The New Year and You

Habits:

Our habits are a great place to start, whether it is a matter of breaking an old habit or instilling a new one, understanding how it is we become habituated to anything can help us to make lasting changes in our lives. A good place to start in thinking about how we form our habits is James Clear’s Atomic Habits. Clear explains why habit formation takes time, and we can’t change everything all at once, but one good habit may lead to another good habit and these small changes add up in time.  

Also available as an eBook (Libby), eAudiobook (BorrowBox), eBook (BorrowBox).

Fitness:

One of the classic new year’s resolutions has to do with fitness.  

There are plenty of books in our collection that will help you formulate a fitness plan, whether it’s building strength, cardio fitness, flexibility or endurance. As many trainers will tell you, the best fitness plan is the one you can stick to. One way you might approach this is by starting with a walk. The most approachable form of exercise, it is also a natural form of exercise. It’s our sedentary jobs that are unusual in the historical record. Streets takes the reader through different prompts for a walk (how to prepare for a walk in the rain so the wet won’t deter you; the surprising benefits of walking backwards) and encourages the reader to get outside. It’s a great, ahem, first step for those who are intimidated by the gym. 

The idea of getting fit can seem especially intimidating if you’re starting later in life. Joan Macdonald’s Flex Your Age could help you get over the fear in order to start working on fitness as part of a well-rounded life. Developing strength and fitness allows you to get more out of every day.  

52 ways to walk : the surprising science of walking for wellness and joy, one week at a time by Annabel Streets

Also available as an eBook (Libby).

Our choice of location, time, direction, duration, walking companion and gait, as well as the weather we opt to walk in, can transform our daily stroll. Here, Annabel Streets shares the thrill of 52 different ways to walk, explaining the latest science behind each one, and providing practical tips for making the most of your daily steps. 52 Ways to Walk is a revelatory and informative handbook for anyone stuck in a walking rut, curious about the lesser-known benefits of walking or merely in need of some on-foot novelty and adventure.

Flex your age: defy stereotypes and reclaim empowerment by Joan MacDonald

Part self-help book and part memoir, this guide demonstrates how to embrace change and learn what you're capable of at any age through motivation techniques, fitness and nutrition fundamentals, and how to find and contribute to a community of support.

Health:

Amid the celebrations of Christmas and new year it’s easy to let the idea of healthy eating go out the window; it’s also easy for your budget to get blown to bits. The new year might be a good time to reset your relationship with food, alcohol and eating out.  

The traditional Mediterranean diet is one that nutritionists come back to again and again, and nutritionist Sarah Di Lorenzo’s recent book My Mediterranean Life has plenty of recipes and suggestions for getting started on a healthier pattern for eating in the new year.  

Hobbies:

Perhaps it is not yourself that you feel needs work, but rather how you spend your time. We often have lists of things we’d like to get around to in time, and the new year can be a great time to declare this is the year to make it happen.

The library is full of books that can help you start a new hobby, whether it’s sewing, knitting, visible mending, drawing, woodworking, coding, baking, or some other creative pursuit, there are books from basic instructions through to advanced projects to help you develop new skills.   

Knit a hat: a beginner's guide to knitting by Alanna Okun

Knitting is an excellent handcraft and something people love the world over. For crafting newbies, knitting can seem highly daunting: you need needles (but what size?), yarn (but what weight?), and a pattern (but what kind?), and very quickly knitting can start to resemble another language, tricky to navigate and even harder to master. Knit a Hat teaches you everything you need to know about the previously scary craft: the needles you’ll need, the yarn to use, and tried-and-true techniques to get you started, keep you going, and help you wrap everything up!

Sew step by step: how to use your sewing machine to make, mend, and customize by Alison Smith

Make, mend, and customize your own wardrobe with this highly photographic beginner's guide to machine sewing, featuring more than 200 step-by-step techniques. If you've never used a sewing machine before, or if you want to refresh your skills, Sew Step by Step will give you the essentials. Taking you through the basics, including the features of a sewing machine and the qualities of different fabrics, this simple handbook will soon have you making and mending your own clothes and home furnishings!

Visible mending: repair, renew, reuse the clothes you love by Arounna Khounnoraj

Also available as an eBook (Libby)

Covering 12 core techniques, 10 key stitches and 3 projects, explore why we should mend and how to mend a variety of different fabrics using this book. Demystifying the mending techniques through a directory of stitches and clear step-by-steps, from repairing to reusing and renewing the clothes you love – stitch over tears, dye stains and celebrate a more sustainable life!

Woodworking: the complete step-by-step manual Alan Bridgewater

Hone your carpentry skills and embark on ambitious projects with this essential guide. Discover the best tools to work with, and master key techniques, from choosing and cutting joints to finishing and furniture restoration. With more than 25 projects for every skill level, Woodworking has everything you need to succeed in this timeless craft.

Beginning programming with Python by John Mueller

Create simple, easy programs in the popular Python language. Beginning Programming with Python For Dummies is the trusted way to learn the foundations of programming using the Python programming language. Python is one of the top-ranked languages, and there's no better way to get started in computer programming than this friendly guide. You'll learn the basics of coding and the process of creating simple, fun programs right away!

Seeing the World:

Have a bucket list for the trips you’ve never made? Remember that your library has many travel guides to help you plan out your trip. Never gotten around to making the bucket list? There are plenty of books to help with that too! Not even sure where to start? Why not check out The Travel Book: A Journey Through Every Country in the World, with its photos and maps to help you dream your own Grand Tour.  

Reading More! 

Maybe your new year’s resolution is simply to spend a bit more time with books instead of screens. Check out our Book Express, displays of new books or ask a staff member if you want some guidance finding your next great read!