Letting go of habits that hold you back is not easy. Building the right ones is just as challenging.

Having said that, doing both, one habit in and one habit out, building the right routines can help you achieve the way of life you want.

But sometimes we need instructions.

So, I’d like to share my top 5 habit-building books that have helped me take action, and optimise my life.

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The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

This book is about: How habits work as a loop of cue, routine and reward in our brain. We cannot erase habits completely, but we can replace them by keeping the same cue and reward while changing the routine in between.

How I used it: This book helped me understand the nature of habits that cannot be decluttered like things at home, but can come back and settle again. It explained why I do what I do. The book has been my tool to stay aware of my daily habits.
It is also helpful to form healthy self talk. Is it a serving habit or not, and what can I do about it right now.

Getting Things Done by David Allen

This book is about: A simple system to get tasks out of your head and organise them. The book shows how to process what needs to be done. Capture → Clarify → Organise → Review: so your mind is clear to focus on what matters without worrying about forgetting other tasks.

What helped: I used to keep myself busy for no reason, but this book helped me get my productivity system up and running.
It guided me on what needed to be done and how to approach things even in the mess. The process of looking at tasks was eye-opening, and this was the start of my practical minimalism.

My minimalism hasn’t started from minimalist books.

Deep Work by Cal Newport

This book is about: How to focus on important tasks without distraction in our almost inescapable, fast-paced, distracting environment. It explains how to train yourself to focus deeply and create the right environment to support this focused work.

How I used it: This book helped me notice when I’m actually getting into “the zone” and the importance of maintaining momentum.

Realising when I was doing deep work (and when I wasn’t) allowed me to narrow down what I really want to do in my life. I learned a lot about how to actually utilise the deep work moment.

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

This book is about: The resistance of doing the things that actually matter, something we’re passionate about. It shows how fear, procrastination, and self-doubt are all forms of this resistance, and how we overcome by just showing up and doing the work.

What helped: The book is a letter to the author’s friend, but it resonated with me when I was hit by creative blocks. The fear turned into procrastination, and became an habit. The book helped me get out of that loop.

It’s compassionate, especially for those who tend to be critical of their work and too hard on themselves like me.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

This book is about: Seven principles for effectiveness, from being proactive and setting goals to seeking winning outcomes and continuous growth. The author focuses on character change, not quick fixes, building from personal independence to working well with others.

How I used it: It helped me review my habit loops to ensure they were meaningful, not just another circle. I was able to adjust my habit, ensuring the new habit was actually serving my life.

The book is especially helpful after making some sort of foundation for your habits, as it’s useful for reviewing and improving them.

How I Let Go and Build Habits

I’d love to invite you to a video about how I let go of old habits and build new ones, a step-by-step visual guide.