Azra Jovicic
Discipline is something that can take you far in life, and it is usually our weak spot. If you want to work more on making it your strength, here are 25 books that will help your change your life for the better!
1) Feel the fear… and do it anyway – Susan Jeffers
Fear prevents most people from living the lives they want. This is the first book you should pick if you want to do something about your life and bring more discipline into your days. It will make you face all the fears that are preventing you from living the life you have always dreamed of.
The language the writer uses is very simple and understandable to many, which makes it accessible and applicable to anyone who needs help. It will help you pierce through all the things you were saying to yourself when you were not able to commit to your goals.
It is surely a book that you will keep coming to. It will change the way you look at your excuses and your inability to stay true to your goals.
However, that is not all. It can also give you permission to finally allow yourself to become more productive by letting yourself rest. It is what most people have the biggest problem with.
2) The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less – Barry Schwartz
We live in an era when everything is easily accessible to us, and it is paralyzing us. This book explains how having too many choices can make us dissatisfied and even cause depression.
Reading it will surely benefit you because you will think twice about the choices you are making daily and help you understand what is stealing your energy without you even noticing. It will bring you some new insights about the way we shop and the marketing tricks that directly hit our weak spots.
The writer certainly brings up many questions that we wouldn’t even think about otherwise. It offers a philosophical point of view, and it will surely cause a significant reaction.
It goes into the layers of unconscious choices that we make every day just because we are surrounded by so many of them.
3) The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It – Kelly McGonigal
If you want to discover the secret of learning from other people, you will surely find it in this book. It brings out a simple truth – self-control can be learned. It is comforting in a way because it brings out the importance of being gentle to ourselves.
Too much self-control can be counterproductive, and knowing this can inspire you to find a balance between self-control and enjoying life. It will surely help you build more productive habits in a very simple way.
The book is very realistic and will give you hope if you have been feeling pretty stuck. Reading it and applying what you have found out will give you a chance to strengthen your willpower and get things done.
4) The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change – Stephen R. Covey
This book is very exciting because it will not give you a false sense of positivity. Instead, you will get some concrete instructions on how to manage your anxiety and time in a very effective way.
Whether you are a business person or a parent struggling to manage time, you will surely find this book very useful. It also gives an insight into resolving conflicts of all kinds.
It is a book that teaches simple things that can be applied to your life 100%. It’s wonderful that by reading all the chapters, you will slowly realize all the things you can actually change in yourlife and which habits you need to focus on the most.
It will help you achieve success in your career by being able to deal with all the things that are standing in your way concerning communication, but it does not end there. The pieces of advice you will find here can help you be a better parent, spouse, and colleague because they can be used in every situation.
However, be modest about the expectations. You will need to wait for a while before all the applied tips start giving results.
5) Self-Discipline: 30 Days to Self Discipline (30 Days To Greatness) – Lucia Georgiou
If you are stuck in a project or simply in your day-to-day life, and don’t know how to stop procrastinating, this book is for you. It offers simple steps that you can follow during a 30-days period and apply to your life.
It will help you to increase your productivity and start dealing with the root causes of such behaviors. It is well written and is very easy to read and comprehend, which will enable you to easily use it whenever you need a gentle push.
Becoming aware that you can learn self-discipline is such a relief because it gives us hope that we can change our lives in a very simple way.
6) Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life – by Henry Cloud
Most people don’t even think about boundaries, and this topic comes up when they are crossed heavily. However, this book gives simple insight into the way we should set boundaries with people from our surroundings and avoid feeling guilty because of it.
Having healthy boundaries is essential for a good life because it is a way we can enjoy the freedom of choice and at the same time be very mindful of what we can and cannot give. It is a book that will give you guidelines about the ways to do it.
Even though some people consider it too oriented toward Christianity, it is a great read for anyone who wants to learn boundaries and enjoy their life more.
7) 365 Days With Self-Discipline: 365 Life-Altering Thoughts on Self-Control, Mental Resilience, and Success – Martin Meadows
If you want to have a book that will inspire you every day throughout the year, then this is it. There is a quote for every day of the year that will help you build your self-discipline step by step.
Just being able to read one quote every day will help you build a habit of working on your discipline and improving your life. These quotes will help you think about the ways you could do it and realize that it cannot be built in a day.
Instead, it slowly builds up until you start noticing the changes. Besides being motivated while reading this book, you will also learn practical things that you can apply day after day throughout the year.
By reading every page, you will notice the eagerness of the writer to help the readers truly change their lives. Look at this book as a companion that will help you make a lasting change by committing to it for one year of your life.
8) Self-Discipline in 10 Days: How to Go from Thinking to Doing – Theodore Bryant
Dreaming about making a success, but do you want to turn it into reality? Well, this book may be the perfect one to help you do just that in only ten days.
It is an interesting read, and it can help you identify the main problems that are causing you to procrastinate all the time. The writer is very optimistic, and it motivates us immediately from page one, saying that we can notice changes in just one day.
The writer helps us understand the fears that are behind procrastination issues and you will soon catch yourself doing all the things that you couldn’t do for a long time. The language he uses is very fun and interesting, so through stories about fictional characters, you will actually understand just how sneaky the mind can be.
It is definitely a book that will help you improve your self-discipline by removing the obstacles from your way.
9) Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones – James Clear
If you are determined to break the bad habits and create some good ones, then choosing this book may be just what you need. It will give you an insight into the way the system in your life works.
Bad habits don’t occur all of a sudden. They are built over the course of time.
If you want to change them, you need to change the system. By reading this book, you will learn about the simple behavior changes that you can do to start making some better habits that will improve your life.
You will also read true stories about successful people who also struggled with the same issues and have managed to overcome them, which is especially interesting because you can learn first-hand what is effective and what is not.
10) Discipline Equals Freedom: Field Manual – Jocko Willink
If you wish to take a peek into the way the seal teams function and how brutally they prepare for the combat, then this is the book for you. It will give you a way to find your will to start making steps towards a successful life.
You will not hear a pep talk but a brutal truth and getting exactly to the point from a man who knows what he’s talking about. You will read about the strategies that will help you battle procrastination, weakness, and fear and help you find your way to freedom in life.
There are no shortcuts to discipline, and you will learn how to go through all the obstacles your mind creates for you so you can finally take concrete steps and make the change you’ve always wanted.
11) The Success Principles: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be – Jack Canfield, Janet Switzer
Anyone who would like to learn how to find the essence of life and improve their life in its every aspect, this is one of the best books you can find. Everything you will read in it, once you apply it to your life, will surely help you achieve extraordinary results.
The readers say that it helped them stay focused, increase productivity at work and their income, and improve their love life. Well, that is more than anyone can ask for!
12) The Practicing Mind: Bringing Discipline and Focus into Your Life – Thomas M. Sterner
Usually, when we need to be focused the most, it is the time when we cannot get a hold of it. This book will help you to learn new things with a focus and motivation that was somehow escaping you, no matter which aspect of life you are focusing on.
It will help you face procrastination and find a way to shorten the process of getting things done. What is even more important, you won’t feel miserable doing it.
The first step towards self-control is mastering our thoughts, so you will get guidelines about doing it with less trouble. One of the things you will understand better is the importance of slowing down.
This is what most people will find surprising because when talking about efficiency, we usually think about finishing everything fast. However, in order to be able to finish things faster, you need to go in-depth so you can avoid frustration.
All in all, it is certainly highly recommended to read it so you can apply the advice given instead of learning from your own mistakes.
13) Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World – Cal Newport
Most people have a difficult time focusing on the task at hand because there are simply too many distractions. This book can help you with that because it emphasizes the importance of doing one thing at a time.
It gives a revolutionary insight that we need to be useful first and find our passion after, which is quite different from what we are used to hearing. People usually chase passion first until they get bored or discouraged.
Not only will this book change your mind, but it also has a detailed guide on how to overcome difficulties and truly get things done.
14) The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business – Charles Duhigg
One of the most important things you will learn from this book is how to change your habits for the better. It is written from a personal experience by a writer who will teach you how to hack your bad habits and replace them with some more productive ones.
Not only will you be able to change them, but you will understand what the reward you are getting is. If you implement guidelines from this book, you will be able to improve your sleeping habits, start exercising regularly and enjoy your life more.
Instead of wasting time on social media, read this book. It will surely help you work on your wellness.
15) No Excuses!: The Power of Self-Discipline – Brian Tracy
All of us hide behind excuses all the time, but if you are tired of failing and simply want to face all your reasons for not succeeding in life, this is the book for you. It will help you forget about the luck factor and do some concrete things that will help you achieve your goals.
The great thing about it is that every time you read a chapter, even if it’s the same one, you will learn something new you will benefit from. It can be that kick you need to finally push you in the right direction.
Reading it every day for at least 15 minutes will surely help you achieve your most important goals. Even when you achieve them, you will be motivated to set some new ones and work on achieving them.
The writing style is easy to understand, which will help you to apply the tips instantly and see how your life changes.
16) The Science of Self-Discipline: The Willpower, Mental Toughness, and Self-Control to Resist Temptation and Achieve Your Goals – Peter Hollins
There is more to self-discipline than simply wanting to achieve it. This book will reveal the science behind it and the reason why we need to understand the mechanism that is driving it.
Once you understand what the main engine behind your bad habits is, you will understand what you need to do to change them. It will help you deal with the temptations, excuses, and laziness that are preventing you from achieving the success you have always wanted.
Also, you will realize just how powerful the small habits are. Implementing meditation into your routine can help you enjoy both the mental and physical benefits, which will reflect positively on your life.
There are also studies included concerning the practical effects of willpower on weight and what kind of effect the environment has on us. Everything is presented in a clear way that will not overwhelm you but rather give you tiny bits of tips you can easily incorporate into your life.
This is highly important because you will not fall into the trap of procrastination. Everything is presented methodically, chapter by chapter, so you can follow each one easily.
17) Relentless: From Good to Great to Unstoppable – Tim S. Grover
This book was written by a trainer who helped legendary players such as Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant to achieve everything they did in the sport. He explains what it takes to be able to reach this point and how you can do it easily as well.
You will learn how to take back the control of your life and use the weaknesses of your opponents in life or business, and turn them into something that you could use to make progress. By reading this book, you will learn to break all the rules that are stopping you from achieving everything you have ever dreamed of.
It is for the people who are ready to go the extra mile to pursue their dreams and wake up the inner beast!
18) Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength – Roy F. Baumeister
If you wish to read an in-depth analysis of the battle that we all lead with temptation, this is the book for you. It offers concrete help in overcoming temptations and using all the strength you have to find a new direction in life.
Regaining control over your will is the first step towards fulfilling all the goals you have in life. It is very helpful in making small changes that can lead to an enormous change in time.
Mastering small moments and overcoming difficulties can help in securing you a peaceful retirement, health, and greater enjoyment overall. It is not just helpful, it is also very entertaining, so you won’t be bored reading it.
19) The Slight Edge: Turning Simple Disciplines into Massive Success and Happiness – Jeff Olson
The wisdom in this book will take you towards making better daily choices and consequently live a more fulfilled life that you will love. In the sea of self-help books, this one will help you to achieve concrete results by controlling your daily activities.
Reading it is like getting a key for unlocking all the locks to your success by digging deeper into the habits that are preventing you reach it. It is a guide that you can use to get to the place where you want by making changes to your lifestyle.
20) Making a Change for Good: A Guide to Compassionate Self-Discipline – Cheri Huber
What most people forget when trying to bring self-discipline to a new level and achieve success is compassion. This book can show you how to recognize your flaws, accept them and use compassionate self-discipline to achieve the goals you want in a gentle way.
Even if you were never interested in meditation, you should not worry. It is a guidance of a Zen teacher who will show you that the most important thing we can do for our own good is to be aware of this moment and be fully present in it.
It will reveal some of the ways we use to sabotage ourselves and simply feel content with the way we are. Only after we fully accept everything we are, we can start changing genuinely.
21) Stop Procrastinating: A Simple Guide to Hacking Laziness, Building Self Discipline, and Overcoming Procrastination – Nils Salzgeber
Procrastination steals hours and years from a person who is unable to fight it and get to the point immediately. If this is your problem too, reading this book can help you to deal with the laziness that is preventing you from finishing your obligations.
However, that is not all. Every procrastinator will tell you that there is one bigger problem than laziness – guilt. Every procrastinator feels guilty because of being late or losing so much time while losing some more on contemplating those mistakes.
It is a vicious circle, and this book offers enormous help to combat this once and for all. You will be able to read about the tricks that will help you to build some better habits.
It is practical and very useful because there are numerous tips that you can instantly apply in your life and make it easier.
22) Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity – David Allen
This book is now needed more than ever because, with so many things to do, it is no wonder so many people fall behind on the productivity front. This book will help you get organized, and it will give you the necessary clarity that nothing can be done without.
By reading it and implementing it into your life, you will slowly start realizing that the information can start flowing again because there will be no piles of papers in front of you or projects that are constantly waiting for you.
Not only will you be able to organize your life better, but you will also realize that efficiency will help you get rid of the frustration.
23) The Compound Effect – Darren Hardy
If you are constantly thinking about achieving success, but you are somehow unable to reach it, this book is for you. It will help you understand which habits are bad for you and what you can do to change them.
You will realize just how important it is to have small habits and the power that their effect has on your overall life. Keep in mind that you can and should use it as a guide over the course of time before you notice the changes.
Applying the tips will surely be a great push in the right direction that will help you change your life for the better. It will motivate you and help you take the necessary steps in the right direction.
24) Mindset: The New Psychology of Success – Carol S. Dweck
This book will open the door for every person interested in self-development towards the concept of mindset. There are two kinds of people in this world: the ones with the fixed mindset and the ones with the growth mindset.
The latter group is much more successful in life because they are not afraid to work on their skills and transform their lives. It is certainly necessary if you want to get better as a parent, a teacher, a businessman, or simply a person ready to embrace the change and foster it in others.
It is very optimistic, and it will give you practical advice on challenging your beliefs which will lead to a change. It will open your mind and give you another perspective, especially if you feel stuck in repeating the same mistakes all the time.
It can be a great motivation when you start believing that you cannot grow anymore and that you are now simply the way you are. It offers numerous examples that will help you understand better just how powerful the change of mindset can be and what kind of an impact it can have on anyone’s life.
25) The Now Habit: A Strategic Program for Overcoming Procrastination and Enjoying Guilt-Free Play – Neil Fiore
This book offers a plan to every person out there who struggles with procrastination every single day. It can help you enjoy your life without feeling guilty all the time.
You will surely get a push you need to finally finish the work that is waiting for you and skyrocketing your stress levels for a long time, write those emails, exercise when you need to, understand what you need to do to live your dream life, and make it amazing!
Of course, it is not a magic stick, you will need to apply the tips, but what is the most important – you will feel motivated to do it, which is incredible.
It has helped many procrastinators so far to tackle the loss of time and use the simple tips for getting the time under control and finishing the pending tasks that you could not finish before.
It will help you to understand the underlying mechanism that is the true cause for avoiding the tasks that are waiting for you and causing anxiety.
Final thoughts
Reading all these books will surely help you get a new insight and learn something new that you couldn’t figure out before. It is important to keep in mind that no matter what you read, if you don’t implement it in your life and make some effort, you won’t be able to see the changes you want.
Take one step at a time, and each effort you make will surely help you to notice after a while that you’ve made a huge leap into a more successful part of your life. There is always something that we can do, and picking one book now is a great step in that direction!
