For many women, self-confidence and a certain level of self-esteem can be hard to attain. Being an outgoing, confident and bold person isn’t something you can switch on. Fortunately, there are some things that you can do to give you that boost.
LOW SELF CONFIDENCE IS A REAL PROBLEM
According to research performed by Dove in 2017, 61% of young girls do not have high body esteem.
According to the Global Girls Beauty and Confidence report, a whopping 9 out of 10 girls in the UK will not spend time with family and friends or participate in activities outside the house, if they aren’t happy with the way they look.
This should come as no surprise, as with shallow social media channels starting to dominate our lives and consciousness, the pressure to meet unrealistic beauty standard is larger than ever.
HOW CAN I BOOST MY CONFIDENCE?
There are loads of things you can do to give your confidence a boost. We have identified seven interesting techniques for improving your confidence:
1. BE MORE SOCIAL
Meeting new people and just socialising generally is one of the best ways to increase your confidence. If you’re stuck for ways to meet new people, try joining a fitness class or evening class. If you don’t have any hobbies, try something new!
2. IMPROVE YOUR FITNESS
Not only does getting in shape make you feel awesome every time you look in the mirror, exercising causes your brain to release endorphins which give a euphoric ‘high’. There really is no argument against getting fit.
There are so many ways to improve your fitness. Enough for an article all of its own. Here are just a few suggestions…
- Running
- Swimming
- Cycling and spinning
- Kettle-bell exercises
- Yoga
If you have the budget available, my best advice would be to hire a personal trainer. They will help you work out a plan that fits your current abilities and lifestyle.
3. INCREASE YOUR BREAST SIZE
If you’re one of the millions of women with a smaller chest, all is not lost. There are a number of ways you can increase your breast size. Who wouldn’t like a couple of extra cup sizes! Check out our breast enlargement cream for an extra boost.
4. ADOPT A POSITIVE OUTLOOK
Many people have achieved a high level of self-confidence by changing they see the world, becoming more grateful and positive. There are many self-help books and online videos.
This Youtube video on positive thinking titled ‘How To Reprogram Your Mind (for Positive Thinking)’ is a great watch if you’re looking to get started:
https://www.youtube.com/embed/wmx_35rQIRg
5. TRAVEL ACROSS THE WORLD
If you have any friends who have travelled the world, you may have noticed how grounded and positive well-travelled people tend to be. Experiencing all of the challenges and excitement that the world has to offer can really help you gain that level of life confidence, there really is no substitute.
6. DRESS WELL
Walking into a bar in your best dress, carrying your most beautiful handbag makes you feel a million bucks. Even when you’re at work or going about your day, taking some pride in your appearance is well worth the time investment when it makes you feel great. This really comes across, too.
7. REPEAT POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS
A simple technique to set your mind on a positive, confident track and away from negative thoughts is the technique of positive affirmation. By repeating positive statements to your self in your mind, you can reset your mind and focus on the good things about yourself.
8. GET MORE SLEEP
According to a study conducted by the department of psychology at the University of Basel, increasing the quantity and quality of your sleep can have a significant effect on your optimism and self-esteem.
9. CARRY OUT GOOD DEEDS
An easy way to feel like you’re having a positive impact on the world, that’s totally within your control, is helping others. Local charities and homeless shelters always need an extra pair of hands, so why not offer to help out?
As well as charities, you might find that friends, family and neighbours are going through a tough time and need a little help.
10. SET YOURSELF GOALS
If you want to feel a sense of achievement, rather than bumbling through life going round in circles, try setting goals for yourself.
Goal setting and pushing hard to hit them gives us a feeling of empowerment and focus, which ultimately leads to positive wellbeing and confidence.
Goals aren’t just for your professional life though, you can set goals for all areas of your life, including…
RELATIONSHIP GOALS
Relationships are incredibly important for happiness. If you neglect relationships, everything falls down. A good example of a relationship goal could be “I aim to spend at least 1hr every evening with my children”.
FITNESS GOALS
Goals are almost a requirement for achieving a good level of fitness. Some good examples of fitness goals include: “I want to run a 5k by September”, or “I want to be able to bench press 80Kg by the end of the year”
FINANCIAL GOALS
Money doesn’t make you happy. However, not having enough money can be a source of incredible stress and pressure. Some good examples include “I want to earn $50,000”
CAREER GOALS
While it is important to be humble and wary of egocentricity, there is nothing wrong with having career aspirations. “I want to become a head of the department by 35” is a great example of a career goal. Maybe even set yourself the goal of retraining in a new industry could free you from a dead-end job in an industry that doesn’t inspire you at all.
11. EAT WELL
Perhaps one of the least obvious ways to increase your level of confidence. Why would changing your diet have any effect on your self-esteem?
According to a study by the British Journal of Psychiatry, there appears to be a strong link between the consumption of fried and fatty foods and depression. While the study focused mainly on middle-aged people, it’s not a stretch to say that this probably applies to most adults to some degree.
CONCLUSION
Even on its own, each one of the suggestions listed above can have a surprising effect on your confidence, self-esteem and overall positive wellbeing.
Working on multiple areas of your life, a bit at a time, is the real key to improving your confidence though. The important thing is that you’re making time for yourself and your mental health. Don’t neglect any of these areas of your life, otherwise, you will eventually suffer the consequences.
If you’d like some further reading, this article on NHS.uk explores ways to improve self-esteem.
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