Boost your Self-esteem Month
A lot of us will struggle with our own self esteem from time to time, and in a digital age of instant gratification and images of perceived perfection everywhere we look, self esteem is affecting our mental health even more.
Some really easy ways to boost your self esteem could include:
- Stop criticising yourself
- Stop comparing yourself
- Start practising gratitude
- Start moving – we all know the benefits even a little bit of exercise can bring.
How can I improve my self-esteem?
Some people find these ideas useful, but remember that different things work for different people at different times. Only try what you feel comfortable with, and try not to put too much pressure on yourself.
If something isn’t working for you (or doesn’t feel possible just now), you can try something else, or come back to it another time.
So this February why not invest some time into boosting your self esteem and finding small ways in every day life to encourage yourself. Below, there is information available about this awareness month so why not start now and invest in yourself – developing and maintaining a positive sense of self is fundamental to good mental health.
We’ve got some tips to help you boost your self-esteem:
- Smile. Smiling is the quickest win in this article. When you smile, your brain gets a positive message – and very quickly boosts that feeling of wellbeing and inner calm.
- Accomplish something. Cook a meal from scratch. Declutter your living space. Start a new book, rather than a TV series. However big or small the accomplishment, self-esteem comes from achievement – rather than praise from that achievement. Accomplishing something builds your inner sense of confidence and personal control.
- Hold your head high – literally. Like with smiling, correcting your posture by holding your head high sends signals to your brain. These signals boost inner confidence, and increase oxygen to your brain.
- Take 2 minutes to appreciate yourself. First, think about 1, 2, or 3 things you appreciate about yourself. Is it that you can be kind? Is it that you were able to forgive someone? Then, write these things down. This way, you’ll better remember what you appreciate about you.
- Do someone a favour. It’s definitely harder – but not impossible – to do someone a favour right now. But you could get someone you live with a cup of tea, pay them a compliment or order online a small gift for a friend. Doing someone a favour releases your feel-good hormones so you feel rewarded and happy.
