Many people are looking to build their confidence, whether they want to get better at public speaking or put themselves out there in the dating pool. Regardless of why you want to feel more confident about yourself, there are multiple steps that you can take to increase your self-esteem and build up your positive self-image. Here are 10 things you can do to feel more confident:
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Determine your sense of style
How you dress and present yourself to the world can have a major impact on your confidence. If your clothes don’t make you feel good about yourself, then start experimenting with some new looks that appeal to you. Instead of focusing on ephemeral fashion trends, curate a look that captures your personality and shows the world what you love most about yourself. Even if your outfits don’t mirror fashion week catwalk looks, you’ll feel more confident about yourself regardless.
Figure out a skincare routine that works for you
Skincare concerns such as acne, rosacea, and eczema can have a serious effect on someone’s self-esteem. Thankfully, there are plenty of skincare kits for sensitive skin that are designed to address these issues and help heal your skin. If over-the-counter skin care doesn’t help, then book an appointment with a local dermatologist: Prescription-strength treatments can do wonders for skin concerns and help you get your confidence back.
Get enough sleep
Sleep is a major contributor to our mental and physical health, and if you’re not getting enough sleep, that can impact your confidence. Try to set aside at least seven to nine hours to sleep every day, and go to sleep and wake up at the same time each day, including weekends. Avoid screens for an hour before bed and make sure your bedroom is dark and quiet when you go to sleep. Don’t drink caffeine too late in the day, since it can keep you up at night.
Take care of your body
Taking care of your physical health in other ways will also help you feel better about yourself. Drink enough water and try to limit excessive alcohol and caffeine consumption. Eat a balanced diet that is rich in nutrients and low in inflammatory foods. Exercise when you can, aiming for a mix of cardio and strength training. Working out will make you feel strong and coordinated and also encourage the production of feel-good hormones like serotonin and dopamine, further boosting your self-confidence.
Set achievable goals for yourself
Setting goals and achieving them is a surefire way to boost your confidence and feelings about yourself. However, it’s important to set goals that you can actually achieve, especially when you are just starting out. Break down larger projects into smaller goals and set reasonable deadlines that you are pretty sure that you can meet. If you fall short of a goal, don’t beat yourself up: Just set a new one and keep working toward it.
Track your progress over time
It’s easy to dismiss your past achievements if you don’t have a record of them, so figure out a way to track your progress so that you can see how far you’ve come: Bullet journals are all the rage right now, but there are plenty of other ways to track your progress if that doesn’t appeal to you. Consider giving yourself a small reward for each task completed, such as getting a new candle if you apply your skincare for wrinkles every day for a week.
Get outside of your comfort zone
Putting yourself in new situations will help you get used to being a little bit uncomfortable and self-conscious and help to build your confidence over time. Start with something small, such as taking a class for a hobby that you’re already interested in, and then work your way up to other experiences over time. As you put yourself out there, you will develop more and more confidence and feel less awkward when you’re in new situations.
Stop comparing yourself to others
Constantly comparing yourself to others is a surefire way to damage your confidence. Instead of examining your perceived shortfalls, make a list of your own strengths, successes, and other positive qualities. If social media fuels your comparisons, then you might want to consider taking a technology break or setting limits on your daily app use to stop adding fuel to the fire. Keep in mind that social media is a highlight reel by nature, and that people rarely show the lows of their life next to the highs.
Practice positive affirmations
Engaging in negative self-talk can cause your self-esteem to take a nosedive. Instead of telling yourself that you can’t do something or that you’re not good enough, tell yourself that you are trying your best and that you can do it. You might want to draw up a list of positive affirmations that you can tell yourself every morning or in specific situations that cause a lot of anxiety for you. Over time, you will train your inner voice to be more positive instead of negative.
Be kind to yourself
Above all, you should be kind to yourself on your journey to building more self-confidence. Nobody is perfect and there’s no way to be perfectly self confident 100% of the time. Sometimes you’ll forget to apply your anti-aging skincare or have a slightly awkward social interaction — and that’s just life! Instead of beating yourself up over it, be kind to yourself and give yourself a lot of grace as you strive to become your best self.
Do you deliberately work to improve your self-confidence? What other tips and tricks have helped you build your self-esteem? Let’s help each other out by sharing our advice in the comments below!
