What do you do when you’re feeling down and unmotivated? How do you regain your spark when it starts to dwindle?
As goal-getters and big dreamers, it’s only natural to feel unmotivated and experience a funk from time-to-time. Whether you’re burnt out, in need of a big change, feeling tired, or are unmotivated for other reasons, we all experience these phases now and again.
When I’m searching for motivation and need a quick reset, I reach for a self-help or inspirational book. Here are seven books to read to help you get your motivation back.
Hello, Fears by Michelle Poler
Hello, Fears is a self-help book written by the founder of the Hello Fears movement, keynote speaker, brand strategist, and fear facer, Michelle Poler. The book is a collection of personal experiences, practical advice, and tools readers need to tap into their full potential and crush their comfort zones. Loaded with humor, confidence, and bravery, Michelle strives to inspire her readers to face their deepest fears and live life unapologetically, on their terms.
If you’re anything like me, you’re no stranger to fear holding you back from achieving your dreams (Enneagram 6 here). I lean on this book when I’m feeling unmotivated as a reminder that I can overcome my fears and don’t have to be held back by my fears or stuck in my comfort zone unless I choose to be.
Own Your Everyday by Jordan Lee Dooley
Own Your Everyday is a Christian-based, self-help book written by national bestselling author, podcaster, keynote speaker, and educator, Jordan Lee Dooley. Rooted in living a purpose-driven life, Jordan offers readers lessons from her own experiences, practical tools, and inspirational words for finding one’s true purpose.
If you’re struggling to feel motivated because you’re striving to fulfill others’ expectations and are worried about what they might think, or aren’t sure what your purpose is, this book is for you. This book will help you overcome those obstacles and find the motivation to keep pushing forward even if you’re uncertain about your path.
Brave, Not Perfect by Reshma Saujani
Brave, Not Perfect is a self-help book written by multi-award-winning Founder and CEO of Girls Who Code and New York Times bestselling author, Reshma Saujani. Reshma is passionate about helping young girls and women live bolder lives and empowers readers to seek and rewire their brains to choose bravery over perfection. She advocates for embracing failure and living life imperfectly, without fear of being reprimanded for being imperfect. This book offers an understanding of why women struggle with perfection beginning at a young age, Reshma’s experiences overcoming perfection, and tips for living braver.
If you’re feeling unmotivated because you’re struggling with perfection, or feel like you aren’t ready yet, add this book to your list.
When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing by Daniel H. Pink
When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing is a self-help book by New York Times bestselling author Daniel H. Pink. Backed by research in psychology and biology, this book is known for unlocking the scientific secrets of perfect timing, and how to utilize time to flourish in all areas of one’s life.
The cutting-edge research presented in this book can be motivating enough in and of itself. But the reason you should consider reading this book when you’re feeling unmotivated is that you may need to shift how and when you’re using your time to better capitalize on feelings of motivation and drive.
You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life by Jen Sincero
You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life is a self-help book by New York Times bestselling author and success coach, Jen Sincero. This book is an easy read packed full of humor, inspiration, and life-changing advice with a big motivational boost.
This was one of the first self-help books I ever read, and simply stating that it helped me change my life for the better is an understatement. I read this book during a time when I was needing to get out of a job that was sucking the life out of me. You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life gave me the strength and courage I needed to make the change. I never hesitate to refer back to this book. Consider Jen Sincero to be the motivational BFF that sits on your shoulder and cheers you on when you need it most.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is a self-help book by Stephen R. Covey. Stephen Covey has inspired change through this book for over 30 years. A well-known classic, this book offers valuable insight and tactical advice for building life-changing habits.
Every time I revisit this book, I learn something new. No matter how times you’ve read it, or read it in the future, nuggets of wisdom continue to seep through the pages and offer new knowledge to the reader. If you’re feeling unmotivated and need a new starting place, pick this book up, grab a notebook and pen, and soak in as much wisdom as you can from Stephen Covey.
How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie
How to Stop Worrying and Start Living is a self-help book by Dale Carnegie. Although it was published over 70 years ago, this book is packed full of timeless advice on releasing and eliminating worries and fears. Carnegie presents real-world examples and solutions for overcoming worries, making it applicable to all readers.
When I’m feeling unmotivated, I’ve found that most of the time, it’s due to underlying fears such as feeling worried, uncertain, unhappy, or unfulfilled. What I love most about this book is that it not only offers advice for conquering worries, it offers ways to build resilience and challenges readers to focus on the present moment.
