Make Sure Your Self-Help Books Don’t Turn to “Shelf Help” Books
How to apply the lessons from the books you read.
Self-help books have long been popular for their personal transformation and improvement promises. However, the journey from reading such books to actualizing their lessons in real life is where many readers stumble.
For years, I read lots of great info from the passages of self-help books but didn’t advance any further from the lessons. It was only when I started to apply what I learned from the material that it began to take on new meaning and change my life.
The term “shelf help” is a witty nod to books purchased with the best intentions but end up merely sitting on a shelf. To ensure that your self-help books truly serve their purpose, bridging the gap between acquiring and applying knowledge is crucial and easier than you realize.
Here’s how you can turn insights from the pages into effective actions:
1. Choose the Right Books
Start by selecting self-help books that align closely with your current needs or challenges. A book relevant to your life’s context will naturally engage you more and feel applicable.
The first book that started my self-help journey was “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” by Robert Kiyosaki. This book made me want to go on a path to obtain wealth and read the other books that follow. Rich Dad was the right book for me because, at the time, I was looking for any change, and the ease of his writing hit me on the level I was used to.
I have since developed my taste for more difficult books, but if I had started with them, they wouldn't have penetrated my subconscious like Kiyosaki's book did.
Find the book that is right for you.
Reading reviews, checking ratings, and asking for recommendations can help you find books that have successfully helped others with similar issues.
2. Set Clear Goals
Before diving into a book, set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals regarding what you hope to gain from it. This could be as straightforward as improving your time management skills or as complex as changing your thinking patterns.
Having clear goals helps you focus on extracting actionable advice that directly impacts your objectives. When I wanted to read more books, it wasn't about getting page counts in but about becoming a reader.
Someone who became a person who often said, “I wish I read more,” to a person who now says, “I can't wait to read more.” Having the goal of becoming an avid reader took me from reading 10 books a year to reading 85 plus.
3. Take Notes and Highlight
As you read, actively take notes and highlight key points that resonate with your goals. This not only aids in retention but also makes it easier to review important concepts later.
Summarize chapters, jot down insights, and note possible actions correlating with your life.
The notes you take are essential to your understanding of the material. It is hard to remember the material and lessons from a book if you dont actively write notes. As the ancient Chinese saying goes, “The faintest ink is better than the sharpest memory.”
4. Reflect Regularly
Don’t just breeze through the book; pause regularly to reflect on the content. My suggestion would be to stop every 20 minutes and ask yourself how the material relates to your experiences and what changes it suggests that you can realistically implement.
Reflection turns passive reading into an active exploration of how the advice fits your context.
5. Create Action Plans
For every significant insight or lesson, draft a small action plan. This plan should include what you intend to change or implement, steps to take, resources required, and a timeline. For instance, if a book suggests waking up earlier to enhance productivity, set your alarm 10 minutes earlier each week until you reach your desired wake-up time.
I must emphasize that this step should be as simple as possible, as any difficulty with the implementation initially might cause friction, and with friction, it is easy to give up.
6. Discuss with Others
Sharing your learnings with friends, family, or book clubs can further clarify your understanding.
Discussion often opens up different perspectives and can provide motivation. Moreover, verbalizing your insights helps reinforce your commitment to them. They say you never truly understand a subject until you can teach it to someone else.
7. Apply Gradually
Introduce changes gradually rather than overhauling your life overnight. This lesson was my downfall with my initial attempts at reading self-help books.
If there were 10 steps to success, I would try to apply them all in one day. It took me a long time to realize that was counterproductive. The incremental approach increases your chances of forming lasting habits — and habits are the building blocks to success.
Each small success builds confidence and demonstrates the practical value of the book’s lessons.
8. Track Your Progress
Keep a journal or log to track your progress towards the goals you set about the book’s teachings. Note successes and setbacks. Tracking provides a clear picture of your journey and motivates you by showing how far you’ve come.
9. Stay Flexible
Be prepared to adapt the advice to suit your unique circumstances. Not all advice will work perfectly for every person, and flexibility allows you to tailor the guidance to fit your needs better. Don’t be afraid to discard what doesn’t work for you.
10. Revisit and Revise
After you’ve implemented changes, revisit the book and your notes. Sometimes, a second reading reveals new insights or reinforces those slowly slipping.
As your situation changes, the relevance of different pieces of advice may change as well. Revisiting is a key aspect to solidifying what you have learned.
Final Thoughts
Turning self-help reading into self-help action is about more than just willpower; it’s about strategy, intentionality, and persistence. By following these steps, you can avoid the trap of “shelf help” and genuinely enhance your personal and professional life with the wisdom you acquire from books.
Happy reading
P.S. — I help people who want to read more books establish a *S.M.A.R.T — based reading habit by reading 1 page a day. Check it out here:
