Best Ways to Boost Self-Confidence

Most of us want to feel more confident. That sense of trust in your abilities, qualities, and judgment? Who wouldn’t want that? According to the American Psychological Association, self-confidence is “a belief that one is capable of successfully meeting the demands of a task.”

Self-confidence can mean having faith in your overall ability to handle life, or it might be specific to certain situations. For instance, you might be confident in your work skills but unsure about social interactions. Research shows that confidence plays a big role in our health and well-being.

Building and keeping confidence isn’t easy, and it can be quickly knocked down by mistakes or failures. That’s why it’s so important to actively work on boosting your self-confidence. It might sound a bit cliché, but you really do need to believe in yourself!

Hannah Owens, LMSW, explains, “Doubt from second-guessing yourself has both internal and external effects. Confidence not only impacts how you feel about yourself but also shows others that you are trustworthy and capable, which can be beneficial both socially and at work.”

Ways to Be More Confident

Boosting your self-confidence can make a big difference in your personal and professional life. Research shows that confident people often do better academically, and how you feel about yourself affects how you present to others.

Luckily, there are several ways to build your self-confidence, whether you’re struggling in one specific area or with confidence overall. Here are nine tips to help you become more confident:

Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

Do you find yourself comparing your looks to someone on Instagram or your salary to a friend’s? It’s natural to compare, but it rarely boosts your confidence—in fact, it often does the opposite. A study from 2018 found that envy from comparisons can make you feel worse about yourself.

Instead of focusing on others, remind yourself that everyone has their own path and life isn’t a competition. If you’re feeling envious, think about your own strengths and successes. Keeping a gratitude journal can help you remember the good things in your life and focus less on others.

“Social media can be particularly tricky,” says Owens. “It’s designed to make us compare ourselves to others. But remembering that people usually post only the best and worst parts of their lives can help you appreciate your own daily wins and boost your confidence.”

Surround Yourself With Positive People

Think about how your friends make you feel. Do they lift you up or bring you down? The people around you can greatly affect your self-esteem. If you feel worse about yourself after spending time with certain people, it might be time to reconsider those relationships.

Seek out friends who support you and have a positive outlook. Being around positive people can help you build your confidence because confidence and a positive attitude go hand in hand.

Take Care of Your Body

Taking care of your body can boost your confidence because it’s hard to feel good about yourself if you’re not treating your body well. Here are a few self-care practices that can help:

• Diet: Eating healthy foods makes you feel better physically and emotionally, which can increase your confidence.
• Exercise: Regular physical activity improves body image and boosts self-confidence.
• Meditation: This practice helps you accept yourself, stop negative self-talk, and improve your overall self-esteem.
• Sleep: Good sleep is linked to positive traits like optimism and self-esteem.

“Taking care of your body is about more than just appearance,” says Owens. “When you prioritize self-care, you show the world that you matter, which helps others see you that way too.”

Be Kind to Yourself

Self-compassion means treating yourself kindly when you make mistakes or face setbacks. It helps you handle tough emotions better and strengthens your connection with yourself and others. A 2015 study found that self-compassion is linked to higher self-confidence. So, when things don’t go as planned, remember that everyone makes mistakes. Be gentle with yourself and learn from the experience.

Practice Positive Self-Talk

Negative self-talk can harm your confidence by making you doubt yourself. Instead, try to turn those negative thoughts into positive ones. For example:

• Change “I can’t handle this” to “I can do this if I try.”
• Change “I can’t do anything right” to “I can improve next time” or “I learned something valuable.”
• Change “I hate public speaking” to “I’m not a fan of it, but everyone has strengths and weaknesses.”

Face Your Fears

Don’t wait until you feel more confident to tackle things like asking someone out or applying for a promotion. Facing your fears directly can build your confidence. Even if you’re anxious or make mistakes, you’ll learn and grow from the experience. Each small step forward boosts your confidence and prepares you to handle risks better in the future.

“This might be tough, but even small victories count,” says Owens. “Think of it as a way to expose yourself to challenges and build confidence over time.”

Do Things You’re Good At

When you focus on things you excel at, your confidence naturally improves. Doing activities you’re good at helps you build on your strengths and can make you more satisfied with your life. If you’re great at a sport or a particular task, make time for it regularly to keep boosting your self-confidence.

Know When to Say No

Recognizing when to say no is just as important as pursuing things you’re good at. If an activity consistently makes you feel worse about yourself, it’s okay to avoid it. Setting boundaries helps you feel more in control and protects your confidence.

Set Realistic Goals

Achieving your goals often involves some trial and error. Setting realistic goals helps you build confidence as you achieve them. Instead of aiming for something too ambitious, break it down into smaller, achievable steps. For example, if you want to lose weight, aim to lose one to two pounds per week, which is a healthy and attainable goal.

By setting and meeting realistic goals, you’ll see progress and build confidence in your abilities.

Confidence vs. Insecurity

When you’re working on boosting your confidence, it helps to know how confident people are different from those who feel insecure. Here’s a look at some of the key differences between the two.

Confident People

• Celebrate other people’s success
• Open-minded
• Optimistic
• Willing to take risks
• Laugh at themselves
• Decisive
• Always learning and growing
• Admit mistakes
• Accept responsibility

Insecure People

• Judge and are jealous of others
• Close-minded
• Pessimistic
• Afraid of change
• Hide flaws
• Indecisive
• Act like a know-it-all
• Make excuses
• Blame others

Being More Confident Has a Lot of Benefits

Feeling confident is great, but it also comes with some fantastic benefits for your home life, work, and relationships. Here’s how boosting your confidence can positively impact different areas of your life:

• Better Performance: When you’re confident, you spend less time worrying about whether you’re good enough and more time focusing on your work. This can lead to better results because you’re putting your energy where it counts.
• Healthier Relationships: Self-confidence doesn’t just change how you see yourself; it also helps you understand and connect with others better. It gives you the strength to walk away from relationships that aren’t serving you well.
• Openness to New Experiences: Confidence makes it easier to step out of your comfort zone. Whether you’re thinking about applying for a promotion or trying a new hobby, believing in yourself makes taking those leaps much easier.
• Greater Resilience: When you trust in your abilities, you’re better equipped to handle life’s challenges and bounce back from setbacks. Confidence helps you stay strong and recover quickly when things don’t go as planned.

Keep in Mind

We all have moments when our confidence takes a hit. The good news is that there are plenty of ways to boost it. Sometimes, just acting confident can actually make you feel more confident.

“It’s a bit like how forcing yourself to smile can trick your brain into feeling happier,” says Owens. “When you project confidence, even if you don’t fully feel it, people will start to treat you differently. This positive feedback can boost your confidence, and it creates a positive cycle.”

If you find that low self-confidence is seriously affecting your work, social life, or studies, it might be a sign of a deeper issue, like depression or anxiety. In such cases, talking to a mental health professional can be really helpful. A therapist can help you understand what’s going on, suggest treatments, and work with you to build your confidence.