By Emily Evans

Author Vern McLellan wisely stated: “What the new year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new year.”

 

Every year, millions of us kick off the New Year with the usual list of resolutions, hoping to create positive change in our daily lives. Among the most common goals we set are to exercise more, lose weight, get organized, learn a new skill or hobby, save more money–spend less money, travel more and spend more time with family and friends.

 

But let’s be realistic! We enthusiastically set these goals with the intention of conquering all of them successfully, while living our lives to the fullest and stopping to smell the roses along the way! Of course, we typically make our resolutions after a crazy busy month of December. All routine and usual schedules are basically non-existent at work and at home. We attend one holiday party after the other, eat endless plates of delicious hors d’oeuvres and sweets, indulge in delicious wines and festive cocktails at every party, order more takeout than usual for our kids, book babysitters for multiple dates, try to complete holiday shopping before school gets out and hide the presents in closets and secret places where they will not be discovered. I will admit, in more years than not, I have ordered duplicate gifts and have hidden things so well that even I could not find them until a frantic search on Christmas Eve!

 

The New Year symbolizes a new beginning, a fresh start, and what is most important are the steps we put in place to help us successfully achieve our goals. We are rested, ready to get back to our work, get our kids back to school, and we crave routine and structure.  Many of us buy new workout attire and running shoes to help us achieve our new exercise and weight loss goals at the new fitness club we joined. We are excited for our new blender so that we can start making smoothies and shakes packed with protein and nutrients that will control all our cravings and let the pounds just melt away. We eat at home as a family again and are back to our nightly routine of watching Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy together. Holiday decorations are all put away, the house is clean and clutter-free again and it feels great. We are intentionally slowing down and reevaluating our daily habits and routine, and focusing on our resolutions.

 

One important New Year’s goal for those of us who are avid readers is our reading goal. I use the Goodreads App to set my reading goal for the year, record the books I have read and keep track of those I want to read. Goodreads encourages me to stay on track, offers book suggestions and reviews, and shares what my friends are reading. It also allows me to connect with friends all over the country, read interviews with authors and hear what other book clubs are reading and discussing. 

 

Now is the time to dive into books that help support these New Year’s resolutions and enlighten us about our individual habits and personalities and how we can best achieve our goals. We reflect on our strengths and weaknesses and prioritize our goals. Goals as simple as making your bed every morning, committing to walking every day, reading a book a month or trying new recipes are all attainable if you commit to your goals. The following books are on my list to read in 2023 as I am intentionally working to reach new goals in my personal and professional lives. Whatever resolutions you have set for yourself in 2023, I hope you find success. Happy New Year! Happy Reading!