Getting the Most out of Self-Help Books
You find a self-help book you’re excited about. You’ve heard great thinks about it. The reviews are insanely positive. You’re certain it’ll help you with a struggle in your life. It gives you hope for the future.
You read the book. It fires you up. Now you’re excited to implement the strategies you read about!
You go to do those things and…what the heck did you even read??
This was my struggle for a long time, I’m talking years. Reading self-help and personal development has always been an interest of mine, but often, the concepts I learned fade away once I flip to that last page.
It wasn’t until I started reading books with intention that the ideas and strategies started to stick.
Trust me, I get it. The idea of reading actively feels like you’re working on a school project or doing homework. When your life is already crazy busy, the last thing you want to do is give yourself a homework assignment (or do you?).
But real change, the change you are deeply craving, takes work. It’s unavoidable.
Certainly, a case can be made for reading a book straight through without spending too much time ruminating and notetaking. You can read the book cover-to-cover with enjoyment, at a pace that feels natural. You can take it at face value. Leisure in it.
But if you want to take actionable steps after reading, do something with it, you’ll absolutely need to do the work.
Here’s how:
Before Reading
You picked this book for a reason, what is it? Ask yourself some questions before you start reading to get clarity on how you will use this book and how you will get value from it.
What do I hope to get out of this book?
What do I hope this book will teach me?
Clarifying why you want to read the book will help you identify the information you are looking for.
Take Notes
As you read the book, consider taking notes. Taking notes isn’t just handy for looking things up later, it helps you remember concepts as you read.
My favorite way to take notes is to dedicate a journal to a specific book I am reading. As I read, I write down quotes I enjoyed, follow-up questions for me to consider later, and even page numbers for passages I want to reread or revisit. Some tips include:
Bookmark or write down pages you want to reference later.
Write down quotes or ideas that resonate with you.
Summarize concepts in your own words.
Write questions for you to answer in a later reflection.
Self-Reflection
Don’t stop at taking notes! Give yourself time to reflect on what you’ve read. Write down some questions and answers to help you think deeper on the concepts of the book. Self-reflection will help you gain even more clarity on how the book can be applied to your life. And don’t be afraid to disagree with the author! Self-reflection is all about you and your unique experiences. Some self-reflection questions might include:
What small change can I make this week to put these concepts into action?
What specific situations in my life would have benefited from applying these principles?
For more self-reflection questions, head to the activity Turning Pages to Progress.
Plan
This is where the magic happens. Plan. Follow through with the plan. Because what’s the point of reading a self-help book if you don’t follow through with helping yourself?
Consider using the SMART framework (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-Bound). Instead of “I will start a YouTube channel”, try “In two months, I will launch my YouTube channel and post 3 videos about personal development.”
To make your goals more achievable, consider breaking down actions into smaller steps so your plan is less overwhelming. When I break down my goals into smaller steps, it’s super satisfying to cross things off my list.
Lastly, work those goals into your schedule. Put them in your calendar or agenda. Treat them like an appointment or work task and commit. You got this!
It’s Time to Change Your Life
Finding the right personal development book can change your life, but only if you are willing to make the change. The older I get, the more difficult it becomes for my brain to retain information. Not only that, “mom brain”, stress, and tiredness make personal development a monumental challenge. But with notetaking, self-reflection, and developing a strategy, I can implement the approaches found in a self-help book and change my life for the better.
Don’t forget to try the self-reflection exercise Turning Pages to Progress for additional questions that can be considered while reading your next book.
How do you get the most out of self-help books. What personal development books do you recommend?
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