Buying gifts for some people can be tough. And what about those people that are always trying to improve themselves and make positive changes in their lives? As a self-confessed self-improvement junkie, I can say that I am a little bit picky when it comes time to tell people what I’d like for my birthday or Christmas. Surely it’s only a good thing when you know what you want.
What’s the purpose of self-improvement?
The purpose of self-improvement is to enhance your personal growth and development by identifying and working on areas that require improvement. Areas like personal growth, emotional intelligence, physical health, professional development and financial management.
Taking deliberate steps towards a better life and becoming a better version of yourself by setting goals, acquiring new skills, and changing behaviours to create good habits that are hindering personal progress.
Working on your self-improvement can have many benefits, like increasing your self-awareness, boosting your self-esteem and confidence, improving your relationships with others, enhancing your career prospects, and increasing your overall well-being.
Let’s start with the books, shall we? It’s hard to pair down to only a few books that will help you improve your life. While I’ve read dozens of self-help books, some are great and some are just so-so. But I’ve picked the top four self-improvement books that seemed to have an impact on me
Big Magic
Big Magic for me is one of those books that I think should be read every year. I will admit though, I 100% cheat by listening to the audiobook. But I find when audiobooks are read by the author they are so much more impactful. And Big Magic is no exception. The other beauty of this book is that it’s pretty short. The audiobook is only 5 hours long. And the actual book is only 288 pages.
While it’s not quite life-changing magic, it’s full of inspiration, empowerment and the external forces that shape our lives.
Think And Grow Rich
Any non-fiction book that’s still quite popular 80+ years after it was first published is worth a read. It just goes to show that sometimes the latest books aren’t the only way to gain new insight
I know my father-in-law attributes his business success in his own life to the profound impact of this very book. And it took my husband a while to chase it down in a bookstore before buying online was a thing. Our copy has gone missing a few times but it’s always worth reading over and over.
How to Win Friends and Influence People
You may have already read How to Win Friends and Influence People, but it’s something you should definitely read again. You could also refresh your memory regarding the traits of a good friend.
A treasure trove of tips and best practices written by one of the best self-help gurus, Dale Carnegie. You’ll learn:
- Six ways to make people like you
- Twelve ways to win people to your way of thinking
- Nine ways to change people without arousing resentment
Girl, Wash Your Face
Rachael Hollis has copped quite a bit of flack for various things lately. But the main thing I managed to take away from this book is confirmation. Confirmation that some of the feelings I had, other people (mums) also had too. I felt like Rachel Hollis was able to put my thoughts and feelings into coherent sentences.
Rachel exposes the 20 lies and misconceptions that too often hold us back from living joyfully and productively, lies we’ve told ourselves so often we don’t even notice them anymore.
Kindle
I used to carry a book with me pretty much everywhere I went. Sometimes I’d be on a train for 2+ hours a day. On other days, my doctor would be running behind and I’d have to wait for my appointments. And I’d almost always read on my lunch break. So having an eReader is so handy. Why not team the gift of a Kindle with Kindle Unlimited Membership Plans?
I like to consider ebooks as one of my favourite life hacks. You can carry one almost anywhere you go, even on your phone if need be. And books are the easiest self-help material that a lot of people have access to.
Gratitude Journal
You might roll your eyes at the idea of a gratitude journal. It’s not a new idea. But gratitude actually encourages us to make progress towards our goals. Think of it as small steps to becoming a happier person.
There is just something about focusing on the good things in life that just makes you more aware of everything around you. You notice the beautiful things in your surroundings, increase your positive thinking and get a deep sense of gratitude. You’ll also see an improvement in your mental health.
Bean Bag
With all of that reading and journaling, you’ll need somewhere really comfortable to sit. Sink into something cozy to read the day away. This satisfying bean bag has no limits when it comes to reading positions, the foam adjusts easily preventing lumpy spots.
Standing Desk
We could all use a little more fitness in our life, right? Although I’m not quite sure I’d call a standing desk fitness. But I guess I would hit my stand goal on my Apple watch more easily. The great thing about this desk is that it can convert any flat surface into a standing desk!
Water Bottle
Anyone who is on their personal development journey is probably already drinking enough water per day. And there are a few ways to determine how much water you need. Some follow the one ounce per pound of body weight formula. Others go by the rule of 2 litres per day. And then there are what I call crazy people, that go for 4 litres per day.
Motivational Tshirt
Keep that motivation going with a motivational t-shirt. Spread your inspirational message everywhere you go when you wear this super soft cotton t-shirt.
Subsciption Box
You can find a subscription box for almost any interest. And self-improvement is no exception. Crate Joy already did some testing for you and has ranked their top 10 personal growth subscription boxes. But my pick of the bunch is the Passion and Growth box. They deliver positivity, inspiration, self-love and encouragement to you each month. Even the self-help skeptic can develop new habits and see real results with tremendous growth with a suitable subscription box.
Subscription
If a subscription box is not their thing, maybe a subscription is?
- Skillshare has thousands of classes to help you discover new skills and hone your existing ones
- Lumosity is a brain training app created by scientists and game designers to challenge your brain
- Calm is a sleep, meditation and relaxation app. The sleep story, Blue Gold read by Stephen Fry is my favourite
- Personal Training sessions can be the perfect complimentary gift for those that already have a gym membership
Oracle Cards
This one might come across as a bit hippie but bear with me. Tap into your intuition and let these cards guide you through your days. Use these cards to help you unlock your inner wisdom and get to know yourself on a deeper level or become more self-aware and aid decision-making.
Private Lessons or Coaching
One-on-one mentoring can become expensive. Especially when you need to commit to a certain number of sessions. So why not buy a session or two for your loved one? There are private lessons and coaching for almost any interest!
- piano or guitar
- yoga or pilates
- life coaches
- health coach
- business coach
Recommend a Podcast
And finally, sometimes the little things can make the biggest difference. This is the gift that costs absolutely nothing, apart from a tiny little bit of your time. The gift of a podcast. If you listen to a podcast that you absolutely love, don’t be afraid to recommend it to someone. Or if you don’t know where to start, check out these 7 Self Improvement Podcasts You Need To Listen To.
Now you have a stack of ideas to gift your self-help junkie friend. You’ll not only get them something they’ll like and use, but you’re also helping them become a better person too.
