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    Here Are 19 Self Improvement Books To Try If Your Bookshelf Is Feeling Uninspired

    Turn over several new pages this year.

    Elizabeth Cotton
    by Elizabeth Cotton

    BuzzFeed Staff

    1. It can be challenging to find meaning in a chaotic world, but Fearne Cotton's Bigger Than Us helps to carve a path through all the noise.

    Ebury Press / Via amazon.co.uk

    It can be so difficult to focus our mind and feel at rest in the modern world. In this book, Fearne Cotton acts as a friend guiding us through the process of peeling back our layers of anxiety and the limitations we put upon ourselves, helping us release whatever is holding us back.

    Price: £9.50

    2. Happy focuses on just that, being happy, and how to find joy in our everyday lives.

    Orion Spring / Via amazon.co.uk

    In this book, the author Fearne Cotton opens up about her struggles with depression and explains why 'perfect' doesn't exist, and how we can let go of this pressure. Filled with advice, exercises, tips, and tricks, this book will shine a light on how we too can find our inner happiness.

    Price: £3.00

    3. Atomic Habits aims to transform your life by making miniscule changes everyday.

    Elizabeth Cotton / Via Buzzfeed

    I read this book recently and it has given me a completely new perspective on how to create habits that will actually last. It's filled with tips on how to make small alterations to our everyday life until we form habits that align with our future goals. For example, eating healthier, waking up earlier, or even reading more.

    Check out the things I'd buy to make the most of the book's advice!

    Price: £12.00

    4. We all have those moments where things go wrong, but How to Fail will help you rethink how you view failure.

    Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

    Rich in the stories of family, friendship, and anger from her own experiences, Elizabeth Day encourages you to learn from your failure and to keep trying. Failure does not shape us, it is how we respond to it that matters.

    Price: £7.16

    5. Adulting can feel like you have to constantly play catch-up alongside your peers, so give Am I There Yet? a read.

    Clarkson Potter Publishers / Via amazon.co.uk

    In a modern quest for meaning, these introspective illustrations act as a twenty-something's guide to being an adult. The author Mari Andrew shows you that you don't have to stick to the path of those who have come before you, and there is no shame in that.

    Price: £11.29

    6. Speaking of being in your twenties, The Defining Decade explains why it matters and how to make the most of being in them.

    Canongate Books / Via amazon.co.uk

    Dr. Meg Jay highlights how work, relationships, personality, social networks, and identity can shift constantly during this decade. So, if you're dealing with your first career, a post-university slump, or any other challenges that being in your twenties can bring, give this book a go.

    Price: £10.89

    7. Get to know yourself better with The Book of Myself.

    Hachette Books / Via amazon.co.uk

    The book is in the style of a do-it-yourself autobiography where you'll be asked 201 questions about yourself. It's the perfect opportunity to self reflect, and will give you something to look back on in years to come.

    Price: £10.19

    8. Start with Gratitude acts as a positive diary which only takes up to five minutes of your day.

    Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

    It will help to focus your mind on what you are grateful for on a day to day basis. It gives you different daily prompts to get you thinking in a mindset that will relieve any stress and put you at ease.

    Price: £6.95

    9. The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read (and Your Children Will Be Glad That You Did) looks at how to break free from negative cycles of parenting and understanding the art of communication.

    Penguin Life / Via amazon.co.uk

    Psychotherapist Philippa Perry guides you through the do's and don'ts of relationships and how we can have the best ones possible with our loved ones. It doesn't criticise us for making mistakes, instead the book offers a warm approach, understanding that we are all human and learn best through compassion.

    Price: £7.49

    10. Many self care books can feel like they aren't achievable in a regular lifestyle, so Self Care for the Real World is written for just that.

    Hutchinson / Via amazon.co.uk

    Nadia Narain and Katia Narain Phillips offer a uniquely practical and non-patronising gateway into the self care community. This book is filled with small, achievable steps that you can apply to your life no matter what stage you're at. 

    Price: £12.69

    11. We're all pretty much glued to our phone, but Why Social Media is Ruining Your Life tackles the endless pressures you face while consuming online content.

    Cassell / Via amazon.co.uk

    If you're in a cycle of constantly looking how to be 'perfect' and often compare yourself to others, this book helps to unpack the ways social media affects us. It also gives you tips on how to use social media in a more helpful way.

    Price: £7.99

    12. TikTok sensation Dr. Julie Smith reflects on her experience of being a clinical psychologist in Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?

    Michael Joseph / Via amazon.co.uk

    It's a therapist's toolkit on how you can optimise your mental health, deal with criticism, build your self confidence, and learn to forgive yourself. It tackles everyday issues and offers solutions that will help to transform your life.

    Price: £8.50

    13. No one teaches you how to be an adult, you just wake up one morning and you've suddenly reached adulthood. How to Be a Grown-Up let's you know that you're doing just fine.

    Headline / Via amazon.co.uk

    In this comforting, witty, and supportive book, the author Daisy Buchanan dispenses all of the emotional and practical advice any late twenty-something adult needs. It covers everything from how to feel pride in yourself, how to *really* enjoy spending time on your own, and how to stop seeking validation from others.

    Price: £7.99

    14. Overthinking can often ruin your day and stop you from being productive, but with How to Stop Overthinking Chase Hill has a seven-step plan to transform your mindset.

    Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

    In this book you'll learn how to eliminate negative thinking, how to get a better night's rest even if your head is full of thoughts, and how to remove toxicity out of relationships in your life. 

    Price: £9.62

    15. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life shows you that you don't have to try to be positive all of the time to lead a happier life.

    Harper / Via amazon.co.uk

    If you find that you put too much strain on yourself trying to be positive 24/7, Mark Manson offers a raw approach in how you should embrace your fears, faults, and uncertainties.

    Price: £10.00

    16. In Jog On: How Running Saved My Life, Bella Mackie shares how she struggled with deep-rooted mental health problems in her late twenties, until she found respite in exercise.

    William Collins / Via amazon.co.uk

    One day she decided to put her shoes on and go for a run, and did the same the next day, and the day after that. Soon, running became an unexpected and enjoyable part of her life, where she found her mood had lifted for the first time in years. This book doesn't shy away from the difficult aspects of life, so if you're after a refreshingly honest take on mental health problems – and the positive impact that something like exercise can have – then this is the book for you.

    Price: £7.05

    17. Make 2022 the year of self love with Good Vibes, Good Life: How Self-Love Is the Key to Unlocking Your Greatness.

    Hay House UK / Via amazon.co.uk

    This book is centered around learning how to prioritise your wellbeing, cultivate positive lifestyle habits, practise meditation and mindfulness, and overcoming fear. 

    Price: £8.00

    18. If you're looking for a book you can keep going back to for a lil' boost, check out Lin-Manuel Miranda's Gmorning, Gnight!: Little Pep Talks for Me & You.

    Headline / Via amazon.co.uk

    If you're a fan of Hamilton, In The Heights, and Encanto, you've probably grown to love Lin-Manuel Miranda, and his book offers a slice of happiness and positivity we all need in our day to day. It's filled with quick snippets of uplifting pep talks to start and end your day on a high note.

    Price: £11.28

    19. It Didn't Start With You is an openly raw discussion on inherited family trauma, how it shapes who we are, and most importantly, how to end the cycle.

    Penguin Life / Via amazon.co.uk

    The book approaches psychological traumas and how this can affect future generations. It helps to answer the question "how does the trauma of our ancestors come out after years and affect our mental health?". The author, Mark Wolynn, provides compassion and the tools needed to reclaim your life and heal, giving you a chance to break the cycle. 

    Price: £10.19