7 Simple Life Changing Books That Will Improve Your Year

Over the pandemic, with more time on my hands than usual, I really got into reading books on self development. Life changing books that made me wonder, “Why haven’t I read books like this before?”.

Before then, my reading, or knowledge, of self-development or self-improvement books was limited. Actually, it might have actually been zero.

However, with a need to keep my brain active, I saw a chance to learn more about me, and my little place in this big world. Plus, these books provided a good distraction from the uncertainty of life during one of our generation’s most historic moments.

These self-development books weren’t just for the pandemic though. I’ve continued to pick up these books as and when I’m able to. Because although I know the effects won’t be instant, little by little, these life changing books have helped improve my thought process, my understanding of me, and my day-to-day habits. 

So, if you’re looking for life changing books to improve your year, these are the best self development books I’ve read. I’ve been able to take something from each of them into my everyday life, both personally and at work. So get your highlighters out, grab a notebook, make a cuppa and settle in to do some self-improvement in 2023!

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Atomic Habits by James Clear

I don’t know about you, but I find it really hard to stick with things. I find it hard to create habits. Unless that habit is eating chocolate, it’s rare that I’m fully consistent with things for a long period of time.

Atomic Habits not only breaks down how you can introduce habits into your life and make them stick, it brings examples from the real world to show how habits can have a major compounding effect on your life, bringing in those positive benefits.

My key takeaway: Build a habit into an already existing habit. For example, I’ll have breakfast everyday. When I have breakfast, I make a drink and have my vitamins. I’ve stacked my habits to make it easier to maintain! Another thing that helps with this is having the vitamins on the kitchen side in plain view. This creates a visual reminder and takes away any obstacles that might prevent me from staying consistent.

Read: Atomic Habits by James Clear

You Are A Badass: How To Stop Doubting Your Greatness And Start Living An Awesome Life

Are you ready to kick some ass? Then this is the book for you. Short, easy to digest chapters with a few swear words thrown in for good measure, this book just makes you think “F**k yeah! I can do this!” Whatever it is, you will feel like a badass that can achieve anything you want to achieve.

You’ll learn how to challenge your self-limiting beliefs and create a life you love, now.

Key takeaway: I need to go after every day with the feeling I felt after reading this book. With confidence and a no-mess mindset where I believe I can achieve what I want to do in life.

Read: You Are A Badass: How To Stop Doubting Your Greatness And Start Living An Awesome Life

Big Magic: How To Live A Creative Life and Let Go Of Your Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert

This book is for the creatives out there. Those who long to live a life of curiosity. If you’re struggling to understand how that process might work, this book makes it easy to bring more creativity into your life.

And we’re not just talking about creating art or writing a book here. Can we find more creative solutions to earn more money or solve challenges at work? How can we make the most of our ideas before they disappear and find someone else who will make the ideas happen?

A fun, easy, yet intriguing read that I would love to read again.

Key takeaway: Grab the ideas when they come to you.

Read: Big Magic: How To Live A Creative Life and Let Go Of Your Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert

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Ikigai: The Japanese Secret To A Long and Happy Life by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles

If you like books like “The Little Book of Hygge” then you’ll enjoy Ikigai. Defined as “a reason for being” or “a reason to live”, Ikigai is said to give a person a sense of purpose, a reason to jump out of bed in the morning. Japanese culture believes that everyone has Ikigai, you just need to discover what it is.

This book is especially great if you feel lost, like you’ve lost your purpose and need to refind your mojo.

You’ll learn how stress can degrade our health and philosophies about diet, movement, habits and lifestyle. There’s information on how to handle life’s challenges and also the 10 rules of Ikigai.

A great little book with a lot of helpful and thought provoking information.

Key takeaway: What the heck is my reason to jump out of bed in the morning? Life really is better when there’s some sort of purpose behind it, whether it’s big or small.

Read: Ikigai: The Japanese Secret To A Long and Happy Life by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles

Untamed: Stop Pleasing, Start Living by Glennon Doyle

What I thought would be more a personal tale turned into a book which I will no doubt go back to time and time again. I used so much highlighter in this book, every page I turned there was something I could relate to.

And yes, this self development book is blended with the memoir of the author, but that’s what makes it so brilliant. A true, honest, and raw tale of discovering, and going after, your intuition and trusting the voice inside you.

Untamed, will make you want to forget about what the world expects from you. It will make you want to live life on your terms, to reclaim your true self. It’s powerful stuff if, like me, you have ever felt a little lost.

Key Takeaway: Shit. Am I actually living the life I want to live?!

Read: Untamed: Stop Pleasing, Start Living by Glennon Doyle

Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown

I’m going to be honest with you, I didn’t think I was going to like this book. I didn’t think I was going to be able to take anything from it. However, it’s been one of my favourite self-development books from the last few years.

This book is for you if you constantly feel like you’re doing things, but never get anything done. Or if you’re constantly feeling overloaded and overwhelmed. It’ll show you how to say no to some ideas and opportunities, so that you can make the most of the ones you actually want to do. It will show you how to accomplish more, with less.

Key takeaway: Stop saying yes to the things that come at the expense of what you actually want and what you really, truly in your heart, want to do.

Read: Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown

Mindset: Changing The Way You Think To Fulfill Your Potential by Dr Carol Dweck

This is one of the more hard hitting self development books out there. It’s one that throughout the pandemic, and over the many months I spent on furlough, I heard about time and time again. I was trying to surround myself with go-getting podcasts and webinars with those looking to improve their lives, either just in general or just to get through a global pandemic. And this book was a constant recommendation.

So a quick Amazon shop, and a day later, it was on my doorstep. Full of actual studies and real-life examples, this book goes deep into the idea of having a fixed mindset or a growth mindset. I’d like to think I’m fairly into the growth mindset camp, however this book showed me lots of ways I was approaching life with a fixed mindset. 

Off I went with my highlighter and notebook, treating this book like a little study session. And I came out with a new way of thinking about various aspects of my life and how I approach them. It also gave me an insight into things I’ve done in the past that I might have been able to do better.

Read this book if you read no others on this list.

Key takeaway: Keep trying if you want to succeed. Talent alone isn’t enough to take you as far as you want to go.

Read: Mindset: Changing The Way You Think To Fulfill Your Potential by Dr Carol Dweck

Which of these self-development books have you read? Which ones are you going to put on your to be read pile?