1. Dress Nicely.
I don’t know about you, but when I dress nicely, I feel good. This doesn’t mean dress “fancy,” just wear something that makes you feel good in your skin. Wearing my favorite dress with some cute shoes, accessories makes me feel confident and pretty. That moment when you know you look good, others will notice.
2. Wink At Yourself In The Mirror (Every Once In Awhile).
We ALL stare in mirrors dozens of times a day (and yes, snapchat counts), unconsciously or not. However, when we look in the mirror, that exchange is not always positive. We always look for the impurities on our face or stare unhappily at our bodies. Mirrors should be validating not demeaning! Wink at yourself every once in awhile; it’ll instantly make you feel better about yourself.
3. Smile More!
I love smiling. In fact, 90% of the time, my resting face is a smile. I know that sounds ridiculous, but it’s just the way I am. But it actually makes me go through life more positively and happily. Shooting a smile at others when walking by can sometimes be awkward, but it’s actually really powerful. Your tiny gesture of kindness will make their day a little brighter.
4. Do The Power Pose.
Doing the Power Pose (a X-like shape with your body) before a performance, or a presentation has been proven to improve confidence and calm oneself down. Hold this pose for a few seconds before you leave your room each day before work or school. It seems silly, but it can help a lot.
5. Take Selfies.
Most people with smartphones are going to take selfies. It's going to happen at some point. For a while, I believed that only narcissistic people took selfies because they loved to look at their faces, but why shouldn't they love their faces? Loving yourself is the biggest confidence booster there is. Take a selfie, friends, and pucker up those lips!
6. Work Out.
Working out is a huge de-stressor for me, and it makes me feel so much better about myself after a good run, lift or bike ride. The workout high is real. You actually feel loads better after a good sweat.
7. Treat Your Body Right: Eat Well.
Notice my emphasis on the word well (eating “healthy” means different things to each person, so eating well seemed more appropriate). Eat foods that make your body feel good. Have a good balanced diet every day, but indulge every once in awhile on a dessert or a huge meal. You deserve the carbs.
8. Hang Around People Who Make You Feel Good.
This tip is important: if you always hang around people who bring you down, lower your self-esteem, and make you feel negative in general, get the heck out of there! Why place yourself in a toxic circle of people when there are literally millions of nice humans out there waiting to be your friend? Find the right people to boost you up, not knock you down, and treat all with kindness to get kindness back.
9. Get Rid Of Unhealthy Habits.
In order to improve your self-confidence, you may have to sacrifice a few unhealthy habits like sitting down for hours watching TV, snacking when not hungry, and overspending money. If continued, these habits can lead to a lack of confidence because you’ll gain weight and lose money. These are just a few examples; we all have bad habits we need to stamp out. Find yours, and do your best to get rid of them for the sake of your well being.
10. Hone Your Skills.
Honing one's skills is the key to success. If you find that you are exceptionally strong in writing, doing math problem sets, dancing, skiing, or even being a good listener, hone these skills! Being good at something and knowing you're good at them is a great confidence booster. We all have different talents, and we must practice and practice until we feel exceptional.
11. Do Good Deeds Each Day.
Doing a good deed is an act of selflessness. However, in order to do a good deed, one must love oneself before loving another. Making someone's day by opening the door for them, helping them clean up a mess they made, or listening to them rant will make you feel better about yourself in the long run. By giving to others, they will give back, and knowing you are loved is the ultimate confident booster if you ask me.
