I don’t usually make official New Year’s Resolutions, but I am always making goals and trying to improve myself in new ways, big or small. For 2020, the most tangible and actionable goal that I have is, of course, to complete the POPSUGAR Reading Challenge. To me, saying goodbye to a year and welcoming in the next is incredibly uplifting and refreshing. It might just be another day, but the finality of a year being over feels like a weight being lifted. Plus, it sets the stage for newness: new goals, new plans, new motivation. And NEW BOOKS.
What are your 2020 resolutions? To eat healthier? Be more intentional with your friendships? Go to bed and wake up earlier (I feel this on a personal level)? To read more books in diverse genres? Whatever it is – don’t lose the momentum that comes with starting a new year.
Here are a few books to read that will keep you motivated, inspired, and ready to take on the temptations and challenges ahead while pursuing your New Years Resolution:
The Joy of Missing Out by Tonya Dalton
The holidays can be a wake-up call for you if you find yourself busy and overwhelmed the majority of the time. As fun as all the parties and cookie swaps and Christmas pageants are, saying yes to everything usually means you’re saying no to yourself. Tonya Dalton, the author of The Joy of Missing Out , is a mom, a business owner, and a productivity expert. She’s successful and has great tips on how to maximize the time that you do have each day. However – and here’s what we admire so much about this book – she isn’t the typical business coach. She doesn’t tell you that you need to work late into the night, forego your childrens’ soccer games, or eat takeout everyday so you have time for “your dreams.” Caring for yourself and your family are equal parts of any healthy dream or goal, and life isn’t all about “balance.”
Things You'll Learn:
- How to find satisfaction in work and at home
- Exercises to help you discover your purpose
- Steps to understanding the priorities in your life
- How to focus on what’s important and develop a unique productivity strategy that works for you
Perfect for:
- Busy moms, working or stay-at-home
- Young women stuck in the “hustle” of career or family life
- Anyone who is overwhelmed and busy but doesn’t feel productive
Cozy White Cottage by Liz Marie Galvan
Who else wants to get their home/apartment/dorm room looking less like a tornado came through and more like a welcoming haven of comfort? Cozy White Cottage is what you need if this is your New Years Resolution. What I love about this book and what makes it different from every other design book is that it is for normal people. I.e. it’s more useful than a coffee table book of dreamy pictures, and it doesn’t assume that all of us have tons of space or tons of money to buy things to fill our spaces. It’s full of gorgeous photos to give you ideas, plus tips on making a space your own and creating positive routines in your space.
Things You'll Learn:
- Budget-friendly decorating tips and DIYs
- How to equip your space for effortless hospitality
- How improving the functionality of your space can actually increase your productivity and creativity
Perfect for:
- Young adults creating their first living space (be it a first apartment, home, dorm room, or shared living arrangement away from parents)
- Moms or married women wanting to restore their homes to the functional and safe havens that they are meant to be
- Anyone interested in decorating or designing beautiful and cozy spaces
It’s About Time by Valorie Burton
The subtitle of this book is “The Art of Choosing the Meaningful Over the Urgent.” If you find the idea of choosing ANYTHING over something that’s urgent, then this may be exactly the guide you need. Valorie Burton discusses the culture that has developed around our modern relationship with time; particularly, not having enough of it. This isn’t a guide on how to pack as much into your day as possible, but an honest look at how time runs so many of our lives. We want more of it, yet take what we have for granted so easily. If your New Years Resolution is to improve your time management, It's About Time is a great, refreshing book to pick up.
Things You'll Learn:
- The gradual changes in our culture that led to the “so much to do, so little time” expectation
- How to live free from the stress of time
- The difference between meaningful tasks and urgent ones, and why choosing the meaningful has priceless benefits
Perfect for:
- ANYONE who wants to learn how to manage their time and escape the stress of not having enough
- Women looking for a toolkit that accompanies advice on time management (the book has some workbook type activities to customize for you)
- Moms or married women who want to make more time for family without sacrificing the other areas of their lives (work, friends, self-care, etc.)
100 Days to Brave by Annie F. Downs
100 Days to Brave is a Christian devotional book, and it’s one of the most impactful new devos out there. If your New Years Resolution is to read more Scripture, spend more time in prayer, or even just reflect on how much you have to be thankful for in life, this is a wonderful book to pick up. It’s beautiful and a joy pick up, plus with it’s daily format of quick reading, it’s an ideal way to build a habit. So when you finish the devo in 100 days, it’s easy to pick up a different devo or Scripture passage to continue conquering your goal.
Things You'll Learn:
- You are braver and stronger than you realize!
- How to experience personal and Spiritual growth this year
- How to stop letting fear hold you back from the life God has for you
Perfect for:
- Young women experiencing life changes or uncertainty
- Moms or anyone with a busy schedule looking for a quick way to get into Scripture daily
- Any woman who needs encouragement
How to Lead When Your Boss Can’t (or Won’t) by John C. Maxwell
No, I’m not making any assumptions about your boss by recommending this book! Although, yes, the title does give you the gist. If you haven’t heard of John Maxwell, let me be share: he is an expert on leadership, career success, and all things business. Super practical, and really passionate about equipping people to excel. How to Lead When Your Boss Can't (or Won't) is a short and sweet guide to developing influence in the workforce in whatever type of position you hold – aka, even when you aren’t the boss. For a New Years Resolution that involves moving up in your career or being seen as a great asset to your company, this book has lots of actionable advice.
Things You'll Learn:
- How to get along with your boss, even if he or she doesn’t lead well
- The importance of managing yourself well (especially when your boss might not)
- How to prove your worth daily and grow continuously
Perfect for:
- Any man or woman starting a new career
- Anyone who feels like they can’t take advantage of most career leadership advice because they aren’t the boss
- People interested in leadership development
This list only begins to scratch the surface, but there are SO many great books out there from all kinds of authors who are passionate about equipping others to thrive.
What books have you read that get you fired up and ready to tackle your New Years Resolutions? Tell us in the comments!
Page Chaser is operated by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc. (HCCP), the publisher of The Joy of Missing Out, Cozy White Cottage, It's About Time, 100 Days to Brave, and How to Lead When Your Boss Can't (or Won't).