There are various theories for how to build good habits. The most popular approach is to change habits one at a time. However, this is the hardest approach because the more you change, the harder it is to maintain consistency of the new ways of doing things.
In this season of new beginnings, consider looking at your habits. Review how they make you feel, what goals they fulfill in your life, and assess whether or not they motivate you to be the best version of yourself. These things can help you set a path for a better year ahead.
People are creatures of habit and what we do is often influenced by our habits. If you want to make a lasting change in your life, it’s important to take a look at the patterns that become habits and change them accordingly.
One of the best places to turn for help is books. The genre of habits & self-help has been well-established, from Atomic Habits to Year of Yes, The Power of Habit, and 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People.
There are so many books on habits out there these days, but as I’ve found, many of them focus on bigger issues, giving you a more holistic approach. In contrast, my list provides specific tips and ideas to take away from each book. I hope that at least one of these books will help you develop habits that are beneficial to you.
Why do some people seem to be able to make their lives better and others cannot? Duhigg dives into the science behind forming healthy habits in this book. He helps you understand how to make lasting changes. This book has been very popular, and I definitely recommend it.
Exercise and moving your body is great for your health, but making it a habit to exercise can be tasking. Lots of people associate exercising with stress and so they end up feeling like they have to force themselves to do it. The importance of physical activity is one of the most common misconceptions in society these days, but that doesn’t have to be the case. This book will help you find enjoyment in movement and build it into a habit.
If you find it tough to start or maintain a writing habit, this book can help. It contains strategies for those who are busy, less creative, and struggling with distractions to keep writing daily. Following different techniques and drawing on Monica’s experiences, this book will show you how to fit writing in with your daily life and finally finish that manuscript or article.
You may know Jen Sincero from her books on creating positive life changes ― this time she’s got something simpler in mind. This new book is all about how to cultivate daily routines that lead to sustainable habits, not just fleeting willpower. In this book, Jen looks at some of the most popular habits and the science behind them. Using a 21-day plan as a guide, she challenges you to change your habits and find out what works for you.
This book teaches you how to turn self-criticism into self-encouragement. Humans are often their own worst critics, but the same person is quite supportive of their loved ones. This can cause us to gradually fall into a cycle of negativity or feel like we never succeed. It’s important to cheer on oneself and find the strength within because it’s only with a determination that one can overcome any obstacle in life. The point of this book is to create a habit of believing in yourself, so you can believe in your dreams too.
This book will show you how to stick to habits that are good for you and give up any that are holding you back. From a simple, minimalist approach, it will help you define what habits will support your goals and what ones will hinder them.
One way to stay on track with your habits is by tracking your progress. Seeing the results of each habit helps you stay accountable and you can identify where focus might need to change. I am glad you liked the Accountability Journal! It discusses the science behind habits and provides prompts & cues to help you form them. In case you love journaling, I hope this is a good tool for you.
Atomic Habits is a practical guide to understanding the science of transforming habits. It is easy to read and understand, using analogies and stories from real people who have successfully applied the techniques in their own lives.
In this book, you will learn how habits work (and how they don’t) and how to create good habits and break bad ones.
If you want to be happy and have quality relationships, this book is for you. It explores the habits that form great relationships- from those with friends, family, romantic partners, or simply yourself.
This has got you wondering? What could be causing your financial woes? You might want to check out this book! Clever Girl Finance takes a step-by-step approach to teach you how to manage your money. The section on budgeting breaks down the steps and habits necessary for budgeting wisely and adjusting your mindset about money in order to achieve financial freedom.
Final thoughts on books about building empowering habits
We all know that habits are hard to build, but they are even harder to keep. This is because we start questioning the necessity of the habit and wondering whether it’s worth it. Building empowering habits requires us to take a step back and acknowledge that these habits will help us reach our goals, which will in turn help us become happy.
If you found this article helpful, please let me know in the comment section which books on building empowering habits really resonated with you. You can let other people know about it by sharing it with them.