To start the new year off on a high note, I’m sharing four books to uplift, inspire, and energize for the year ahead.
It just feels right to start the new year on a Monday, doesn’t it? There is no greater dopamine rush than when things align perfectly in place. I flew back over the weekend and am planning to enjoy January 1, 2024 with a morning barre class and lounging on the couch with a good book. The holidays can be such a chaotic time and I am soaking up and savoring all the slow and peaceful moments left on my holiday break.
I always love my first book of the year to be more in line with my mindset and goals for the upcoming year. Self-help books as a genre get a lot of eye-rolls and have a reputation for gimmicks that promise big changes and deliver little. But these books are ones where I have gained valuable takeaways and turn to when I need refreshers to keep course. I hope they do the same for you!
4 Books To Uplift, Inspire, and Energize
Atomic Habits by James Clear
I read Atomic Habits a few years ago for a book club and it’s one book I repeatedly return to for a refresher. Author James Clear outlines the steps you need to put in place in order for actions to become habits. His books offers a practical guide and framework called the “Four Laws of Behavior Change” to not only create good habits but to break existing bad ones. I am a big fan of James’ methods and always look forward to his concise newsletter every Thursday. I flew from Arizona back to DC over the weekend. And while I didn’t have my copy with me, I re-listened to James’ interview on Girls Gotta Eat. He gives a fantastic summary of his book and its strategies, highly recommend giving it a listen this week.
The Universe Has Your Back by Gabrielle Bernstein
Don’t be deceived by this 175-page tome. Left uninterrupted, I usually can read that many pages in a day. But The Universe Has Your Back is jam-packed with thought-provoking guidance to stop, meditate on, and reflect how you could apply Gabrielle’s lessons into your daily life. Gabrielle Bernstein is definitely in the “woo-woo” camp. So if that is your cup of tea, I would highly recommend reading this book.
The core of The Universe Has Your Back is about shifting your mindset on life and your experiences from one of fear to one of love. I took copious notes while reading because it was so eye-opening. I generally think I’m a positive person but upon reflection I started noticing how negative feelings about one part of my life had transferred to other areas of my life without me even noticing. It’s a good book to really stop and think about how you are showing up in your life every day.
Joyful by Ingrid Fetell Lee
I picked up Joyful after reading this post by Grace Atwood. Much like The Universe, Joyful took me a while to read because I kept pausing to take notes. Joyful is a book meant to be savored and not rushed. Ingrid Fetell Lee shares how the little, seemingly humdrum details of the spaces and objects making up our everyday lives actually have enormous impact on our moods. Why do people flock to see the cherry blossoms in bloom every spring? Why do we love baby animal videos on social media? And why do we automatically smile when throwing confetti into the air? Ingrid dives into the aesthetics of our environments and how we can use this science to create fuller, happier lives.
The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
I read The Happiness Project waayy back in 2012. It was one of those books where I read it at the right time and place for me. I was newly graduated from college, job searching in a chaotic job market, and reeling from my grandpa’s sudden passing. The Happiness Project covers Gretchen’s year-long journey to discover the formula to happiness. Using scientific research and wisdom of the ages, Gretchen experiments to get back in touch with what truly matters in life. My biggest takeaway from this book was how small changes can make a big difference in the long run. I also enjoy Gretchen’s podcast, Happier. And actually still use a strategy I learned from her in 2017 to boost my productivity.
