This is the month that many of us vow to quit smoking, get a better job, shed excess pounds and unhappy relationships and become a better person.
“We all think we can change our lives overnight, and when we can’t, we give up,” says Po Bronson, author of “What Should I Do With My Life?” Another mistake people make is setting resolutions that are negative, says Lucy Danziger, editor in chief of Self magazine. That’s why she says some 25 percent of all resolutions are broken in the first three weeks.
Want more advice? All you need to do is go to your nearest bookstore or newsstand. This is the time of year when the shelves are groaning with publications telling you what you need to know to get rid of those annoying habits–or annoying lovers–and find the path to happiness.
Diet and fitness books such as “The South Beach Diet” and “Dr. Atkins’ New Diet Revolution” are best sellers in January, says Sue Tierney, community relations director for Barnes & Noble in Atlanta, but other self-improvement books are doing well too.
“We’re selling a lot of ‘Career Warfare’ by David F.D’Alessandro and ‘The Art of Happiness at Work’ by the Dalai Lama. On the fitness side, books about Pilates and yoga are still strong,” Tierney said.
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Edited by Cara DiPasquale (cdipasquale@tribune.com) and Victoria Rodriguez (vrodriguez@tribune.com)
