10 Self-Improvement Books You Should Read This Winter
The winter of 2020-2021 will likely keep most Americans stuck indoors with little to do. Typically, you could look forward to holiday gatherings. COVID-19 has made that inadvisable.
You don’t have to waste your time, though! Instead, use the months of cold weather and early evenings to become the best version of yourself with a little help from self-improvement books.
The Attention Revolution: Unlocking the Power of the Focused Mind
Today’s media-saturated world can feel like a constant distraction. How can you stay present in the moment when electronic devices ring and beep for your attention all day?
Daniel Goleman believes that meditation offers a solution to humanity’s shrinking attention span. In The Attention Revolution, Goleman offers straightforward instructions that can teach anyone how to meditate.
Don’t dismiss Goleman’s belief as junk science. He has a Career Achievement award from the American Psychological Association and a fellowship with the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
If life feels chaotic, pick up this short book to find some peace.
Dare to Lead
Brene Brown has spent more than two decades researching how people respond to emotions like vulnerability and shame. Her seventh book, Dare to Lead, uses her extensive knowledge and insight to teach people how to embrace courage to become better leaders.
Brown shows that brave leadership is a teachable skill. By reading this book, you will learn how to put those skills into action.
Leadership doesn’t just apply to professionals. Anyone can assume a leadership position in their families, social groups, and communities. Dare to Lead makes sure you know how to make the most of your role.
Declutter Your Mind: How to Stop Worrying, Relieve Anxiety, and Eliminate Negative Thinking
S.J. Scott and Barrie Davenport have co-written several books about topics like productivity, stress management, mindfulness, and emotional intelligence. Declutter Your Mind delivers some of their most practical advice in a book that most readers can finish within a few hours.
The text offers strategies and exercises that will help you simplify your life and concentrate on what really matters to you. During the process, you will give your mind a “spring cleaning” that leads to better focus and greater contentment.
If you don’t think you have time to read a self-improvement book, this is the right title for you.
Gmorning, Gnight! Little Pep Talks for Me & You
Writing a Broadway musical capable of becoming a cultural phenomenon undoubtedly has its good and bad days. No one knows that better than Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator and lead of Hamilton: An American Musical.
Miranda turned his unique experience into Gmorning, Gnight!, a list of inspirational sayings and stories to bookend your day. Having a hard time crawling out of bed for another day of work and worry? Miranda will cheerlead you to success. Plus, you get the fun, black-and-white drawings of veteran illustrator Jonny Sun.
Pick up this book once in the morning and once at night to keep your spirits up and reach your goals.
Mindsight: The New Science of Personal Transformation
As a clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine, Daniel Siegel is the kind of person you should listen to when you want to improve your mental and behavioral health. Dr. Siegel published Mindsight in 2010, but the lessons remain as true as ever.
Mindsight uses research to tell people how they can let go of haunting memories, control their emotions, and break unwanted habits. Siegel writes for peer-reviewed journals, but he leaves the technical vocabulary out of this book so everyone can learn from it.
The 5 Second Rule: The Fastest Way to Change Your Life
Mel Robbins invented her 5-second rule to help her stop hitting the snooze button every morning. That’s a problem many people can relate to.
In The 5 Second Rule she expands her concept into all areas of life. It’s a book made for people who have difficulty making decisions and following through with plans. Whether you want to start drinking less or finding the courage to talk to an attractive stranger, Robbins has a foolproof plan that will lead to positive actions.
The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results
Looking ore quick inspiration that could change your life? Pick up the 240-page The ONE Thing by Jay Papasan and New York Times bestselling writer Gary Keller.
Papasan and Keller created The ONE Thing to help readers identify their priorities and eliminate the clutter that prevents people from reaching their goals. The book will force you to do some hard work on yourself, but you can expect the effort to pay off in every area of your life.
The Happiness of Pursuit: Finding the Quest That Will Bring Purpose to Your Life
Everyone has a daydream that feels impossible to pursue. Whether you want to travel more, write a novel, start a business, or finish a degree, The Happiness of Pursuit forces you to consider the cost of living a life that doesn’t include pursuing your passions.
Do you have difficulty understanding your purpose in life? Chris Guillebeau makes it easier than ever to identify what you want to do with your time on this planet.
Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World
Cal Newport teaches computer science at Georgetown University, so he knows more than most people about the benefits and disadvantages of technology. From his perspective, distractions from social media sites, the 24-hour news cycle, and other technologies make it nearly impossible for many people to focus on deep, meaningful work.
Deep Work gives you plenty of advice to become a more focused person in a world full of distractions. Expect Newport to challenge you to stop indulging in some of the time-sucking activities you enjoy.
Empath: A Complete Guide for Developing Your Gift and Finding Your Sense of Self
This list ends with a slight book of 106 pages designed to help you connect with yourself and other people. Judy Dryer has written at least 10 books about topics like anger management, personality disorders, and emotional intelligence. Empath explains how you can get better at dropping your emotional guard to become a more accepting, open person.
No matter what you’d like to change in your life, someone has a book that can help. If none of these books sound right for you, browse other online lists. The important thing is that you use your winter wisely so you can rejoin post-COVID society a better person than you were a year ago.
