Between school stress, social drama, and the nonstop buzz of notifications, life as a teen can feel overwhelming.
It’s easy to get caught up in worries about the past, the future, or just what everyone else is thinking. That’s where mindfulness comes in. It’s not about forcing yourself to be calm all the time (because, let’s be real, that’s impossible)—it’s about learning how to be present, manage stress, and handle life’s ups and downs with a little more ease.
If you’re curious about mindfulness but don’t know where to start, this list has you covered! These 10 books break it down in a way that actually makes sense—no complicated jargon or unrealistic advice, just simple, practical ways to bring more focus, peace, and balance into your everyday life. Whether you’re looking for quick exercises, relatable stories, or ways to stop overthinking everything, these books are packed with tools to help you navigate life with more clarity and confidence.
So, if you’re ready to stress less, focus more, and feel more in control of your thoughts, you’re in the right place. Take a deep breath, get comfy, and let’s dive into some books that can help you bring mindfulness into your daily routine—one step at a time.
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12 Books to Help Teens Learn About Mindfulness
These selections are based on my own opinions and experiences, and they’re listed in no particular order.
by Jennie Marie Battistan MA LMFT
Amazon Rating: 4.6 /5 stars
Learn how to use mindfulness, or the ability to be fully aware in the present moment, to reduce everyday stress. Mindfulness for Teens in 10 Minutes a Day shows you how to take control of your feelings and focus your attention with short, simple mindfulness activities.
Discover a wide variety of mindfulness techniques that will fit easily into your routine and help you thrive in every area of life. These engaging exercises show you how to find peace in the face of stress, improve relationships with friends and family, boost your self-esteem, and increase your focus to help you succeed at school and work.
A Few Key Takeaways:
- Short practice, big benefits―Take just a few minutes each day to find calm, focus, reconnect with your emotions, and respond to challenging situations.
- Exercises for going deeper―Find suggestions for connecting more deeply with each activity, including journal prompts and meditations for further reflection.
- Breathing techniques―Learn three key breathwork techniques to help you relax, reduce anxiety, and energize your body.
by Regine Galanti, PhD
Amazon Rating: 4.6/5 stars
Is anxiety disrupting your life? With proven CBT-based skills and mindfulness techniques, this book can be your guide out of the spiraling stress of anxiety and get you back on track to living a happy and healthy life.
Getting good grades, keeping up with social media, maintaining friendships… you have a lot on your plate and it’s more difficult when you add anxiety to the mix.
You may even be avoiding situations, events, or people that could trigger your anxiety. So, how do you stop yourself from missing out on life?
With Anxiety Relief for Teens, Dr. Regine Galanti teaches you how CBT-based skills and mindfulness techniques can help you manage your anxiety and reverse negative patterns. Through simple and effective exercises that help you change your thoughts, behaviors, and physical reactions, this helpful guide gives you the tools you need to navigate all of life’s challenges.
A Few Key Takeaways:
- Quizzes and self-assessments to better understand your anxiety and emotions and discover their respective triggers.
- 30+ CBT-based tools to manage your anxiety along with practical strategies for dealing with challenging emotions such as anger and sadness.
- 30+ mindfulness practices to cope with your anxiety in the present moment through visualizations, breathing, meditation, and other exercises.
by Vidal Annan
Amazon Rating: 5/5 stars
The simple and empowering message of In My Feelings is that emotions, especially unpleasant ones, are not just to be avoided, controlled, or treated. Emotions can serve as a source of information that teens can use to make decisions and help them live their best lives.
The path to emotional health for teens lies in improving their ability to recognize, understand, manage, and use emotions. Dr. Vidal Annan encourages teens to think of emotions as messengers or sources of data that they can access and use to set and achieve goals, and to continue to grow and develop.
In My Feelings starts by exploring what it means to be a teenager, what emotions are, and why people have them. In the second part of the book, Dr. Annan delves into specific emotions that teens may be experiencing daily.
In My Feelings helps teens develop their emotional literacy and tap into the power of their emotions to improve their mental health.
by Catherine V. Presley and Ferne Scott-Higgins
Amazon Rating: 5/5 stars
As an adult, who has struggled with anxiety and depression in my teen years, I know firsthand how hard it can be to cope when the worries and sadness feel like they’re taking over your life.
That’s why I wrote “The Survival Handbook for Teen Girls with Anxiety and Depression” to share the tips, tools, and strategies I’ve learned through my own journey to help you start feeling better.
As your coach and big sister in this journey, I want you to know you CAN feel better and discover the amazing girl you were meant to be.
A Few Key Takeaways:
- My personal story of overcoming anxiety and depression as a teen girl, including how I went from hiding in the bathroom during lunch to becoming captain of the swim team!
- Over 50 simple, practical ideas to manage anxiety and lift your mood, from quick “calm down” tricks for panic attacks to healthy daily habits that boost your self-esteem.
- Fun quizzes, writing prompts, and challenges to better understand your emotions, build resilience, and find your inner strength.
- Top self-care strategies to relax your mind and recharge – like creating your own “serenity space,” planning to relax “me time” and more!
by Jeffrey Bernstein
Amazon Rating: 4.6/5 stars
This new mood management toolbox brings together the powers of mindfulness, CBT and positive psychology for teens to take control of their distressing thoughts and over-the-top emotions.
With over 30 years of clinical experience, Dr. Jeffrey Bernstein shares high-impact tools for teens’ biggest demands – school, social connections, body-image, and family dynamics.
A Few Key Takeaways:
Inside you’ll find 150 downloadable activities and worksheets to take control of:
– Confidence and self-esteem
– Overwhelming assignments
– Schedule demands
– Friend drama and pressure
– Body-image struggles
– Test anxiety
– Self-sabotaging behaviors
– Family frustration and conflicts
by Nicole Libin, PhD
Amazon Rating: 4.6/5 stars
The rollercoaster of teenage life doesn’t offer a lot of moments to slow down and process your experiences. 5-Minute Mindfulness Meditations for Teens offers easy, quick practices that allow you to harness the power of mindfulness meditation―paying immediate attention to your body and thoughts.
Crafted for real-world situations, these exercises teach you to think and respond rather than react. There are even tips for how and where to engage in mindfulness meditation in complicated settings like school. You’ll gain clarity and learn to cope with stress more effectively.
Stay calm and remain in the moment with this effective mindfulness meditation book for teenagers.
A Few Key Takeaways:
- Quick exercises―Learn 40 short meditations to help you with things like taking tests, improving relationships, and more.
- Tips for success―Discover tricks to get more out of your mindfulness meditation, including finding a comfortable posture, using a timer, and journaling about your session afterward.
- Adaptable mindfulness meditations―Practices include a suggestion for changing things up, so you can tailor them to your specific needs.
by Christopher Willard, PsyD
Amazon Rating: 4.6/5 stars
Being a teen is hard enough without anxiety getting in the way. Not only are you changing more than ever before—physically and mentally—you’re also facing an increasing number of global issues, such as pandemics, school violence, and climate change.
On top of all these big events, if you suffer from panic attacks, chronic worry, and feelings of isolation, it can be very difficult to meet your goals and succeed. The good news is there are real, powerful ways that you can take control of your anxiety—and your life!
In this second edition of Mindfulness for Teen Anxiety, psychologist and learning specialist Christopher Willard offers teens like you proven-effective, mindfulness-based practices to help you cope with your anxiety, identify common triggers (such as dating, social media, or school performance), learn valuable time-management skills, and feel more calm at home, in school, and with friends.
If you are ready to move past your anxiety, panic, and worry and start being your best, this workbook will be your guide—every step of the way.
A Few Key Takeaways:
You’ll learn doable skills for dealing with specific situations that cause anxiety, such as public speaking, taking tests, meeting new people, and more. You’ll also discover special breathing exercises to help you stay calm in moments of panic, and guided visualization exercises to be cool and collected, even in the tensest situations.
by B.B. Glynn
Amazon Rating: 4.8 /5 stars
During the pressure- and angst-filled teenage years, emotional resilience is the compass that leads to inner harmony. Harness this power for personal evolution and insightful self-discovery through a meticulously crafted 5-step journey.
Navigating your teenage years can often feel challenging, like you’re traveling through unknown territory without a guide.
Remember, you’re not the only one trying to find their way. Like many, you might confront uncertainty or feel cornered by unexpected challenges. At times, it might seem as though you’re at a standstill, unsure of the next step.
But if you’re equipped with the right tools, you can chart a clearer course, fostering personal growth, emotional mastery, and deeper understanding. This guide is your blueprint for strengthening your inner resilience, enhancing emotional intelligence, and mastering self-awareness for a balanced teen life.
Remember, every journey holds its share of obstacles, and it’s natural to have doubts along the way. But these transformative steps can guide you towards a stronger sense of self, even when faced with skepticism.
It’s time you throw uncertainties out the window and embrace this transformative phase of your life. Let every challenge become a lesson, every doubt a stepping stone, and every triumph a testament to your growth.
A Few Key Takeaways:
- Hassle-free strategies to manage anxiety and handle challenging emotions, fostering a sense of calm and confidence
- Understanding the power of thoughts and emotions, and how to reframe negative patterns for positive outcomes
- How to stay grounded in the present moment through mindfulness practices, enhancing self-awareness and emotional resilience
- Skills to recognize and navigate emotional triggers, transforming reactions into opportunities for growth
- How to navigate social media and digital interactions with confidence, while maintaining a healthy self-image
by Candradasa
Amazon Rating: 4.8/5 stars
It’s not always easy for teens to navigate their lives at home, at school, and with friends, but through Buddhist meditation and mindfulness practices they can discover a path to inner calm and awareness.
Buddhism for Teens introduces curious teens to the Buddhist way of seeing things and helps them build their emotional strength, their sense of self, and their connection to the world around them.
Teens can experience the peace and balance of Buddhism with this enlightening guide made just for them.
A Few Key Takeaways:
- Learning through action―There’s no long-winded introduction to Buddhism here; teens can jump straight into immersive stories and activities that will change the way they look at life.
- Meditation made simple―Teens will find simple meditations to help them explore Buddhist concepts like joy, balance, and starting a new journey.
- Buddhism for beginners―This book is designed to be friendly to young newcomers, meaning teens can read from cover to cover or just choose the sections that resonate with them the most.
by Paper Mountain Publishing LLC
Amazon Rating: 5/5 stars
This self-esteem workbook for teens is your guide to a happier, calmer you. Designed as a teen journal for anxiety, it combines journal prompts for teens with mindfulness exercises to help you navigate the challenges of adolescence.
With 100+ thought-provoking prompts, this mindfulness book for teens offers something for everyone, whether you have 5 minutes for a quick check-in or 30 minutes for a deep dive. Encouraging quotes and affirmations will keep you motivated on your journey of self-discovery.
This isn’t just a journal; it’s your toolkit for a happier, healthier, and more confident you.
A Few Key Takeaways:
- Manage teen anxiety: Learn to identify and cope with stress, worry, and negative thoughts.
- Boost self-esteem: Develop self-love and self-compassion through reflective exercises.
- Practice mindfulness: Incorporate mindful techniques into your daily routine to increase focus and reduce stress.
- Build essential life skills: Develop self-awareness, emotional regulation, and a deeper understanding of your thoughts and feelings.
How To Get The Most Out of These Books
Reading these books is just the first step—what matters most is how you apply what you learn. Take your time, reflect on the insights, and try incorporating small changes into your daily life. You don’t have to absorb everything at once; even one meaningful lesson can make a difference.
Remember, growth is a journey, not a race. Be patient with yourself, celebrate progress, and keep exploring what works best for you.
I’d love to hear your thoughts! Have you read any of these books, or do you have a favorite to add to the list? Share your experiences in the comments and let’s continue the conversation.
