-Improvement with Help from MeL

[Laura Warren-Gross]

[cid:image002.png at 01DB05F5.D9B4E900]Gaining a new skill? Decreasing screen time? Taking better care of one’s physical and/or mental wellness? All of these might be goals to work toward during September, also known as Self-Improvement Month. The Michigan eLibrary<https://mel.org/welcome> (MeL) is here to help with eBooks and articles to jumpstart any journey to a better self.

New Skills

MeL is packed with eResources<https://mel.org/az.php> to help develop new skills. People interested in learning more about computers and software tools such as Excel or PowerPoint or becoming better at keyboarding can use the tutorials in the Computer Skills Center<http://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?database=lexcsc> from EBSCO LearningExpress<http://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?database=lex>. For those who prefer working with their hands, Hobbies & Crafts Source<https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?database=ebscoprofile-hcrc> and Home Improvement Source<https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?database=ebscoprofile-hirc> offer eBooks and articles with ideas to get people started in bird watching and photography<https://research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=fc484c54-1c1f-3dc7-ac15-d91e096d0dc2>, beadwork<https://research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=6435271e-d9dc-35a8-a725-d00882748f73>, sprucing up a she shed<https://research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=57e7441b-3553-3e2e-8920-0521bfd8be9b>, or designing a raised-bed garden<https://research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=9597d0e8-5684-32f8-8962-47397ccae5d4>.

Mindfulness and Mental Wellness

In Attention Hijacked: Using Mindfulness to Reclaim Your Brain From Tech<https://research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=c25a1f38-8e42-3200-9385-a9f8efa83c98>, Erica Marcus suggests examining our use of technology to better understand how we are using it and the impact it has on our minds and bodies. A simple activity such as charting our use and being more aware of how much time and focus is being given to technology can be helpful in changing habits. The eBook Public Library Collection<https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?database=ebsco-e700xna> also includes some self-help books such as The Positivity Effect: Simple CBT Skills to Transform Anxiety and Negativity into Optimism<https://research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=9fe562f8-aa93-373a-a515-8f7a23523739> and The Art of De-Stressing: Removing the Most Stressful Obstacles to Personal and Professional Success<https://research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=632038d5-dee0-350f-9f99-aa07445e2caa> for those interested in a wider scope of life changes.

Physical Wellness

For those getting started or starting over with a movement routine, Cleveland Clinic Heart Advisor<https://auth.mel.org/newera/check-direct?url=https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edspub&AN=edp214018&site=pfi-live> in Consumer Health Complete<https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?database=ebsco-c9h> suggests "Walking for Exercise<https://research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=867754d7-ddb6-373b-a7f4-537b1bf5270f>" and provides tips on how to get started and choose proper shoes—and reminds us that walking is great because it can be done anywhere. As we age, falls become a serious concern. To reduce the risk, Healthy Years<https://auth.mel.org/newera/check-direct?url=https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edspub&AN=edp234482&site=pfi-live> has provided "How to Gain Better Balance<https://research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=2aaba9e5-8fe3-3423-b9d9-32cbf6cdcedb>" with a selection of exercises to help strengthen the body’s core. Finally, a step toward preventing chronic disease might be sleeping well. "Adopt Healthy Sleep Habits to Prevent Chronic Disease<https://research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=d985ae33-7430-34b1-9eff-1a8dd486c529>" in Women’s Health Advisor<https://auth.mel.org/newera/check-direct?url=https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edspub&AN=edp273164&site=pfi-live> provides some common causes for not getting enough sleep and possible impacts of poor sleep.
No matter how one defines self-improvement, everyone can use the MeL eResources<https://mel.org/az.php> to gather information and make decisions about how you might enhance your life.

If you have any MeL eResources questions or issues, contact melerhelp at mcls.org<mailto:melerhelp at mcls.org> for help.

Brought to you by Laura Warren-Gross from the MeL Team.

Supporting Michigan Libraries by Putting You First.

Want more information on MeL?  Stay tuned for the next MeL Minute available on many Michigan library listservs,  visit http://mel.org<http://mel.org/>, or sign up for the MeL Minute and other Library of Michigan e-mail lists via GovDelivery<https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/MILOM/subscriber/new>. We encourage you to share MeL Minutes with your colleagues and networks.

MeL eResources are available to Michigan residents or for Michigan library or school access only.

This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library of Michigan.



Laura Warren-Gross
MeL Engagement Specialist for Public Libraries
Midwest Collaborative for Library Services
517-481-2022
warren-grossl at mcls.org
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mcls.org<https://www.mcls.org/> | Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/mcls.org> | X<https://twitter.com/mclsorg> | LinkedIn<https://www.linkedin.com/company/midwest-collaborative-for-library-services>

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