23 Self Improvement Gifts Your Go-Getter Friends Need

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Last Updated on June 21, 2024

Meaningful, practical gifts that power up your personal development are a must. If you love helping your friends grow and thrive, these are the BEST self improvement gifts you’ve gotta get for them.

Self improvement means many things. It’s making sure you live a balanced lifestyle of rest and productivity. It’s prioritizing self care. It’s striving for the goals you care about.

And this self improvement gift guide covers it all! From books, to meditation apps, to journals, to gift boxes, and so much more.

No matter who you’re buying for, these personal development Christmas & birthday gifts include something for everyone. If you’re ready to make an impact on your friend or family member’s life, let’s get browsing!

The Five Areas of Personal Development

Before we take a look at things to buy for self improvement, let’s define what self improvement is all about, anyway!

BetterUp has outlined five crucial areas of personal development that should be focused on. These aspects are great to keep in mind when considering the self improvement gifts you choose! It’s always good to keep the gift recipient’s needs and interests in mind, so these areas can help you out with that.

Mental Self Improvement

The mental aspect of personal development and self improvement is about challenging your brain but also taking care of your mental health. It’s important to always be learning and growing, rather than get too comfortable staying in one place. 

You also want to have a good mental health care regime in place. This consists of self care activities, such as going to therapy (read this to see if you should go to therapy!), journaling, meditating, and keeping a tight support system.

Social Self Improvement

Having both deep and casual social connections is truly essential. It feels good to have a circle of people we enjoy the company of, and this benefits us personally too. Not only does it improve our social and communication skills, but it helps us feel heard, loved, and supported. 

Spiritual Self Improvement

Spirituality isn’t only for religious folks. Spirituality is an important factor that’s actually outside of religious identification alone. It’s about gaining a deeper understanding of yourself, the world, and your place in it. It helps you identify your core values and beliefs, leading to greater awareness of yourself. 

Emotional Self Improvement

Emotional self improvement speaks to the aspect of emotional intelligence. This is the ability to identify and interpret your own feelings and other’s feelings. It’s also seeing the connection between your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Emotional self development helps you understand why you may think, feel, and react the way you do.

Physical Self Improvement

Your physical health plays a greater role in your mental health and overall self improvement than you may think. By nourishing and nurturing your body, the benefits cross over to influence your mind as well. Prioritizing your health and wellness is an aspect of self improvement that shouldn’t be overlooked.

With each of these areas in mind, you can think deeper about which self improvement gifts would be best suited to your mom, best friend, boyfriend, or whoever you’re shopping for! Whether it’s for their birthday, Christmas, an anniversary, or as a graduation gift, this list has it all.

23 Best Self Improvement Birthday & Christmas Gifts for Personal Growth

Need some solid self improvement gift ideas? I got you! Here are all the very best things to buy for self improvement for any loved one who’s on a self development journey.

Don’t lose these these self improvement gifts! Pin ’em to come back later!

What to buy for personal development?

Starting off these self improvement gifts is the Happy Box Gift Set! These fun quirky boxes are bundled with 6-8 treasures ranging from a boho bandeau, to an artisan trinket dish, to a soothing scented air freshener. If your friend could use the perfect pick-me-up to motivate their personal development, this is it!

Are you a goal-oriented person? Then the Do It For Yourself Journal is a match made in heaven! This journal walks you through five stages of mindset work to help you ensure you’re reaching your goals:

• Getting going
• Building momentum
• Overcoming setbacks
• Following through
• Seeking closure

Yoga mats are so multi-purpose: for stretching, at-home workouts, actual yoga, and probably more! Lulu Lemon has the best yoga mat featuring a rubber base with a little extra cushion on one side and a smooth, grippy surface on the other side.

Super versatile, thick, and durable for the fitness enthusiast in your life! This makes for a sweet self care package gift idea, too.

Has your friend been having “one of those weeks” or “one of those months”? Then they absolutely need this Better Than Therapy box! Your bestie can pick up the Mindfulness Coloring Book, sip some soothing herbal tea in their new mug (both are included!), and unwind with the fresh air & sea salt candle.

Talk about the perfect relaxation to super-charge your self improvement!

Did you know that speaking or writing affirmations can actually re-train your brain to think more positively? It’s such a simple act, but it’s so easily implementable and helpful.

This deck of 40 printable affirmation cards serves as a powerful visual tool for positive vibes. Use them as journal prompts, stick ‘em on your mirror for an everyday reminder, or get creative and turn them into a vision board or collage.

If you have a loved one who uses more negative self-talk than they should, these will help them view themselves more highly. These make for super meaningful personal development gifts!

{RELATED: 75 Affirmations for Mental Strength to Encourage You}

We all need things we do for enjoyment so life doesn’t feel like work, work, work! Give your loved one the gift of a hobby (here’s 100 fun & interesting hobbies for women in their 20s if you need inspo!) and they will appreciate your thoughtfulness. Pursuing hobbies offers mental, emotional, and physical benefits. Super important!

Self Improvement Gifts for Success

Tired of setting goals but never seeming to follow through? Unsure how to set goals that work in the first place?

This Printable Goal Planner alleviates all of that by helping you set, plan, AND actually achieve the right goals for your life! We love useful productivity items!

This planner helps you map out your goals from A-Z by first identifying your intentions, looking at the big picture, zooming into specific goals, and setting up the right habits to get there. I created this based on some of the ideas in the book Atomic Habits by James Clear, so it’s good!!

{RELATED: New Month Journal Prompts for Goal Setting}

We allll know the struggle of burnout. Banish it with these 60 Work Wellness Cards to feel more sane, serene, and calm during your working hours!

You get guidance in three categories: REFRESH (mental health), FLOW (physical health), and CONNECT (work relationships). Whenever you need to take a step back from your desk and breathe, these cards serve as the perfect mindfulness practice your work day desperately needs.

Career Clarifier isn’t just any old personality test. They’re revolutionizing the career-seeking game by helping you identify careers that align with the skills, abilities, and interests you’re naturally drawn to and proficient at.

Look no further for gifts for success than the Career Clarifier Career Test. It’s all for helping you eliminate job-hopping, career frustration, and wasted time!

Self-Care Gifts for Mental Health

Variety is the spice of life, and having a wide array of new self care products bundled for you each month is so exciting!

The TheraBox Self Care Box is curated by therapists with products inspired by neuroscience and positive psychology–so you know it’s the real deal with quality products. Choose from a one-time mystery box or a recurring monthly subscription box.

{RELATED: Self Care for Introverts – 16 Ways to Recharge Your Social Battery}

Feelings can be complicated! My printable mental health journal helps you uncomplicate them.

Jam-packed with 33 pages of mental health exercises and journal prompts, you’ll be on your way to understanding your emotions, reframing negative thoughts, and overcoming unhelpful behaviors. Super ideal for anyone struggling with anxiety, depression, or just wants to get through life’s everyday stressors!

The gift of therapy is extremely valuable, so long as you approach it the right way with someone you are close to.

There’s no shame in therapy and pretty much everyone can truly benefit from it in some way, whether they face anxiety, depression, or even just need to vent and gain professional insight on the little stressors that pop up all the time!

I always recommend Online Therapy because it’s a comprehensive, effective online therapy toolkit at an affordable monthly cost. I know it’s helped me tremendously! Get 20% off your first month at the link above!

Of all these self development gifts, meditation made easier is invaluable. Meditation has many benefits like improved stress regulation, increased self awareness, and less negative emotions.

But meditation, especially for newbies, can be tricky. Your mind tends to wander, you might not know how to make it effective, and frustration ensues.

Using a guided meditation app is a GAME CHANGER! Headspace is the ultimate guided meditation program with tons of meditations for sleep, focus, stress, and so much more. They’ve really helped make meditation do-able! This is the perfect gift for your stressed out friend or family member.

Comfort during meditation is a must. You’ll never be able to stay zoned into what you’re doing if you’re sitting in an uncomfortable chair! This meditation cushion is the perfect addition to any meditation habit.

If your friend or loved one is passionate about meditation, or has wanted to get into it, this cushion will make their practice a thousand times more peaceful!

Like journaling but can never stay committed? All you need is five minutes per day with the Five Minute Journal! This is one of the best gifts for success.

This journal is based on positive psychology with the goal of improving happiness. The big focus in this journal is to cultivate gratitude, which we could all use more of for better mental health! Spending just five minutes each morning in this journal is a powerful way to start your day off right.

{RELATED: 80 Motivating Self Improvement Journal Prompts}

Best Selling Self Help Books to Gift to Friends

It wouldn’t be a self improvement gifts list without the book Atomic Habits. This is one of my all time favorite books because it has the most realistic and practical approach to habit change I’ve ever seen!

James Clear teaches you not only how to set realistic goals, but (more importantly) the systems you need in place for getting there! Perfect for anyone who needs a little push and an effective approach to get back on track.

Feel like your mind just won’t shut up?! I know the feeling! Stop Overthinking walks you through the obstacles of anxiety to help rewire your brain, control your thoughts, and change your habits.

By the end of this book, you’ll have scientific approaches under your belt to end those vicious thought patterns once and for all!

RELATED: Intellectual Self Care: 13 Examples to Expand Your Mind

How to Do the Work was an absolute game-changer for understanding how my past trauma has manifested in adulthood. If you know you have some work to do when it comes to daily stress and anxiety, this book is for you.

This book teaches you how to recognize the whole body dysfunction that results from an over-active nervous system. You’ll learn how to identify and overcome codependency, emotional immaturity, and trauma bonds you may not have even realized you had!

In a nutshell, Good Vibes, Good Life targets toxic energy and how to overcome it, cultivating positive lifestyle habits, changing your beliefs to attract opportunities, and manifesting your goals through tried-and-tested techniques! Pretty jam packed if you ask me.

All with the goal to help you become the best version of yourself, this book will leave you feeling transformed from the inside out–ultimately showing you that when you change yourself, you can change the world around you.

What is the best self help gift you can give to yourself?

Juicers are becoming popular right now. Pressed juices from smoothie shops and Whole Foods can get pretty expensive, so a juicer is a wise option for getting in plenty of fruit and veggie servings in one go! This juicer from Amazon has almost 1,000 really positive ratings. A great tool for staying on top of a healthy lifestyle!

Humidifiers are great for keeping your skin hydrated all winter long, plus alleviating cold/flu symptoms, and (BONUS!) this Canopy Humidifier even has a built-in aroma diffuser! This stands out from other diffusers because it’s super easy to clean and is mold-resistant.

No kidding, I’ve owned a Fitbit for 3 years and it has still kept me SO motivated to workout and track my fitness goals!! For anyone into fitness or looking to start a workout routine, having a Fitbit really is a game changer.

It’s great for keeping track of calories burned, sleep quality, heart rate, steps, and more. This Fitbit Luxe truly makes a difference.

We’ll wrap up this list of gifts for self improvement with this Bearaby knitted weighted blanket. There’s so many self improvement products out there, but I must say weighted blankets are extremely soothing for those with anxiety or sensory sensitivities.

This legit feels like a full-body hug to help you sleep sounder and feel calmer naturally. It has 2,000+ nearly 5 star reviews and is SUPER plush!

{RELATED: 30 Day Winter Self Care Challenge to Beat the Winter Blues}

Tailoring Self Improvement Gifts for Different Recipients

Grabbing ideas from this list of self improvement gifts is great and all, but making it personal to your recipient will make a bigger impact.

You may be asking yourself, “what’s a good gift for someone who loves personal development?”

Everyone’s personal growth journey is unique to them, so why shouldn’t your gifts be unique to their needs, too? Here’s a few ways you can customize self-improvement gifts to make the right purchase for the right person!

• For the busy career woman – Got a go-getter friend? Your best bet is to focus on gifts that enhance their time management and help with stress relief. Goal planners, mindfulness meditation subscriptions, and self care boxes are all perfect choices!
• For the physical health and wellness enthusiast – If your bestie is dedicated to their fitness grind, they may appreciate gear like yoga mats, a fitness tracker (like the amazing Fitbit Luxe that I have and love!), or even meal subscription services catered toward healthy eating.
• For the creative – Self-expression can be a powerful aspect of personal development. You can gift art supplies, a journal with creative prompts, dance classes, or anything that aligns with their creative interests!
• For your spiritual friend – Know someone who can’t get enough meditation or spirituality? They’ll absolutely love gifts focused on mindfulness, like affirmation cards, a super comfy meditation cushion, or healing crystals.
• For the nature lover – Gifts in the form of experiences, rather than material items, do best with this crowd. Taking your friend on a hiking trip or buying them a local state park membership will nurture their well-being most!

Click to learn and try the best goal setting strategy that will turn your goals into real success!

Conclusion to Self Improvement Gifts That Represent Growth

Self improvement is honestly life improvement. It’s a well-rounded experience that supports basically everything: your mental, social, spiritual, emotional, and physical development.

And with so many spectacular gifts for personal growth, we are so lucky to have SO many products out there to help drive us toward our goals.

If you have someone special in your life that you’re trying to shop for, and you know they prioritize self improvement, self care, personal development, or anything in this realm, they will be so thankful to receive something from this list of self improvement gifts!

Happy shopping!

23 Best Self Improvement Gifts That Encourage Personal Development

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