There is typically a lot of early excitement at the beginning of the year, but soon after, doubts about New Year's resolutions surface. I implore you to resist giving in to pessimism so early in the year. For my part, I always look to books for inspiration and motivation, whether it's for long-term objectives or for altering certain behaviours or habits.
If you're not sure about self-help books, you're probably not sure about new year's resolutions too. Your doubts are well-founded. Many people discover that reading "self-help" or "personal development" books doesn't result in long-lasting improvement and could even worsen one's self-esteem. The inspirational words within can make them roll their eyes. They've undoubtedly read one or more of these best-selling books and concluded that while the advice seems sensible and we might follow it for a while before reverting to our old ways, what use does it serve?
I must admit that I adore this genre and find a lot of inspiration in these novels. I avoid corny novels with a tonne of slogans and platitudes mixed in with little real content. Rather, what I like best are books that provide us with experience- and science-based cognitive frameworks that let us reframe our perceptions of certain aspects of our life, like job or daily routines. The finest publications are also those that include a plethora of real-world examples and helpful tools for implementing and maintaining the changes.

The way we read the books matters even more than their content.

Select the appropriate book.
Choose the book that you truly need, not just the one that is a bestseller. I found the book How Women Rise to be quite useful in altering some of my self-limiting habits at work as a woman moving up the management ladder. However, it might not be the ideal book for you.

If, for instance, fitness and health are your primary interests, look for books written by reputable and well-known writers in that field. Not that a generic top-seller won't be useful; nonetheless, it could be ideal to combine a generic with a specialised one. To get particular inspiration for my writing, I've been reading Julia Cameron's Write for Life and another book at the same time lately. In an effort to improve my habits and general productivity—especially now that I've resigned my full-time job and am working for myself—I'm also rereading Atomic Habits.

Act now

The first important thing to remember is that these texts are not designed to be read in an inert manner. This guidance is based on actual learning via practice. The majority of the books include chores, trackers, and plans. Set aside time during the day to work on the book as if it were a project. Reading the book before bed will not do much more than send you to sleep if you don't complete the exercises or use the "tools."

Read slowly.
These are not novels to read quickly for enjoyment. Keep a journal or diary to record your progress and take notes; read slowly, underline important passages, and then read them again.

1. Take deliberate action
Instead of reading the book to gain general life advice or make up scenarios, focus on one or two areas in your own life where you would like to start over or break a habit. Apply the lessons or insights you acquire from the book to your specific field as you read it.

2. Go back and review
It is insufficient to read a book and then put it aside, thinking that the teachings it contains will stick with you forever, whether it is a classic like Brene Brown's Dare to Lead or a more modern one like Stephen Covey's Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. They are worth going over again from time to time; you could want to go through a certain chapter or the entire book.

Five Novels to Read in 2024:

1. A Spiritual Route to Greater Creativity, The Artist's Way Cameron Julia

2. Atomic Habits: A Simple & Effective Method to Create Positive Habits & Break Negative Ones, James Clear

3. How Women Rise: Dismantle the 12 Traits Precluding You from Getting Your Next Job, Promotion, or Raise, Marshall Goldsmith and Sally Helgesen

4. Gabor Maté's book The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture

5.When to Leap: Should Your Current Career Not Match Your Desired Life, Mike Lewis