We’re three weeks into the new year and you’ve probably made your New Year’s resolutions. And you’ve probably been pretty good about keeping them…so far. But, we’re heading into the period when people tend to fall off the wagon.
These books will keep you motivated and give you a bit of the science behind some common New Year’s resolutions. Plus, they’re all great on audio.
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7 Books To Help You Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions
If you’re trying to cut down on screen-time…
Bored and Brilliant
The host of the Note to Self podcast (which is awesome, by the way!) explores the connection between boredom (aka the opportunity for your mind to wander) and creativity. Hint: it involves unplugging from your phone and social media for periods of time. The science she shares about what excessive smartphone use is doing to our brains is fascinating and scary. And, she includes easy tips to help manage your smartphone use. Bonus: Pair Bored and Brilliant with Ann Patchett’s What Now?
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If you’re looking to start or keep a new habit…
Better Than Before
In Better Than Before, “happiness guru” Gretchen Rubin teaches you the best way for YOU to start and keep new habits. She accounts for different personality types using her Four Tendencies (Upholders, Questioners, Obligers, and Rebels) and shares practical, actionable tips for each type of person to establish lasting habits. I found this book more useful and less preachy than The Happiness Project
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If you’re chasing a big-time goal…
Grit
Duckworth uses examples from the military, sports, education, and business to illustrate how perseverance (rather than talent) is the best predictor of success. The primary message seems like common sense, but Duckworth supports it with entertaining real life examples and multiple studies. It reinforced to me that you have far more control over your destiny than you think. And, it’s super applicable to parenting.
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If you’re trying to pick up running (or any other sport) after a period of inactivity…
My Year of Running Dangerously
After CNN Correspondent Tom Foreman’s daughter challenges him to train for a marathon with her, he ends up running 3 marathons, 4 half marathons, and an ultra-marathon in one year. This is a story of an impressive running feat (prior to Foreman’s year of races, he hadn’t run since he was much younger) and incredibly motivating for anyone that’s getting into running.
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If you’re a budding entrepreneur…
Originals
This combination economic / social analysis, business how-to guide, and “life lessons” book is a must-read for anyone interested in entrepreneurship and contains tons of Malcolm Gladwell-esque data analysis. In that sense, it’s far more engaging than your average business book. It also has a strangely motivating quality, which left me wanting to try out a new idea for the blog…and having a better understanding of how to go about it.
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If you want to understand yourself (and those around you) better…
Reading People
This primer on the major personality type frameworks (including Meyers-Briggs, Enneagram, StrengthsFinder, and the 5 Love Languages) is an approachable place to start if you’re interested in personality types and how to apply personality types to your own life in an actionable way. It doesn’t go deep into any of these types, but it’s a good overview that can help you decide where you might like to go deep.
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If you want to prioritize your life…
The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck
The subtitle of this book says it all: “How to Stop Spending Time You Don’t Have with People You Don’t Like Doing Things You Don’t Want to Do.” It teaches you, in a witty way, how to de-clutter your life (rather than your house, a la Marie Kondo) and spend more time and energy doing the things that are most important to you. Bonus: pair it with Episode 79 of the Sorta Awesome podcast, entitled The Awesome Freedom of the Don’t Do List.
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What are your 2018 New Year’s resolutions? Do you have any favorite books to help you keep your New Year’s resolutions?
I NEVER make New Years resolutions anymore. I decided 20 years ago that they were just too defeating. Still many of these books are good life lessons and those work anytime of year. I think I’d like The Life Changing Magic…I need more not giving a f**k!
Totally agree! I don’t make them either, but I do internalize stuff I learn through books like this in daily life. And Life-Changing Magic literally made it possible for me to write this blog. Learning how to choose what I’m going to spend time on wisely and say no…wouldn’t be able to do the blog without those things 🙂
I don’t make resolutions anymore but, as a new runner, would like to read My Year of Running Dangerously.
That’s awesome you’re running! Are you training for a specific race or just getting out there? Either one is awesome…
I’m just running – I have been since last April. I’m really not interested in racing but a friend registered me for a 5k as a Christmas gift. It’s at the end of February but I don’t think I’ll do anything to train for it.
Ha – what a Xmas gift! If you do want to train, the Couch to 5K program is really great for new runners.
I still have not read Sarah Knight’s book and I need to; thanks for the reminder!
I still haven’t read Tom Foreman’s book–I keep tossing it around for the book club, but then other books come my way. It’s always on the back burner.
I loved it on audio. Although I’m not sure it would be great for book club…I’m not sure there’s much to really discuss. Just a nice, inspirational story.
I haven’t heard of any of these, except Gretchen Rubin’s book–which is sitting in my massive TBR pile. Once I finish that one, I may look into the others.
Ha! I hear you!