For many, the arrival of a new year is a prime opportunity for reinvention and self-improvement. It can be all about getting healthier, recovering from trauma, learning a new skill or simply feeling like a better version of yourself – whatever that might mean for you. Regardless of the goal or the reason behind it, you might be surprised to find that television is full of shows that can offer motivation and encouragement along your journey. So turn on the tube and get ready to take notes – these experts and storytellers are set to inspire you to greatness!
Queer Eye – We start with the unchallenged gurus of self-improvement! Queer Eye is a reboot of a popular reality TV show from the early 2000s, now with a modern take focussing less on the culture clash between the queer hosts and the straight men they’re making over, and more on helping people of all backgrounds. The Fab Five assess every aspect of the guest’s life, from their fashion sense to their mental health, in hopes of helping them start over after a traumatic experience. Emotional and inspirational, this is the perfect place to begin your own reboot!
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Tidying Up with Marie Kondo – We’ve all been there: life gets messy, and so do our homes! It can be hard to get organised, and harder still to let certain things go. Japanese author Marie Kondo has become a global star with her methods of tidying and organising, based on whether particular items “spark joy” or not. If you’re looking for a formula to create more order in your life, this is the show for you. Kondo’s philosophy of only keeping joyful things also translates to other parts of life, and can be a useful way to think about personal growth in addition to the neatness of your wardrobe.
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Ted Lasso – At first glance, a show about an American sports coach who takes over an English football club doesn’t sound all that inspiring. However, fans of the series will tell you the moustachioed manager, played by Jason Sudeikis, has become a modern-day philosopher for millions. Dispensing wise words as well as sporting tactics, the Emmy-winning show can offer a boost to anyone looking for advice on navigating their emotional journey.
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The Good Place – What’s the nature of being ‘good’? The answer is more complex than some might expect, and comedy The Good Place ruminates on that question for four hilarious and clever seasons. Kristen Bell plays a woman who is sent to ‘The Good Place’, a heaven-like plane of existence, despite the fact that she didn’t live a very good life – and must hide that fact, lest she be sent to ‘The Bad Place’. Whatever your beliefs, the show offers thoughts on self-care, forgiveness and the power of being a light in the world. The writing is filled with gentle theories about life’s big questions, which explains why the show maintains an enthusiastic following years after its last episode aired.
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TEDx Talks – Available through the TED website and various streaming services, TED Talks are synonymous with learning and personal growth. TEDx is an open-source offshoot, in which people from various backgrounds give free talks about a variety of subjects. On the TEDx YouTube channel, you’ll find insight on anything from scientific breakthroughs to relationship tips, as well as advice on fresh starts and personal renewal – essentially everything you need to get where you want to go. Available in a number of languages, there’s little here that won’t leave you feeling inspired.
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Get Organized with the Home Edit – Everyone needs a little bit of advice, even celebrities! In Get Organized with The Home Edit, two expert home organisers enter the glamorous houses of the rich and famous, helping them with tricky projects that need tending to. It can often feel like the people on our screens live perfect, glamorous lives with zero problems, so it’s good to know even celebs like Reese Witherspoon and Khloe Kardashian need expert intervention from time to time!
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Hoarders – Delving into the lives of people for whom clutter has taken over their living space and lives, Hoarders can sometimes dip into sensationalism territory. However, it also demonstrates how psychological illness can manifest in very real ways, and how a little bit of help can motivate even the biggest of hoarders to reorganise their lives. Regardless of whether you’ve had issues throwing things away, the show can be inspirational in revealing the power of letting things go.
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Grace and Frankie – Two legends of the silver screen teach us that it’s never too late to start again! Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin play two women of a certain age whose husbands leave them… for each other. Despite having entered their golden years, both Grace and Frankie come to terms with their rather unwanted and unexpected fresh start with warmth, raw emotion and a lot of laughs. The show is a fine example of how a fulfilling life doesn’t have to be one without challenges, and indeed how bumps in the road can often lead us to happiness we never thought possible. Whatever you’re going through, watch this, and let yourself believe things will get better.
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Oprah’s Book Club – For over 40 years, Oprah Winfrey has been a prominent name in wellness and self-improvement thanks to her ultra-famous talk show. One of the show’s most popular and long-running segments was Oprah’s Book Club, which was revived in 2019 as its own standalone series. Each episode, the TV mogul focusses on one book and discusses its themes and lessons with her guests – the authors themselves. If you’re looking to be better read in 2024, this is the show to turn to.
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Running Wild with Bear Grylls – Challenging ourselves physically can sometimes help us face challenges in other areas of our lives. That’s the message behind adventurer Bear Grylls’ show, a mix of survival obstacles, feats of physicality and heart-to-heart moments. Everyone from Channing Tatum to former president Barack Obama has joined the host to swim, climb, camp and learn to survive among the elements. It’s an uplifting series that has endured for nearly 10 years, thanks to the universally appealing messages about overcoming difficulties in our lives and harnessing the power of positivity to help us reinvent ourselves.
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Headspace Guide to Meditation – To focus, sometimes we just need to do nothing. Study after study shows that meditation is an effective means of reducing stress and increasing wellbeing, but it can be incredibly difficult to know where to begin. As such, this animated series has sought to teach us the basics, demanding only about 20 minutes of your time to help you learn to rest, even when there is so much around to distract you. Whether you’re looking to achieve enlightenment or simply take a deep breath, let this series be the first step.
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Somebody Feed Phil – Phil Rosenberg, the creator of Everybody Loves Raymond, travels around the world eating great food. While the premise may not seem that inspirational, Phil himself revolutionises what a food and travel show can be, showing the simple joy of taking part in other cultures and sharing food with strangers. If your 2024 plans involve travel, then check out this series, and let this jolly, unassuming traveller be your role model for making the most out of every journey, and every meal!
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Who Do You Think You Are? – To understand the future, you need to unpack your past. There are many different versions of Who Do You Think You Are?, depending on your location in the world, however most involve a familiar face tracing a particular part of their family tree, learning their incredible story, and ascertaining how it led them to be where they are. Filled with insights and emotional moments, there is plenty to ponder here for anyone seeking renewal in the lessons of their ancestors.
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Starting Over – The title says it all! One of the more uplifting reality shows out there, Starting Over sees six women become roommates and work with life coaches to renew themselves after a big life event. Looking at their habits from a financial, psychological and emotional point of view, the show addresses the need many of us have to look in the mirror and determine what might be holding us back from becoming our best selves. If you’re trying to start fresh yourself, it can be invigorating to see people going down a similar path.
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