Elizabeth Whitworth, Author at Shortform Books

2 Breathing Exercises for Beginners (+ 1 Exercise to Level Up)

Do you breath properly? Do you enjoy the benefits of proper breathwork? Breathing is central to our lives, but most people pay no attention to it. With these exercises, you’ll evaluate your breathing, practice basic carbon dioxide training, and learn a relatively advanced exercise that can take you to the next level of breathwork. Read on for two breathing exercises for beginners and one that will help you level up and enjoy further benefits.

8 Boundaries Exercises for Groups: Find Freedom in Drawing a Line

Do you tend to be a doormat? Do you make sacrifices you shouldn’t? Do you let people in where they don’t belong? When we’re not skilled in setting and enforcing boundaries, we’re more vulnerable to unhealthy relationships, mixed-up priorities, and burnout. We’ve put together several boundaries exercises for groups based on concepts from Henry Cloud, Nedra Glover Tawwab, Rachel Hollis, and others. Keep reading to get started on these exercises that can help you move toward a more peaceful, balanced life.

Why Did Thoreau Go to the Woods? 4 Ways Walden Drew Him In

A path through a forest with the sun beaming through.

Why did Thoreau go to the woods? Did he follow—or fight—his intuition about getting away from it all? A major subject of Henry David Thoreau’s Walden is the philosophical reasons he decided to move to the woods. He explains that he wanted to live a simpler life, connect with nature, spend time in solitude, and carve out his own path. Read more to learn about the four ideas that motivated Thoreau to move out of Concord and into a tiny cabin on Walden Pond.

5 Body Language Exercises: Practice Reading & Giving Cues

Have you ever wished you could tell what someone was really thinking? How skilled are you at reading people’s emotions? What do you communicate with your body? Body language is a huge but often missed aspect of communication. We’ve put together five body language exercises that will help you explore how you communicate with your body, practice giving and reading cues, and learn to use body language to establish presence in stressful or uncertain situations. Continue reading for these practical exercises you can use on your own or in a group setting.

3 Body Image Exercises to Help You Reflect & Take Action

How often do you think about your body and appearance? Are those thoughts usually connected to humiliation or healthy pride? Does social media help or harm your body image? These days, it’s not uncommon to hear terms such as “body shaming” and “body issues.” In a culture seemingly obsessed with appearance, it’s hard to feel good about our bodies and focus on what matters most. Continue reading for three body image exercises that will help you put things in perspective and take a more healthy approach to the way you view your body.

Time Is the Fourth Dimension: How H.G. Wells Explained It

How did H.G. Wells explain time and time travel in The Time Machine? Did he get it right, according to real science? A Victorian scientist builds a machine that can travel through time. The Time Machine, first published in 1895, is one of the earliest known science fiction stories. This literary classic by English author H.G. Wells popularized the concept of time travel and introduced the now-common phrase “time machine.” Read more to learn how the book explains that time is the fourth dimension.

How to Simplify Your Life: 3 Tips From Thoreau’s Walden

A woman simplifying her life by watering plants.

Does your life feel cluttered and complicated? Do you sometimes feel like you should escape to a simpler time or place? One reason why Henry David Thoreau went to the woods was to live a simpler life. To accomplish this, he adopted a certain mindset and made specific choices. From his example, you can simplify your life by considering what you can do without, managing your resources wisely, and savoring what you have. Keep reading for three tips on how to simplify your life with insights from Thoreau.

Quotes From The Time Machine (+ Context & Explanation)

In The Time Machine, what aspect of humanity “had committed suicide”? Why did humanity grow weaker over time? What’s the significance of the two flowers? The Time Machine is a science fiction classic that tells the story of a Victorian scientist who builds a machine that can travel through time. In the distant future he finds that, rather than advancing, human civilization has collapsed. Continue reading for a few quotes from The Time Machine that provide insights into the book’s profound ideas.

How to Connect With Nature: Follow in Thoreau’s Footsteps

A young girl connecting with nature by looking up at a tree.

What rhythms does your life follow? When was the last time you bathed in a river? At Walden Pond, Henry David Thoreau spent hours each day walking in the woods. He bathed in the pond. He got to know individual trees. Drawing from Thoreau’s experience, you can learn how to connect with nature and get into its rhythm. Continue reading to learn more about Thoreau’s connection with nature and two specific ways you can follow his example.

Synopsis of The Time Machine: Get to Know H.G. Wells’s Classic

What year does the Time Traveller in The Time Machine travel to? What does he find when he arrives? H.G. Wells’s classic book The Time Machine, first published in 1895, is one of the earliest known science fiction stories. It popularized the concept of time travel and introduced the now-common phrase “time machine.” Continue reading for a synopsis of The Time Machine by H.G. Wells.