New Year’s Resolutions

Happy New Year!

LinneaLeave a comment

It’s that time of year when we all choose how we want to improve or adjust in the new year. We’re full of hope and ambition, the fear of abandoning our resolutions yet to creep into reality. Our resolutions tend to be pretty similar year after year. How many of us vow to read more, spend less money, watch less television, or pick up a new hobby? And how many of us, after weeks of good intentions, let those goals fall by the wayside as ~life~ gets in the way? You are not alone! And if your goals match any that I listed, you’re not alone there either. 

According to statista.com, a lot of us share the same resolutions:

To help achieve those goals and stay on track longer than a month or two, maybe some of these books will be handy!  

If you… 

Want to cook more meals at home: 

The Weeknight Mediterranean Kitchen: 80 Authentic, Healthy Recipes Made Quick and Easy for Everyday Cooking by Samantha Ferraro 

The Easy Vegan Cookbook: Make Healthy Home Cooking Practically Effortless by Kathy Hester 

Eating Well Made Easy: Deliciously Healthy Recipes for Everyone, Every Day by Lorraine Pascale 

Want to spend less time on social media: 

How to Break Up with Your Phone by Catherine Price 

Growing Up Shared: How Parents Can Share Smarter on Social Media-and What You Can Do to Keep Your Family Safe in a No-Privacy World by Stacey Steinberg 

Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport 

Want to reduce stress: 

The No-Nonsense Meditation Book: A Scientist’s Guide to the Power of Meditation by Steven Laureys 

Stress Less, Accomplish More: Meditation for Extraordinary Performance by Emily Fletcher 

The Extremely Busy Woman’s Guide to Self-Care: Do Less, Achieve More, and Live the Life You Want by Suzanne Falter 

Want to exercise more: 

Hiking Ohio Gary S. Williams 

Running Well by Sam Murphy 

How to Rock Climb! by John Long 

Want to learn a new skill: 

Hoop Quilts for Beginners: 15 Designs Using Easy Patchwork and Embroidery by AnneMarie Chany 

HTML and CSS by Joe Casabona 

Lonely Planet Spanish Phrasebook & CD: Listen, Practise, and Learn 

Want to spend less money: 

Little House Living: The Make-Your-Own Guide to a Frugal, Simple, and Self-sufficient Life by Merissa A. Alink 

The 30-Day Money Cleanse: Take Control of Your Finances, Manage Your Spending, and De-stress Your Money for Good by Ashley Feinstein Gerstley 

Wise Craft: Turning Thrift Store Finds, Fabric Scraps, and Natural Objects into Stuff You Love by Blair Stocker 

I hope some of these books help you create a plan or spark ideas for how to keep going on your resolutions. But remember, It’s Okay to Break Your New Year’s Resolutions! 

-Linnea 

Bookish Resolutions

MelindaLeave a comment

New Year’s Resolutions aren’t always easy to set…or to keep. Every year we start out with the best of intentions: to start a new exercise routine, eat healthier, or budget our money better. But by mid-February our best intentions can fall by the wayside.

About four years ago I discovered one resolution that I could keep: a reading resolution. Every year I follow along on a reading challenge (or two!) to push myself out of my usual reading rut. Taking on a challenge like the Book Riot Read Harder Challenge gives me the push I need to read outside of my favorite genres.

I’m a big fan of Book Riot’s format. The challenge consists of 24 tasks ranging from “Read a nonfiction YA comic” to “Read a book recommended by a friend with different reading tastes.” Over the course of several year’s challenges I’ve read westerns, romance, and even science fiction. Honestly, I would never have picked up those genres if it hadn’t been for the challenge tasks.

Some of the gems I read this year include:

If At Birth You Don’t Succeed by Zach Anner (Task: Read a book by a disabled author)

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin (Task: Read a book set in a bookstore)

I also try to set a goal for how many books I’ll read in a year via Goodreads. Sometimes I accomplish it, sometimes I don’t. If you’re interested in mixing up your reading habits this year, try one of the following task-based challenges. Recruit a book-loving friend or coworker to join the challenge alongside you!

Barnes & Noble Reading Challenge

Book Riot’s Read Harder Challenge

The 52 Book Club Challenge

Popsugar Reading Challenge

The Storygraph

Here at RRPL we have our own reading challenge to kick start your year with some good books! Winter Reading Bingo begins January 20, stop by or visit rrpl.org/winter-reading to join in on the fun!

-Melinda