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GOOD READ: Top 5 resolutions - and how to stick to them

The confetti has all been cleaned up and the champagne bottles have been returned for deposits.

The confetti has all been cleaned up and the champagne bottles have been returned for deposits.

So what's next? Sticking to your New Year's resolution?

According to the Huffington Post, you probably made one and your resolution might be on their Top 5 List. If you need encouragement to stay on track, you can find plenty of stick-to-it inspiration at your local library. Check out these books to help you get the best out of 2012:

#1: GET IN SHAPE

Strength for Life: The Fitness Plan for the Rest of Your Life by Shawn Phillips

We all know that this is a tricky one. With the demands of family, work and life in general, many of us simply don't have the time to stick to a rigourous workout schedule. This book offers a results-oriented program that you can follow with your hectic schedule and do either at home or at the gym. It will give you the tools to be stronger, have more energy and maintain a healthy new lifestyle. The author writes: "Strength is about being more, doing more, giving more. It's not just surviving; it's thriving. And most important, strength is about having a reserve, a deeper, fuller capacity of body, mind, heart, and soul."

While you're at it, check out library collections of exercise DVDs, too.

#2: EAT RIGHT

Healthy Starts Here: 140 Recipes That Will Make You Feel Great by Mairlyn Smith

Smith, co-author of the bestsellingUltimate Foods for Ultimate Health, delivers a new book full of fabulous recipes and healthy advice. Smith is a professional home economist and an alumnus of the Second City Comedy Troupe who knows that improving your diet is a serious goal but it can also be fun to achieve. Written with a light and humourous approach, this book will teach you to make better nutritional choices from the grocery aisle to your dinner table. Beautiful photos and easy-to-follow recipes will also appeal to the foodie in you.

#3: SAVE MONEY

397 Ways to Save Money: Spend Smarter & Live Well on Less by Kerry Taylor

This book will help you find the hidden savings potential in your day-to-day routines. It offers useful tips and tricks on gaining the upper hand on your immediate spending. Plus it looks at budgeting and planning for the longer term. This cleverly written guide shows readers that you don't need to be a financial planner to manage your money like one. Money-saving opportunities can be found in every room in your home and this book can show you exactly where to look.

#4: QUIT SMOKING

The Easy Way to Stop Smoking by Allen Carr

Allen Carr was a chain-smoker for more than 30 years. After many failed attempts to quit, he developed a groundbreaking method to stop smoking. Today, his technique is taught in more than 150 cities and his books have topped bestseller lists in nine countries. Carr's system has the highest success rate of any clinically evaluated method. Some 10 million smokers have quit using his simple, drug-free approach. Why not join the ranks of these successful quitters?

#5: VOLUNTEER

Live Generously: 50 Small Acts That Make A Big Difference by The Live Generously Project

This small but powerful guide will inspire you to make a difference by living a more generous life. In 2004, an online community with about a hundred members called A Year of Living Generously began in the United Kingdom. The community has been spreading over the past eight years and now has more than 3,500 people performing more than 11,300 generous acts. The Live Generously Project has become a movement for positive change. You can be part of that change by participating in one or more of the 50 ways described in this book.

These are just a few of the titles available to help you make a fresh start in 2012. Speak with library staff members, I know we can find something to inspire you.

A Good Read is a column by Tri-City librarians that is published every Wednesday. Leanne Harvey works at Port Moody Public Library.