Welcome to the Wellness Wednesday series! Everything from living a healthier lifestyle, positive mindset, relationships, motivation, and more! Starting it off with the top 5 books you NEED to read this year.
Hi there! Looking for some inspiration on living a healthier life, having a positive mindset, or simply finding that motivation to get off the couch and into those running shoes? You’ve come to the right place.
I’ve created this special Wednesday Wellness series so we can talk all about that. And much more! How about making the best out of the pandemic lockdown or how to have (and keep) a great relationship while you are both working from home? Wellness Wednesday has got you covered. Make sure to come back as this is gonna be fun and packed with great tips!
Ok so let’s get into the topic of the books. I’ve selected this one to start with on purpose, as all the books I’ll be mentioning cover mindset in one way or another. And we all know just how important it is to be in the right headspace and have the right attitude, no matter what you’re dealing with or what you want to achieve.
Here are my top picks:
1. Rich Dad, Poor Dad, by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter
If you only read ONE book this year, make it this one. It’s not only THE BEST (and I do mean THE BEST) financial education book you’ll ever read, but it also gives such a great perspective into having the right mindset.
That trip around the world, the Aston Martin at your doorstep, or that amazing designer wardrobe? Whatever your dream is, stop getting discouraged by thoughts like “it’s too expensive” or “I could never afford that“. Instead, Kiyosaki challenges you to switch your mindset and ask yourself How can I afford that? How can I make it happen? This triggers your mind to find solutions, to figure out what exactly you need to do, and learn to get you closer to your goal.
I also love that it shows parallels between how rich people think and how poor people think and the specific vocabulary each of them uses.
Plus, get ready to learn all about assets, liabilities, cash flow, and investments, in a super easy to understand way. Best of all, this book will teach you how to stop working for money and how to MAKE MONEY WORK FOR YOU!
2. Atomic Habits, by James Clear
Whether you are looking to set new healthy habits or get rid of old, bad ones, look no further, THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU! That morning meditation routine you are thinking of starting, the regular workout, or simply to stop watching So. Much. Netflix, this book will be your best friend! It shows you precisely how to set good habits and how to get rid of the bad ones in just a few easy steps.
It talks about how small changes – 1% daily improvements, aka “atomic habits” – can lead to massive positive effects in the long run.
One of my favorite take-outs was how everything starts from you, and your identity. It’s very easy to set a new habit if you feel it TO YOUR CORE if it’s part of who you are. For example: exercising 3 times a week, not because that’s one of your New Year’s Resolutions, but because you are a person who keeps healthy and works out. Or when offered a cigarette, rephrasing “No, thank you, I am trying to quit”, into “No, thank you, I am not a smoker”. Get it? 😉
3. The 5 Second Rule, by Mel Robbins
If like me, you are a master procrastinator, constantly putting things off because you simply don’t feel like it, you are going to LOVE THIS ONE!
This book is an absolute joy to read, and once you start you won’t be able to put it down. It’s SO much fun and packed with amazing tips on how to be more productive and get stuff done.
Yes, you guessed it, it all starts in the mind again. Mel Robbins has discovered a great way to get ourselves out of our head and into action as fast as you can count back from 5.
Turns out your brain only needs 5 seconds to talk you out of anything: “it’s fine, you can do that laundry later”, “go ahead, snooze the alarm 20 times, just stay in bed, it’s so warm and cozy”, or “sure, you can write that blog post on procrastination later, let’s watch one more episode of Bridgeton”. 😉 Sound familiar? Our brain is designed to keep us safe and comfortable. So when you need a bit of an extra push give Mel’s method a try. Start counting 5,4,3,2,1 ..GO! Take action! It really works!
If you’re looking for more ideas on how to stop procrastinating, I actually did write that post and shared some tips on what works great for me, so check it out.
4. Awaken the Giant Within, by Toni Robbins
A Wellness Wednesday reading list wouldn’t be complete without Toni Robbins of course.
Toni is a master of self-development and his books and programs have helped millions of people overcome difficult situations and improve their lives.
For those of you who think Toni Robbins might be “too fluffy”, I would dare you to read this one. I am sure you will find lots of great insights within its pages.
This book talks about SO many aspects of our lives, from defining our own personal values to relationships, from the power of words and the vocabulary we use to defining very specific goals and working to achieve them.
5. The Power of Habit, by Charles Duhigg
Yes, I know I’ve already included a book about habits in this list, good catch 😉 But, since our results – whether we achieve our goals or not – are SO dependent on what we do every single day (aka our habits), I think this topic deserves extra attention.
This is is one of the best books you will ever read on this topic. It shows you how our mind works and challenges you to think and analyze your own habits. For example, why do you reach for that Snickers at 4 pm every day – is it because you are actually hungry, is it because you might just need a break from work, or is it an excuse to get off your chair to move around a bit? Or maybe you are simply bored?
I’m sure this book will do wonders for you as it did for me! Whether you want to stop a bad habit – like finally cutting back on snacking or sweets (I actually have an entire post about how I’ve managed to reduce my sugar intake with the learnings from this book) or set up a new, healthy one – as flossing for example (which I’ve also picked up and maintained after reading The Power of Habit) it definitely deserves its place on your bookshelf.
So there we have it, 5 books that I am sure you’ll enjoy, will challenge your mindset and inspire you in 2021.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this post and that you’ll come back soon for some more Wellness Wednesday topics!
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