New Year’s resolutions: 12 books to finally make them happen

There is no person in the world who hasn’t made New Year’s resolutions at least once in their life. And as we all know, it usually turns into a complete bummer. The next step when it happens? You’re right, make those resolutions once again next year! It goes in circles year after year, leaving you with the unpleasant taste of disappointment in yourself.

But what if this year is different? What if you just needed more motivation and a so-called friendly push? Well, here you go! We’ve collected the most popular New Year’s resolutions people make in America and Europe, and picked up the most well-suited books for them. Each title on this list will become your ultimate source of inspiration to finally fulfill those promises you gave to yourself.

Pay more attention to exercising

Better Stretching by Joe Yoon

This resolution takes the first place according to researches. And it is not surprising. Everyone knows the benefits of being active and doing sports. Unfortunately, with jobs, duties, householding, and other adult life responsibilities, many people struggle with finding time for doing sports. And this is why Better Stretching is a real saviour!

Joe Yoon, a certified personal trainer, licensed massage therapist, and founder of the fitness training business, shares the best stretching tips and techniques. But that’s not all! It takes only 9 minutes per day to become more flexible, strengthen your muscles and set up the mood for the day. Worth trying!

Stop spending, start saving

The Dumb Things Smart People Do with Their Money: Thirteen Ways to Right Your Financial Wrongs by Jill Schlesinger

Even the smartest people sometimes make mistakes when it comes to spending money. Even though it’s completely normal for everyone, you’ve probably thought of how to minimize such cases and start saving cash. Luckily, that’s exactly what Jill Schlesinger’s book The Dumb Things Smart People Do with Their Money will teach you!

Being a money expert for CBS, Jill Schlesinger describes thirteen most common mistakes people usually make with their personal finances and how to fix them. You do not need a perfect way to get it right with money. All you need is to accept your mistakes and take the necessary steps to get back on track.

Improve the diet

Salt, Sugar and Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us by Michael Moss

No, this book is not just about telling you how lousy salt, sugar and fat are for our bodies and health. It definitely goes way deeper. How? There’s so much ease in simply throwing a preheat meal in the microwave and dinner comes out ready in a few minutes, literal “fast food”. But have you ever thought, why do we become so addicted to it?

In his book, Michael Moss reveals the truth of how big food companies offer customers processed foods that manipulate human taste receptors. The realization of what stands behind the overuse of these components helps to reduce their amount on your menu. A healthy diet is waiting for you!

Get in shape

How Not to Diet: The Groundbreaking Science of Healthy, Permanent Weight Loss by Michael Greger, M.D.

Sustainable and healthy weight loss is possible if you follow science proven strategies. New York Times bestselling author Michael Greger has already helped thousands of people get rid and prevent diseases in his book How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease.

He used the same scientific approach in How Not to Diet, where he reveals actionable tips and techniques on how to lose weight efficiently so it will never come back. If you want to find out more about becoming slimmer without causing damage to your body, then How Not to Diet is the perfect choice for you!

Stress less to reduce mess

The End of Stress: Four Steps to Rewire Your Brain by Don Joseph Goewey

Whether you like it or not, stress is an inevitable part of human life. The thing is, it all depends on your ability to deal with it healthily and efficiently. That’s precisely the case you can learn from Don Joseph’s book, The End of Stress. Not only will you learn actionable ways to manage stress, but you will also find out everything about its nature and effects on your body. By taking greater care of yourself, stress and allostatic load may be reduced. It’s time to explore it from A to Z!

Develop healthy sleep

The Sleep Revolution: Transforming Your Life One Night At A Time by Arianna Huffington

We spend one-third of our lives in bed. Pretty a lot, ha? This is why the quality of sleep is so crucial. However, in today’s world, more and more people suffer from different kinds of sleep deprivation, which affects their performance at work and in everyday routine.

Arianna Huffington, the Co-founder and editor in chief of The Huffington Post, explores this topic using scientific approaches. In her book The Sleep Revolution, she discusses what is going on when we sleep, how it affects our health, and what we can do to improve our sleeping experience.

It seems like it is the best book to read after a long busy day before going to bed.

Plan the budget better

You Need a Budget: The Proven System for Breaking the Paycheck-to-Paycheck Cycle, Getting out of Debt, and Living the Life You Want by Jesse Mecham

Getting neck-deep in debt can be frustrating and challenging to maintain, which is why you must ensure that you know how to be financially free. It also helps you stop living from paycheck to paycheck.

Jesse Mecham is the founder of the You Need a Budget company that provides the software that helps people plan their finances. In 2017 he published the self-titled book that gives more insights on how the system works as well as additional tips on budgeting. This title is the actual gem for anyone who wants to be a pro with cash!

Invest more time in spirituality

Think Like A Monk: Train Your Mind for Peace and Purpose Every Day by Jay Shetty

Looking deeper into yourself is crucial if you want to live a happy and fulfilled life. However, many people neglect to pay attention to their mind, and in the end, they often find themselves miserable and purposeless. There is no universal plan for peace and meaning. We achieve peace and tranquillity by training our minds to focus on reacting, responding, and committing to the things we want in life, in our time frame, and at our own time.

Jay Shetty lived several years as a monk, but then changed his path and now he is a storyteller and host of the #1 health and wellness podcast On Purpose. In his book Think Like A Monk, he shares essential insights with everyone who is eager to find purpose in life and become mindful like never before!

Travel the world

TRAVEL for FREE: How to score FREE Flights, Rental Cars & Accommodations, Dramatically reduce Airfares, Get paid to Travel & Start a Digital Nomad… in the world! by Gundi Gabrielle

Did you know that there are dozens of actionable tips on travelling for free and even making money from taking a trip? Well, that’s actually the truth!

Gundi Gabrielle, aka SassyZenGirl, is a bestselling author who shares insights on passive income, working from home and travelling. She doesn’t just know all these in theory. She lives this way. That’s why there is no reason not to trust her words. If you are eager to travel, you should do it! As this book will show you, there are plenty of ways to save money and even find travel aspects for free. All you need is the knowledge and know-how on where to look.

Master a new skill

Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning by Peter C. Brown, Mark A. McDaniel, Henry L. Roediger III

Learning can be difficult for many of us. There is also the upsetting fact that as we get older, it becomes harder for us to master new skills. No worries, it is not the reason not to pick up something you’ve been dreaming of for quite some time now. The solution is to figure out effective learning techniques that will help you add more know-hows to your skills piggy bank.

Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning will reveal all the secrets of becoming an effective learner, so mastering any new skill will become as easy as pie.

Improve romantic life

Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love by Dr. Sue Johnson

Oh, love. As exciting as it can be, it also requires a lot of work. Whether you are single and looking for a true feeling or already have a partner and want to make your relationships stronger, this resolution always makes sense.

Lucky we are to have Dr Sue Johnson’s groundbreaking work Hold Me Tight. The seven conversations highlighted in this book are aimed at helping you discover yourself and your partner and choose what works best for you. Every relationship is different from the other, and it is only right that you try to understand each one thoroughly. Loving relationships affect both partners, their immediate environment, and the society at large.

Make more friends

Big Friendship: How We Keep Each Other Close by Aminatou Sow, Ann Friedman

Having friends is an essential part of our lives. It feels so warm and comforting to know that there are people who you can always count on and turn to when something happens. That’s why this New Year’s resolution is one of the most popular ones.

If it is on your list too, check out Big Friendship. This book will tell you why it is so important to have meaningful friendships in your life and how to build a strong one even if it takes a lot of effort. Written by Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman, it is a real gem in our modern world.

We believe that in 2023 you will have the power to make all your New Year’s resolutions real. This book list will help you stay motivated and keep your eyes on the prize. On the Headway app, you will find even more inspiring and useful books you can read all year long while achieving your most desirable goals.