By Alesha Woods
Rowan Public Library

Now that the holiday season has arrived and will soon be gone, hope for the new year springs forth. Many of us are probably thinking about what 2024 will bring and are determined to have our most productive year yet. With each new year comes a list of New Year’s resolutions and let’s be honest, most of us eventually lose our drive to fulfill all the goals we set for ourselves. I, for one, have a habit of saying, “This is the year! This year I will stick to all my goals no matter what.” However, by the time December arrives, I look back on the previous year wondering what happened to all my determination.

The thing we most often forget when trying to reach our goals and accomplish our New Year’s resolutions is that a lot of change must happen in our day-to-day lives for goals and intentions to take root. While changing the processes and steps we take toward a goal can help put us on the right path, changes to our routines can become quickly overwhelming. By changing the way we think about the goal and how to reach it could be an important key to maintaining the momentum toward success. If you are interested in reading books about what it means to change the way you think about your goals and how you can better accomplish them, Rowan Public Library has a variety of titles that can help.

In the book “How to Change: The Science of Getting from Where You are to Where You Want to Be” (2021), Katherine L. Milkman provides case studies, engaging stories, and examples from cutting-edge research that can help readers both identify and overcome the barriers that regularly stand in the way of change. This book covers why timing can be everything when it comes to making a change and how to turn temptation and inertia into assets that can help you achieve your goals.

In “Build the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier” (2023) by Arthur C. Brooks and Oprah Winfrey, the authors share some tools for emotional self-management and how you can take control of your present and future.

Looking for something from a financial expert? Try Jill Schlesinger’s “The Great Money Reset: Change Your Work, Change Your Wealth, Change Your Life” (2023). In this book, explore just how far a person should go to change their life.

For the spiritual reader, consider checking out Bishop T.D. Jakes’ newest book “Disruptive Thinking: A Daring Strategy to Change How We Live, Lead, and Love” (2023). In this book, Jakes encourages disruptive thinking and provides both the wisdom and the practical skills to take your original and transformational ideas from vision to reality.

Don’t let 2024 be another year of unresolved New Year’s resolutions. Find the right book that fits your needs and helps keep you on track towards reaching your goals! To reserve a copy of these items or others like them, visit www.rowanpubliclibrary.org or call 980-432-8670.

Alesha Woods is communications associate at Rowan Public Library.