Self-confidence tips

1. Be nice to yourself

That little voice that tells you you’re killin’ it (or not) is way more powerful than you might think. Make an effort to be kind to yourself and, if you do slip up, try to challenge any negative thoughts. A good rule of thumb is to speak to yourself in the same way that you’d speak to your mates. This can be really hard at first, but practice makes perfect. If you want a few pointers, check out our tips for talking yourself up.

Try: Writing down three things that you like about yourself.

2. You do you

Comparing yourself to other people is a sure-fire way to start feeling bad about yourself. Try to focus on your own goals and achievements, rather than measuring them against someone else’s. Nobody needs that kind of pressure!

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3. Get movin’

Exercise is a great way to increase motivation, practice setting goals, and build confidence. Breaking a sweat also cues the body to release endorphins, the feel-good hormones.

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4. Nobody’s perfect

Always strive to be the best version of yourself, but it’s also important to accept that perfection is an unrealistic goal.

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5. Remember that everyone makes mistakes

You’ve got to make mistakes to learn and grow, so try not to beat yourself up if you forget to hit CTRL+Z on a super-important assignment. Everyone’s been there.

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6. Focus on what you can change

It’s easy to get hung up on all the things that are out of your control, but it won’t achieve much. Instead, try to focus your energy on identifying the things that are within your control and seeing what you can do about them. Read more about how you can accept things that are out of your control.

Try: Writing down one thing that you're not happy with, and three ways you could change it.

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7. Do what makes you happy

If you spend time doing the things you enjoy, you’re more likely to think positively. Try to schedule in a little you-time every day. Whether that’s time spent reading, cooking, or just

 laying out on the couch for a bit, if it makes you happy, make time for it.

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8. Celebrate the small stuff

You got up on time this morning. You made your bed. You made a great cup of coffee. Celebrating the small victories is a great way to build confidence and start feeling better about yourself.

Try: Writing down three things you did well at the end of each day.

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9. Be a friend

Being helpful and considerate to other people will certainly boost their mood, but it’ll also make you feel pretty good about yourself

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10. Surround yourself with a supportive squad

Find people who make you feel good about yourself and your accomplishments and avoid those who tend to trigger your negative thinking.

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