Even the most focused and organized people let their resolutions slip—it’s so common that a “holiday” has even been invented to let people ditch their resolutions without shame. But we want to challenge you to try something else: Restart Your Resolution Day. Now that you’re back in a normal routine, revisit that goal that’s starting to make you feel guilty and recommit.
Whether you’re vying for a healthier lifestyle, a healthier attitude, or a healthier bank account, there’s a book out there to guide you through it. Here are a few of my favorites:
If You Resolved to Cook More…
So, you wanted to pack your lunch and make wholesome dinners, but you found yourself ordering in by January 3rd. Whether it’s the grocery shopping that exhausts you, or the ingredient lists that intimidate you, the Healthyish cookbook by Lindsay Maitland will inspire you to start meal-planning again. Her vibrant recipes, interspersed with tips for living a healthier lifestyle and building good cooking habits, are the best motivators for a DIY dinner.
To Buy: Healthyish , $18
If You Resolved to Meditate…
If meditation isn’t part of your practice already, it may be tough to get started. Sitting still and (attempting) to clear your mind is far easier said than done. Enter Dan Harris’ Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics , a book written in collaboration with meditation teacher Jeff Warren that provides practical ways to build meditation into your daily routine. You’ll also get access to the popular 10% Happier health app that brings the book’s meditations and mantras to life.
To Buy: Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics , $16
If You Wanted to Make a Big Career Move…
Amy Cuddy’s bestselling book Presence , published following the success of her viral “Power Pose” TED Talk, is now in paperback. So, if you have yet to read and attempt Cuddy’s techniques for achieving success through confidence and body language, now is the time. Paperback books are easy to throw in your bag and read during a commute or leaf through a few pages before a big meeting, and Cuddy’s empowering tone will motivate you to achieve more at the office.
To Buy: Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges , $12
If You’re Trying to Set (And Stick To) a Budget…
Chelsea Fagan’s wildly popular site, TheFinancialDiet.com, is now (thankfully) a book! Her guide promises to help you “get good with money…even if you have no idea where to start,” which is something Fagan has been helping her audience with since August 2014. Unlike more traditional financial books, this doesn’t stick to the basics of investing and budgeting—Fagan looks at how our finances and spending habits are intertwined with every aspect of our lives, while still dispensing practical advice on retirement, home-buying, and building credit along the way.
To Buy: The Financial Diet: A Total Beginner’s Guide to Getting Good with Money , $12
If You Set an Ambitious Reading Goal…
Many friends I’ve spoken to want to read more in 2018, but fear the “reading rut.” If you started the year strong but can’t find another book that pulls you away from Netflix, believe this hype: The Perfect Nanny , by Leila Slimani, will get you back on track. It’s shorter (compared to other novels) and has the mystery-thriller combination that has already captured the attention of its many French fans. Now, translated into English, this dark tale about a mysterious, duplicitous nanny may keep you up at night. But if you’re trying to become a bookworm, that’s a good thing.
To Buy: The Perfect Nanny , $10
If This Was The Year You Were Going to Practice Self-Care…
If you equate self-care with fulfillment and happiness, then you should take a cue from some of the happiest people on the planet: the Danes. Meik Wiking, CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen follows his bestseller, The Little Book of Hygge with The Little Book of Lykke . Wiking packs this pretty guide with secrets to achieving a little more joy by practicing “lykke”—relishing the everyday goodness that surrounds you. And don’t worry: You don’t have to move to Denmark to achieve peak happiness.
To Buy: The Little Book of Lykke: Secrets of the World’s Happiest People , $13
