Three tools for getting through the hard days

You don't have to fix everything. Just the next small step.

A short, honest book for anyone aged 16 to 21 who's finding things hard, and for the people who love them. Written by a dad, for his daughter.

Get the book For schools & colleges

#1Amazon Best Seller · Young Adult Nonfiction · Sept 2026

Cover of The Next Small Step by Tony Short: Three tools for getting through the hard days

Some days, everything feels like too much. This book gets it.

Why I wrote it

Over the past year, my daughter has been through a really hard time. As a dad, all you want to do is fix it. I couldn't.

So I did the one thing I could. I wrote down the three simple things that have carried me through my own hardest days, so she'd have something to hold onto. Then I realised how many other young people might need it too.

I'm not a therapist or a doctor, and this isn't a cure. No lectures, no pretending it's easy, no "just cheer up". Just three ordinary tools that helped us.

Tony Short

What's inside

Three tools. Nothing complicated.

You don't have to fix your whole life. You just have to find the next small step, and you never have to do it on your own.

Perspective

The Scale of 1 to 10

For working out how big a problem really is when everything feels like a ten. Build your own scale: your 1 is a genuinely fine, easy moment and your 10 is the worst thing that's ever happened to you. Then hold today's worry up against it, honestly.

This isn't for the darkest thoughts. If you're thinking about not wanting to be here, that's always a "tell someone today". Here's who.

Try this tonightDon't rate anything yet. Just name your 1 and your 10.

Direction

The Lifeboard

For finding a direction, and somewhere to set the weight down. Three columns: To Do, Doing, Done. Everything circling in your head goes on a card, on the board. Nothing's fixed yet, but it's no longer spinning. A problem written down is a problem halved.

Try this tonightWrite down one thing that's circling in your head, and put it somewhere that isn't your head.

Momentum

Get moving

For when your head won't cooperate. Depression can't hit a moving target. This isn't about fitness. A moving body is just a harder target for a heavy head to hold onto, and it's better with someone else.

Try this tonightTrainers on, five minutes, out the door. That's the whole ask.

For schools & colleges

A free copy for your wellbeing team

If you work with young people in SEND, pastoral, wellbeing or PSHE, I'd like to send your school or college a free copy.

Short and plain-spoken, written for 16 to 21 year olds
Three practical tools that work in tutor time, mentoring or a one-to-one
Points readers to real help throughout. It's not therapy and never pretends to be
Happy for your DSL or pastoral lead to read it before it reaches a student

Request a free copy

Tell me where to send it and I'll post a copy within the week. No catch, and nothing to sign up to.

Prefer email? Write to tony@thenextsmallstep.co.uk

For parents

If you're the parent reading this at midnight, I've been there.

You don't have to have the right words. This book was written to be handed over, read together, or just left on the side of a bed. And if you're worried about your child's safety right now, please don't wait. Help is below.

Get the book

The Next Small Step

Three tools for getting through the hard days. Available in paperback.

Buy on Amazon Free copies for schools

#1Amazon Best Seller · Young Adult Nonfiction · Sept 2026

About the author

Tony Short

Dad. Runner. From Gateshead in the North East of England.

I spend my working days leading software teams, and my spare time running, usually long, usually slowly, often with my head full. Running is where I learned the third tool in this book: when your mind won't settle, move your feet. I wrote these pages for my daughter first. I'm sharing them because I suspect she isn't the only one who needs them.

I'm not a therapist or a doctor. Everything in this book comes from lived experience: what helped me, and what helped us as a family.

Press, podcasts or events? Bios, photos, cover images and interview notes are all in the press kit →

If you need help right now

You don't have to be in crisis to reach out. Talking to someone isn't failing. It's exactly what backup is for.

116 123Samaritans. Free, any time, day or night Text SHOUT to 85258Shout. Free, 24/7 text support 0800 1111Childline. For anyone under 19 999If someone is in immediate danger

You can also talk to your GP, or call NHS 111 and choose the mental health option. This book shares tools that helped one family. It isn't a substitute for professional support.

Privacy notice

When you request a free copy, I (Tony Short, author of The Next Small Step) collect your name, work email, role, school or college, and the postal address to send the book to. I use these details to post the book, to follow up with you about it, and occasionally to let you know about related resources for schools. I don't sell or share your details with anyone else.

Your details are stored securely in HubSpot, the system I use to manage contacts. I'll keep them for as long as we're in touch, and you can ask me to see, correct or delete them at any time by emailing tony@thenextsmallstep.co.uk. Please don't send me personal details about a student or young person. If you have a concern about a young person's safety, contact your school's safeguarding lead or the services listed above.

If you're unhappy with how your data has been handled, you can contact the Information Commissioner's Office at ico.org.uk.