I Learned The Secrets of Consistency From These 4 Books

Best reads to build a bulletproof mindset.

I’m not the best or the hardest-working writer out there. 

But if there’s one area no one can beat me at, it’s this — I won’t ever give up.

I’ve been publishing online since 2014, and consistency is my biggest superpower. Because of my consistent publishing, I’ve now built a business for myself that allows me to — 

• Set my rates and attract high-paying gigs
• Work on my terms and take vacations as and when needed
• Build meaningful projects that give me a sense of fulfilment.

In the decade of online writing, I’ve never once relied on motivation. Rather, I’ve built systems for myself that help me conquer the rough patches and low self-esteem days.

“Of course motivation is not permanent. But then, neither is bathing; but it is something you should do on a regular basis.” ― Zig Ziglar, Raising Positive Kids in a Negative World

Consistency — it’s a trait that separates the dreamers from the doers, the talkers from the walkers. 

If you’re tired of starting strong and procrastinating on your important tasks I’ve got your back.

In this post, I’ve shortlisted four absolute best reads that will teach you to remain consistent and unstoppable. Let’s dive in!

1. Dopamine Detox by Thibaut Meurisse

Do you go to clean your room or do some other stuff when you know you have a pile of work to do? Eventually, you start procrastinating on your important tasks and get into the trap of self-sabotaging.

I can relate to this feeling to the core. Being a chronic procrastinator at some point, I used to get restless for no reason and couldn’t focus on my work at all. Even thinking about achieving my biggest goals didn’t excite me. I wanted to achieve all of that but couldn’t stay consistent. If you relate to this, you might need to understand dopamine detox.

Dopamine Detox by Thibaut Meurisse worked wonders for me in overcoming that state. Dopamine is a funny hormone I say. It’s released when you’re involved in highly stimulating activities such as video games, junk food, and social media. But the pleasure is short lived and you end up craving for more. It can lead to addictive behaviors, procrastination, and lack of motivation.

This book will help you with dopamine detox step by step. You’ll understand how to identify addictive behavior. With the practical tips mentioned in the book, I was able to replace dopamine-driven activities with more meaningful habits that include deep work.

The book also helps you reset your brain’s reward system by abstaining from activities that provide instant gratification. In my case, I’ve developed a habit of not using my mobile phone for the first two hours in the morning. This small habit of delayed gratification has changed my life and productivity levels.

If you want to break free from your addictive behavior and regain control of your life, consider adding Dopamine Detox to your reading list. This book will teach you the right way to set goals and equip you with tools, and techniques to build self-discipline.

My favorite quotes from Dopamine Detox by Thibaut Meurisse

“Social media notifications are a great example of how your brain is being hijacked. Whenever you see a notification, you anticipate the reward you’ll receive when clicking on it, which triggers the release of dopamine in your brain. However, this doesn’t make you happy or fulfill you — at least not for long.”

“Build the foundations for success one brick at a time. Build them strong so that they won’t collapse at the first obstacle or setback.”

2. The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy

Do you know why most people can’t maintain consistency over time? They expect big results in less time. When they don’t see favorable outcomes, they tend to lose hope and stop making efforts. 

What they should be doing, is focusing on their microhabits for long-term success. Success isn’t a result of big dramatic actions, but the accumulation of small choices we make every day. The same goes for failures as well. This is how the compound effect works.

If I have to suggest one book that can completely change your mindset about habit-building and success, it would be The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy. The compound effect applies to various areas of life, including personal development, relationships, finances, health, and career. The book shows how small habits, both positive and negative, can compound over time to either lead to success or failure.

The book stresses on the importance of taking personal responsibility, making small changes consistently, tracking progress, and staying committed to long-term goals. It emphasizes the role of mindset, attitude, and environment in shaping your success trajectory. There are many practical tips in the book to deal with procrastination, self-doubt, and other setbacks you might face.

The biggest lesson I learned from The Compound Effect is taking full ownership of my actions and choices. We can’t always blame the external circumstances without doing inner work. I’ve followed through the advice in the book to stay consistent and started tracking my progress. 

My favorite quotes from The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy

“Don’t wish it were easier; wish you were better.”

“You alone are responsible for what you do, don’t do, or how you respond to what’s done to you.”

“Small, Smart Choices + Consistency + Time = RADICAL DIFFERENCE”

3. Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin

Until a few years ago, I used to plan for everything. The hours of making to-do lists and chalking details workflows left me feeling too exhausted to actually do some work. 

This is a problem most of us can relate to. We can’t remain consistent because we focus more on planning and less on execution. I read so many self-help books I thought would somehow solve my inconsistency problem. Then I came across a wonderful book that talks about building a system in your life based on your tendencies. It’s called Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin.

All of us are unique and what works for you might not work for others. Keeping this in mind, the first step is to understand the “Four Tendencies” framework, which categorizes individuals based on how they respond to inner and outer expectations. These tendencies are  — 

• Upholder, 
• Questioner, 
• Obliger, and 
• Rebel

They play a significant role in how people form and maintain habits. Upholder responds positively to both inner and outer expectations. While a questioner will meet an expectation only if it makes sense to them. Obligers may find it difficult to form good habits because they meet outer expectations more easily than working on themselves. Rebels tend to resist every expectation or change the most.

The book also deals with the obstacles you might face in habit formation, such as perfectionism, procrastination, and self-sabotaging. I find this book interesting because of the personal anecdotes, case studies, and practical tips for building positive habits.

One of my key takeaways from the book is learning how to use scheduling to form positive habits. Scheduling tasks has made my life easier and helps me stay consistent. It makes me less anxious about daily tasks and time management. Scheduling can help you by restricting overwork as well as prioritizing the right tasks. Give this book a read if you want to master consistency and build strategies that work best for you.

My favorite quotes from Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin

“The desire to start something at the “right” time is usually just a justification for delay. In almost every case, the best time to start is now.”

“How we schedule our days is how we spend our lives.”

“I should pursue only those habits that would make me feel freer and stronger.”

4. Do It Scared by Ruth Soukup

Have you ever started something creative and left in between due to self-doubt and fear? If yes, then Do It Scared by Ruth Soukup can be an eye-opening book for you. One of the main reasons why consistency breaks is not believing in yourself. Some underlying fears or insecurities stop you from giving your hundred percent.

I’ve read many books hoping to discover the secret sauce to remain consistent. Do It Scared is the most unique and no-BS guide that not only helps you face your fears but use it as an opportunity to grow.

Fear often manifests as resistance to change, self-doubt, perfectionism, and the tendency to avoid discomfort. As mentioned in the book, there are seven different fear archetypes — Procrastinator, Rule Follower, People Pleaser, Outcast, Self-Doubter, Excuse Maker, and Pessimist. Identifying your dominant fears and understanding how they are holding you back can be a game changer for you. Do It Scared also tells you the positive traits of each fear archetype.

I realized it was my fear that didn’t allow me to publish my books. If I’d allowed fear and self-doubt to consume me, I’d have never published my books and lived my dream life. Overcoming self-doubt is not an easy journey. I’m still in the process of embracing my imperfections, learning from failure, and celebrating progress, rather than waiting for perfection before taking action.

For me, this book was nerve-wracking and challenged my belief system. It helped me identify core values, set clear priorities, create action plans, and cultivate a growth mindset. Also, I enjoyed taking the Do It Scared Fear Assessment on the author’s official website. You can try it too and understand your fear archetype better.

My favorite quotes from Do It Scared by Ruth Soukup

“Let your fear of regret be stronger than your fear of failure.”

“Make a point of practicing imperfect action — do one thing each day just to do it, not because it needs to be “right.”

“It’s okay to have your own opinion and for other people to disagree. Disagreement doesn’t mean they don’t like you.”

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