New Year, New Day 1, New Habits—Books to Help Inspire, Guide, and Transform
The library (still) being closed for regular use is getting to me! It’s the new year, and there are always lots of books to scan, scour, and peruse in thinking about the blank slate of possibility before us.
Some of the books I want to look at are repeat reads, books that fall into the comfort zone of my new year. These may be creative, organizational, productivity, or other books that I have looked at in the past and would like to pull from the library shelves to be able to look at again.
And then there are a few that I know about but haven’t read. And then there are those that I run across when browsing titles I might read.
When it comes to habit formation, there are a lot of options.
I pulled Atomic Habits from the library last year (or maybe the year before?), but I didn’t read it. Now, of course, I keep wishing I had. I am on hold again for an e-book version. So that would be one you might consider, for sure. You might pair that with The Bullet Journal Method if you are thinking of using an analog journal to organize your lists and planning.
Special Pricing on Better than Before (1/8/21 Only)
Today, January 8, Gretchen Rubin’s book on habit formation is discounted. The reviews at Amazon are wide-ranging, but at the price-point, it’s one to consider, especially in the Kindle form. The book: Better Than Before: What I Learned About Making and Breaking Habits–to Sleep More, Quit Sugar, Procrastinate Less, and Generally Build a Happier Life. (If you are already a fan of Rubin’s Happier Podcast, The Happiness Project book, or The Four Tendencies, then this one might be a good fit for you.)
Books to Put on Hold
Here are some of the titles you might put on your library holds or “to read” (TBR) list:
(Note: links may be to Kindle versions or other formats. Links to Amazon are provided for reference and convenience. Links are affiliate links for the CMP.)
- Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones (Kindle)
- The Bullet Journal Method
- Creative License
- The 4-Hour Workweek
- The Crossroads of Should and Must: Find and Follow Your Passion
- Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear
And here are others you might know about, might have heard about, or might have run across while browsing that might also go on your holds list:
- Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything
- Better Than Before: What I Learned About Making and Breaking Habits–to Sleep More, Quit Sugar, Procrastinate Less, and Generally Build a Happier Life
- The Next Right Thing: A Simple, Soulful Practice for Making Life Decisions
- Don’t Overthink It (Kindle)
- Hack Your Habits: An Unusual Guide to Escape Motivational Traps, Bypass Willpower Problems and Accelerate Your Success
- Elastic Habits: How to Create Smarter Habits That Adapt to Your Day
- The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business
- Hello, Habits: A Minimalist’s Guide to a Better Life
- Winging It: Stop Thinking, Start Doing: Why Action Beats Planning Every Time
- The Artist’s Way
- Trailblazer: A Woman’s Guide to Letting Go of Expectations, Trusting Yourself, and Creating the Path to a Fulfilling Life
Need More New Year Inspiration?
See Word for the Year (2021) and Hello, 2021 (435).
More About Habits, Time, and Planning on the Creativity Matters Podcast?
- Planning Books (346)
- Episode 269: Coloring Habits
- Episode 270: Habits, habits, habits
- Episode 317: Underbelly of Habit
- Episode 308: Mapping Time
- Episode 310: Blocking Time
- Episode 311: Tracking Time
- Episode 220: Dabbling in Documentation
- Episode 249: Bazooka Joe and Setting and Sharing Creative Goals
- Episode 255: Setting Goals
- Episode 176: Personal Big Data
Tools
- Notes on large format sketchbooks
- ROYGBIV supplies: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet
- Moleskine Art Sketchbook (what I’m using for regular drawing and my illustrated journal)
- Moleskine Art Sketchbook — the REALLY big one — A3 (11.75″ x 16.5″)
- Platinum Carbon Black ink (what’s in my fountain pen)