Top tips for improving self-esteem

There is no ‘quick fix’ for low self-esteem, but there are certainly steps we can take to try and challenge the negative views we might have of ourselves. Whether our self-esteem levels are high or low, there is always room for improvement! Here are a few simple ideas that you might want to try.

Positive thinking

Sounds obvious? Well it is, but sometimes it is not that easy to focus on positive aspects about ourselves or a situation we may be in. When you think something negative, like ‘I can’t do that!’ stop and challenge it – why can’t you do it? Start to think of the things you are good at, that you like about yourself, things you have achieved in the past. Focus on the positive thoughts rather than the things you are not happy about.

You will find a lot more positive things than you expected when you really start thinking about them and this will gradually make you feel more confident to achieve other things. Positive thinking takes practice - you might find it easier to start by writing the positives down to focus on until you can think of them automatically.

Make time for yourself

Take ten minutes every day just for you! You may want to use this time to try out positive thinking, or maybe to just clear your head of all the thoughts and actions of the day. This can really help you to relax and develop a calmer outlook on life, or at the very least give you a break and a chance to think about things without other people’s input.

Respect your own thoughts and opinions

Often it may feel like no-one is listening, your opinions aren’t important, or that no-one wants to know what you think. This is not true! How you think and feel about things is important – you have the right to express feelings and opinions, just like everyone else.

Set yourself realistic goals

Setting goals is a really good way to challenge yourself and to grow in confidence – but don’t set yourself impossible goals. Start with small goals and as you achieve build your way up to larger goals gradually. Don’t forget to acknowledge when you have made achievements – even if you haven’t reached your final goal yet, each step is an achievement and you should reward yourself. It is really easy to forget to do this!

Learn from mistakes

We all make mistakes, it is part of being human, but making mistakes can leave us feeling pretty low. There are things you can learn from mistakes. Try to think about why you made a mistake – by identifying why it occurred it is possible to avoid a similar mistake in the future. Once you have learned from your mistake, do not dwell on it – move onwards and upwards.

Try new things

Trying new things can be a really good way of challenging yourself, or breaking out of a cycle that you are not happy or bored with. You might try new foods, start a new sport or hobby, listen to different music, visit new places etc. Changes don’t have to be big - you might want to start with doing something new every now and then - you might start to understand a bit more about your likes and dislikes, and what interests you.

Your shout!

Do you have any great tips for improving self-esteem? Share your thoughts by posting a comment using the link below.