How to Boost Self-Confidence: 3 Practical Habits That Actually Help

We’re all human, and it’s very natural to have moments of self-doubt from time to time. Whether you make a mistake at work or feel like you haven’t been putting as much effort into your appearance lately, even subtle shifts in our habits and routines can alter the way we perceive ourselves. Learning how to boost your self-confidence can be a helpful part of maintaining positive self-esteem over time.

Throughout most of my adult years, I have always been a plus-size woman. For a variety of reasons, this hasn’t been a huge hindrance to my self-confidence or ability to stay positive overall. It does, however, mean that I sometimes have to work a little harder at not letting societal expectations and standards get in the way of my ability to love and cherish who I am as a person.

There are many ways I’ve learned to maintain strong self-confidence and a love for the woman I’ve become. Some are more common sense, some are a little unconventional. If you’re struggling to love the person you see in the mirror (or the person you hope others see), you’re not alone.

Here are three simple, practical strategies I use to boost my self-confidence and self-esteem.

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3 Ways to Boost Self-Confidence

  1. Stick To A Routine

    If you’ve spent any time on social media over the past few years, you’ve probably been inundated with content around curating the perfect morning routine. While, sure, some of this content is highly optimized and edited for an aesthetic social feed, the main idea still rings true: there’s nothing better than starting or ending your day with a productive and structured routine. I’ve found this to be especially true, believe it or not, when it comes to self-esteem.

    Even if you’re not a morning person who is ready to hit the gym and blend up a super healthy smoothie by 7am, you can still begin building healthy and productive habits into your daily life that help you feel better, look better, and even work better. For example, you can spend 15 minutes putting together a nice outfit, or doing some yoga, or even throwing on some makeup. It doesn’t have to involve stressful time constraints or packing a stacked and mandatory to-do list. Instead, doing things each day to care for your body, your mind, and your spirit is a great way to feel a sense of accomplishment and capability.

    If it helps, I prefer to call my morning and evening routines “rituals”. Honoring them like they’re something sacred to me makes them feel even more special and worth sticking to.

  2. Document Your Best Moments

    They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and when it comes to becoming a more confident person, the saying is absolutely true. While life gets busy sometimes and it makes sense to prioritize certain responsibilities over living in the moment, recognizing your own accomplishments and moments when you feel your best is key to establishing long-term self-esteem.

    If you reach a goal like running your first 5K race or achieving a financial saving milestone, take a picture. Or better yet, pull out that journal you haven’t touched in years, or just pull up the notes app on your phone and jot down a few sentences about how proud you feel at that moment. If you’re having a really great hair day or love your trendy outfit before a work presentation, snap a selfie in the office bathroom. Looking to develop a more positive relationship with your body, in or out of the bedroom? Take solo photos of yourself when you feel your most beautiful. You can even save them in a hidden folder on your phone for privacy purposes. These are all moments you can look back on and appreciate how far you’ve come, and all the little wins that got you there.

  3. Use Affirmations

    Positive affirmations and mantras aren’t just for the woo-woo folks of the world. In fact, you can incorporate them into any part of your day, from your commute to work, to your bathroom breaks, to your nightly social media scroll before bed. Coming from someone who loves both talk therapy and spiritual practices to support my mental health and wellness, speaking positive affirmations to yourself can be a great way to feel both spiritually connected and practice positive self-talk.

    When you’re sitting in traffic and stressed before your performance review, you can say, “I am capable and strong. I can handle this.” If you’re nervous before a first date, you can repeat, “I am worthy of all the love I desire. What is meant for me will find me.” Or, if you’re a parent and need a moment to remind yourself that you’re doing your best balancing it all, you can try, “I provide my family with safety, love, and connection. I am a good parent.”

    Words can hold so much power and meaning when we let them, so this is an easy and impactful way to build the habit of speaking positive energy and confidence into your own life.

This article reflects personal experiences and general information. It is not intended as medical advice or a substitute for professional care. If you need additional support, consider reaching out to a licensed mental health professional.

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Authored By 

Lexy Inks

Lexi (she/her) is a lifestyle journalist based in Jacksonville, Florida, with a passion for writing about sex and relationships, LGBTQ+ issues, wellness, beauty and fashion, spirituality, and social justice. Her work has appeared in publications including Bustle, Refinery29, BBC, Cosmopolitan,...

Reviewed By

Lesley Roy, MSW, LICSW
Lesley, a licensed independent clinical social worker. Lesley’s practice is grounded in a culturally responsive, strengths-based, and trauma-informed approach. She specializes in helping people to gain insight and develop self-compassion that helps them to tap into their strengths and tackle challenges such as navigating change, identity development, and improving relationships across the spectrum (friend, family, intimate partner, professional). Lesley considers it a privilege to be a part of ones journey toward wellness and content. Lesley uses evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Narrative Therapy, Mindfulness/Meditation, Internal Family Systems, and DBT skills. She customizes her therapeutic approach in response to client needs as they address anxiety, depression, self-esteem/assertiveness concerns, mood disorders, and other challenges that serve as barriers to reaching their goals. When Lesley is not working with her clients she enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, listening to informative podcasts, and caring for her pets.

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