& lifestyle. ARTS AND LIFESTYLE Self-Improvement Books: Put your Best Foot Forward in 2023

Arts and Lifestyle Correspondent Saoirse Wilson lists her top 4 recommendations for self-improvement books to the absolute most of 2023.

The new year is a fresh start, flooded with new opportunities. Who wouldn’t want to grow or motivate themselves towards achieving their goals this time of year. So why not help yourself by picking up one of these books filled with tips and tricks on the best ways to do so. It could make all the difference in how you navigate the world around you in 2023.

How to be Confident James Smith

Confidence is a complicated issue. The suggestion of “fake it till you make it” has long existed as the solution to a lack of confidence. However, this interesting read from Smith takes on the issues of self-doubt and negativity that feed on one’s lack of confidence. This book is broken down into two unique parts. Part 1 is about understanding exactly what confidence is. Part 2 focuses on what we can do to improve our confidence and how we can create habits that sustain this in our daily lives. While dealing with a highly important topic, Smith’s light-hearted approach makes this highly engaging and accessible to everyone. Enlightening and empowering, everyone could benefit from this book.

Journal

Sarah Knight

Sarah Knight has written a series of incredibly positive and constructive reads from You Do You to The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F**K. However, this particular interactive journal takes the cake. It is the perfect alternative for people who prefer a more activity-based approach and are not such a fan of lengthy texts. This interactive journal contains a variety of prompts, activities, and advice. There is space to expand on complex thoughts and emotions as well as enjoyable self-assessment tasks with different pieces of advice based on the individual’s results on these tasks. This journal encourages self-discovery and fosters an expansion of self-awareness. The employment of these self-assessments allows this book to adapt to fit the reader’s needs, creating a more personal and pertinent book.

101 Essays That Will Change the Way You Think

Brianna Wiest

field of self-help literature. It is easy to dip in and out of, finding the exact intensity you may be looking for at a given time. It is the ideal mixture of light reads along with heavier more thought-provoking ideas. Containing 101 essays, each one covers themes and topics that allow the reader to see things in a new way and ask questions. It is a thought provoking, inspiring, encouraging, honest and pointed read. It prompts the reader to reflect both inward on our own behaviour and outlook on life, as well as outward at the wider world.

Atomic Habits James Clear

Just as stated on the cover of the book, “‘Tiny changes, Remarkable results’.” Creating habits is the most beneficial way to keep New Year’s resolutions. This book delivers a clear cut and useful guide to forming and most importantly maintaining healthy habits. It also grapples with the idea of how to break toxic habits. Clear’s book is broken down into six distinct sections of The Fundamentals, Make It Obvious, Make It Attractive, Make It Easy, Make It Satisfying, and Advanced Techniques. This allows the processes to be incredibly simple to follow. The writing and the ideas in this text are concise, direct, relatable, and engaging. Atomic Habits is the perfect book to help anyone start 2023 on the right foot.