Happy New Year! Another year, another opportunity to set new goals and intentions for the upcoming year ahead. When we have that same opportunity every day when we wake up day after day! But there is just something about an upcoming New Year feeling like a fresh start, clean plate.
So, I entirely get the whole New Year, New Me being a vibe since it can totally give us that kick in the butt to get us motivated and started.
That is exactly what happened to me when it came to adding reading into my daily routine. I blame my new year resolutions that I wrote out for the year of 2021. I made the intention I was going to create more time for “me” (says everyone) and this did not necessarily mean baths and massages; as I do plan those too, I specifically wanted to focus more on personal development. Extending my knowledge, changing my thinking and perspective toward, well almost everything entirely. I must admit it took me a couple months to get those New Year Resolutions even started! So, forget about January, closer to April and I began learning SO much every single day from April well to the end of the year resulting in a total of 9 months sticking with those new year resolutions I created. The New Year of 2022 came on and the goal that year was read one book a month… as we came to the end of 2022, I realized I read a book each month PLUS a few more.
Here we are now 2023, and I no longer have set new resolutions to read, but more so just continue striving to continue always learning and reading as part of my daily routine.
In no specific order just listed all my 2022 reads below:
As you go through my comments below of all the books I read this past year, realize they are my very own thoughts and comments. Realize, I am sharing with you the books I have recently read & sharing my perspective based on what I thought of each read, you may choose to think otherwise and that is okay.
One thing I know for sure, I find something to love about any book based around personal development.
Atomic Habits- James Clear
Was the first book of the year and I made it my last book of the year as well. This book is going to be an annual read, that’s for sure. It is filled with so much great implementation information that each time you read it, something new will stick. As this is perhaps true for most books one may read. This one is really focused on what our lives are made up of, habits. How we choose to live revolves around either healthy and positive habits or negative habits in which we are trying to change.
Burning Bright– Kelsey Patel
Any read to help heal or prevent “burnout” am I wrong?!
Focus on finding peace within even when your life is in full chaos and loaded with stress. This read gets us to burning BRIGHT rather than burning out! Contains rituals you can begin implemented into your every day during a high- pressure world.
Boundary Boss– Terri Cole
Learning how to establish and enforce boundaries is something we should all be aware of. It certainly requires confidence and may require confrontation from time to time. This read allows us women to not feel so alone and afraid when trying to live a heathy and fulfilled life living with boundaries. “True Talks” statements are scattered throughout the book for reality fact checks!
Work the System– Sam Carpenter
Life is composed of systems and how we decide to manage them or not will dictate the outcome of how successful our life is or can be. We may not realize it but everything we do including goal setting, principles, and processes of doing things is a documentation of how it gets done. This read will teach you how successful people negotiate their day to day.
The Systems Mindset- Sam Carpenter
Focus on expending time and energy on incremental system- improvement to deliver lifelong results
All In– Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton
For managers and leaders wanting to create culture and live by them.
“Lead by Example”
Have a mission and establish core values to live by
Great At Work- Morten T. Hansen
“Working Smarter, not Harder” is how I try to live every situation throughout my day. Being “busy” is not an accomplishment. Smart Work improves Work- life balance. Teaches you how to master your everyday work.
The Latte Factor–David Bach
The one book where I’ve gotten to experience the feeling of not wanting to put the book down. Quick, attentive read; can read it in a couple days. I had taken some time off during the Birthday Month, and I had the sun beaming on me and I was soaking the sun & pages in! I prefer nonfiction, but “The Latte Factor” made a lesson into a story which brought a bit of fiction to it to make me really dial in and want to keep reading the book, which I loved!!!! Based around achieving financial freedom without making drastic changes.
The Upside of Stress– Kelly McGonigal
The word “Stress” is used so frequently and often is looked down upon. We have heard things like stress can kill! Stress CAN lead to an abundance of a lot of other things, but it can all start with how we think about stress. Go into this read with an opportunity to change your perspective on what stress CAN do for you, rather than the harm it does to you. Stress can be harmful, but we must face its never going away. SO, with that being said—let’s learn how to cope WITH it not against it.
Humble, Hungry, Hustle– Brad Lomenick
Leadership is Hard, yet habitual work. This read includes the most important habits (20 to be exact!) under each category of: Humble, Hungry, Hustle. Each of us should want to be a leader in an area where we bring passion.
Your Time to Thrive- Marina Khidekel
I focus on the small wins to attain the big goals. “There’s nothing wrong with aiming big, but we can help ourselves by starting small”. Includes Implementing Small Steps for better success topics/ categories including Sleep, Nutrition, Unplugging, Movement, Prioritization, Relationships, Creativity and Purpose. The cool part with this read is through out the book, there contains little excerpts off to the side of other authors, CEOs, founders, etc. on “How they thrive”
The Power of One More– Ed Mylett
Starts off with educating you to think about identify and what do YOU want to be, become, continue to be. Contains 11 Leadership Principles to become a BETTER leader. Brings awareness to control vs. the uncontrollable, block out excess noise, believe in yourself and how you can do just ONE more.
Relentless– Tim Grover
“Cooler, Closer, Cleaner” = Good, Great, Unstoppable”
Relentless people are “Cleaners”
Become a Cleaner; you don’t have to love the work, but you’re addicted to the results.
Teaches you and will change your perspective to want to focus more on becoming not just Great, but Unstoppable.
Relationships First– Emily Frisella
Easy, VERY quick read. Where quite actually I was hoping for a bit more. I wanted more from Emily Frisella, who knows maybe this one is a teaser for her and an upcoming book (*wishful thinking) The best part is the author, Emily is a muli- entrepreneur who started her very own brick and mortar business. It felt nice to hear the story behind how she has become so successful with areas she focuses on and ways for us to begin to implement. Emily is truly an authentic author and person, making this read a lifetime reference of my highlighted areas.
The life changing magic of tidying up–Marie Kondo
We all get those moments to purge, organize or hoping someone just tells us HOW to get rid of things! This book will teach a step-by-step way of doing so. Some parts of the book made me think hmmm, I shall give that a try, where others I went; yup not going to happen but nice try, ha! Remember, this book is one way, the Marie Konda way. Go in with an open mind to learning how to become tidier!
If reading is something you enjoy ESP. Personal Development books, add some of these to your list. For those that would like to read more or always try but can’t seem to find the “time” I advise you to start with simply 10 pages a day; resulting in approx. 1 book each month. If you personally have a Personal Development book you thought was GREAT and don’t see it on my list from last year or previous blog post, Share it with me😊
I am always looking to expand my own knowledge and library but also titles to share!
