Looking for the next big way to improve your life? so are millions of others. There’s a huge market for self-help books, and some of them make big promises: to help you be more successful, more confident, and more assertive.
but do they work? And how can you get the most out of self-help books? Is changing your life really as easy as reading a book? maybe, if you learn to do it right. self-help books can be a powerful tool when used correctly. they are cheaper than therapy and can be just as effective. you can progress on your own time, and most people find this more comfortable than seeking professional help.
You are reading: Do self help books work
Knowing when, how, and why to benefit from self-help books will help you avoid the pitfalls of fads and bogus gurus, and make the most of your time and money. In this article, we’ll break down the ins and outs of self-help books, to help you reach your full potential on your own time and without breaking the bank.
who can benefit from self-help books?
everyone can benefit from self-help books, but not necessarily in all situations. According to a review of the scientific literature, self-help books are more effective in helping us learn new life skills, such as assertiveness, problem solving, and even cleaning.
This is good news for everyone, as we can all benefit from learning new skills to help us navigate our lives. nobody is perfect and we all have areas in which we would like to improve. If you’re like most people, you’ve sometimes wished you could be more patient or more outgoing, more resilient or less concerned about what other people think. maybe you’re just looking for ways to be happier. these are the kind of skills where self-help books can be really helpful.
Could self-help books be bad for you?
The same study showed that self-help books are effective in treating anxiety and depression, but less so in other areas, such as alcoholism and schizophrenia. Self-help books can help you feel more empowered and in control of your life, but in some cases they should be used with professional guidance.
if you suffer from depression, anxiety or any other clinical disorder, consult a doctor, psychologist or therapist to know the best course of action to follow. If you have persistent feelings of low mood, low self-esteem, loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy, and/or general feelings of anxiety or fear, lasting more than two weeks, seek professional help. You can improve your life with professional intervention, which may include the use of self-help books.
The remainder of this article will focus on using self-help books to improve aspects of your life in a non-clinical setting.
How can you benefit from self-help books?
In the last decade, self-improvement has grown into a $10 billion industry in the United States alone. more and more, people are taking their own well-being and happiness into their own hands. at the same time, we are more wary of self-help scams and self-proclaimed gurus. There are thousands of self-help books, so how do you choose the right one for you? And how can you separate the good from the bad?
find the right self-help book for you
As with other self-improvement practices, such as journaling for self-improvement, it begins with identifying your goals. An easy way to do this is to make a list, starting with the sentence “I want to learn to be more/less/better at ___________”. think about the different ways in your life that you would like to improve. When I made a similar list, here are some of the things I included:
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I want to learn to be:
- more patient with my colleagues;
- better with money;
- less messy at home;
- best for leaving work when on vacation or with friends and family.
These are all learning objectives that can benefit from self-help books. Your next step is to find the right self-help book for your goal. a quick internet search can usually turn up several books. for example, if you google “patience self-help book”, you can find a series of books that will help you to be a more patient person, among them:
- The Power of Patience: How to Slow Down and Enjoy More Happiness, Success, and Peace of Mind Every Day
- How to Be More Patient: An Essential Guide to Replacing Impatience with Patience
- patience: the art of living in peace
You can read reviews on amazon, see how other people have rated the books, read a summary, and choose which book will work best for you.
How to make the most of reading self-help books
Now that you’ve found a self-help book that you think you could benefit from, it’s time to dive in! self-help books are a lot like relationships: you get what you put in. Reading for self-improvement doesn’t have to be boring or tedious, but it is something you should take seriously. There are some general guidelines to help you get the most out of your self-help book.
1. read the book carefully and with intent
Unless the author specifically states otherwise, take the time to read the book cover to cover. you never know what you may miss out on otherwise. make sure you are in an environment that supports self-improvement. It can be inside or outside, at home or in a library or coffee shop, but it should be a relatively quiet place, free from distractions, and one that allows you to read your self-help book with intent and purpose. avoid things like reading at work, reading with the TV on, and reading when you’re short on time.
if you only have 15 minutes to read, it’s probably best to wait until you have a little more time and can really focus on what you’re reading without feeling rushed.
2. be open to suggestions
You may not agree with everything you read, but you have chosen this book for a reason. try to keep in mind that your own ideas on a given topic may not include all of the latest research or may be influenced by your own experiences.
try to stay open while reading. if you find something strange or questionable, just write it down to come back to later. you may find that as the book progresses and you begin to put things into practice, it ends up being true. in any case, don’t go in with a closed mind, or you may miss out on some life-changing tips.
3. take notes, make plans and put them into action
Almost every self-help book out there will have practical advice: things you can actually do that will make a difference in your life. we really believe in this principle. in fact, that’s what the happy blog and happiness tracker is all about. that’s why almost all of our articles include lots of practical tips that you can put into practice. It’s the same with self-help books. Any self-help book that claims it can change your life without giving you real world examples or exercises to do or activities to practice is probably not worth your time.
With that in mind, we recommend taking notes from the book, making an action plan based on the practical exercises given, and then putting them into practice.
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Just about every self-help book out there will agree: If you don’t put in the effort, you won’t get results.
4. diary about your progress
happiness tracking is about tracking your everyday life and finding out what works best for you. is another principle in which we firmly believe. it’s also what will allow you to get the most out of self-help books.
As you begin to integrate the book’s advice into your daily life, you’ll want to record the experience. write down any thoughts or feelings you had at the time (including doubt or dismay), if you were successful, and why or why not. the act of writing these experiences down will help you understand them better, spot patterns that might be areas for improvement (or accomplishments worth celebrating!), and by tracking your happiness, you can see what kind of impact it’s having on your life and your well-being.
5. enjoy the ride
Self-improvement takes a long time. You can read several self-help books before reaping significant benefits, taking insightful information, helpful exercises, and useful tips from several of them. be patient and recognize that change takes time. as best you can, try to enjoy the process. celebrate your victories and focus on correcting negative behaviors without demonizing them or yourself.
Remember, there’s a reason the self-help industry is worth over $10 billion in the United States alone: Everyone wants to be better at something, and you’re definitely not alone. accept your flaws as normal and natural, and then focus on trying to enjoy the process of self-improvement. You can find great comfort in taking control of an aspect of your life that previously frustrated you. at the same time, be patient and understanding with yourself.
just trying to improve is already a big step in the right direction; allow yourself to be proud of that step, and then keep taking it.
Do self-help books really work?
Self-help books can be a valuable resource on your path to happiness. we all have areas of our lives in which we would like to improve, skills that we would like to learn, behaviors that we would like to integrate or stop. self-help books can be a good way to achieve these goals, as long as you do it correctly.
Take the time to find the right book or books for you and your goals. read with intent and open-mindedness. Take an active role in your self-improvement by taking notes, making plans, and putting them into action. keep track of your progress through a journal, in whatever way is easiest for you.
but above all, try to enjoy the process. self-improvement isn’t about misery, it’s about mastery. So is changing your life really as easy as reading a book? No. but it’s a great place to start.
Now I want to hear from you! Are you a fan of self-help books? Which ones have helped you the most? Did I miss something in this article? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!