There are so many factors that can affect our self-confidence. We can chalk up our level of confidence in ourselves to our upbringing, past relationships, and even our physiological makeup. Often, the advice we hear is to talk it out and find our inherent value—which are all good pieces of encouragement. However, there are many things we can do and actively pursue to feel better about ourselves—practical things we can do outside of internalizing and thinking.
If you’re stuck in a rut and want to get out of it, or if you find yourself lacking confidence in yourself and your ability to achieve your goals and be the best version of yourself, here are some activities you can do with your hands to give yourself the push you need.
Get moving
Because physical activity releases endorphins, also known as happy hormones, we can conclude that some form of exercise or just moving, in general, can boost our mood and give us the picker-upper we need.
No matter how you feel about yourself, consider taking time out of your day to do brisk walking or follow a simple exercise routine on YouTube. If you’re the type who easily gets bored by regular exercise, walk your dog or chase them around the house or your yard.
It doesn’t matter what kind of exercise you do; get your body moving for at least fifteen minutes per day. Once you settle into a groove, you can extend your exercise minutes to thirty minutes, then up to an hour. Don’t fall into the trap that you need to be wearing workout clothes or do everything perfectly before exercising. Just get your body moving—especially on days you don’t feel like it.
Embrace what you can change
There may be things about our appearance that we have no control over, but we should consider doing something about the parts that we can change. For example, researchers found that dental disorders can negatively impact one’s self-esteem. Since self-esteem and self-confidence are psychological concepts, dental health problems can influence people’s quality of life.
If you find that the condition of your teeth and gums makes it difficult for you to smile your brightest, visit your dentist and ask if you need procedures like dental implants or dentures to restore your smile. You can also improve your personal style so that you can feel more confident in the clothes you wear. Or you can consider changing up your hair.
Do not underestimate how your appearance can impact your self-confidence. Do it for yourself, and not to meet some societal beauty standards, and you would be doing wonders for your self-esteem.
Out with the toxic and in with the healthy
You are who you surround yourself with. If your relationships are filled with toxic dynamics like jealousy, comparison, shaming, judgment, or even negative peer pressure, then now is the time to get rid of those relationships.
Unless you can see the dynamic of these relationships changing for the better, you need to get out and fast because this toxicity impacts how you view yourself in more ways than one. You cannot embrace these toxic relationships and expect your life to improve or your self-confidence to blossom.
On the other hand, if there are people in your life that build you up, encourage you, and help you be the best version of yourself, these are the relationships that are worth keeping, cultivating, and investing in. Remember that the people you spend most of your time with and those you allow intimately into your life and heart will influence your attitudes and thoughts about yourself.
Know when to seek professional help
Last but not the least, know when your lack of self-confidence needs professional help. There is no shame in going to therapy or counseling, especially if we have already exhausted all means to restore our confidence in belief in ourselves. Studies show that therapy is effective but underutilized. If you are privileged enough to have access to it, don’t hesitate to tap into this resource. You deserve every available help.
The COVID-19 crisis has affected every person in the world in big and small ways, and if you lost so many things due to the pandemic, then there’s no shame in admitting that your self-confidence took a hit. But if you lost your faith in yourself in the past year and a half, you can also get it back. Fight for your healing to face tomorrow with certainty and strength. You can do it!
