I was tired of lacking self-confidence and feeling like crap about myself on a daily basis and I was determined to make a change. Doing these 10 things helped boost my self-esteem—maybe they’ll work for you too.
- I quit my job. I realize that’s a pretty extreme step to take but it was important for me. My job was emotionally and physically draining. I went to work every day already wanting to leave and by the time I got home, my energy was gone, which made me just want to lay in bed. I’m not telling you to go to work tomorrow and hand in your two weeks’ notice, but if you truly hate your job, maybe it’s time to reevaluate your future there.
- I hit the gym, hard. I’ve always had a love/hate relationship with the gym. There have been times I went consistently and then I’d just randomly stop. For the last few months, I’ve made it a point to go at least three or four times a week. I found someone who knows more than me and that I’m comfortable with to become my gym buddy and keep me accountable. Results take time and while it’s hard for me to remember that some days, I’m getting there.
- I let myself sleep more. I decided on my journey to feeling better about myself that not everything needed to be active. I allowed myself to have those days where I came home and just laid in bed. I watched Netflix and ate crappy food because I can. Working on yourself can be stressful and overwhelming sometimes, so remember to take some downtime when you think you need it. It doesn’t mean you’re giving up.
- I focused more on what I was eating. This one may be one you’ve heard before, but it’s true—life is about balance. I started taking the time to pack my lunch for work. I didn’t do crazy levels of meal prep but I ate more balanced meals for dinner and made extra to bring the next day. I fell in love with apples and protein bars so that I wasn’t buying chips from the vending machine in my office. Eat food you like. You don’t need to stop eating carbs or sugar to feel better. Just make sure you’re eating balanced meals.
- I planned a vacation even though I’m broke. Like, trying to make $50 last two weeks broke. Thankfully, I have a wonderful boyfriend who is allowing me to pay him back slowly for our upcoming trip. I don’t care how you have to come up with the money (as long as it’s legal) but go and make it, save it, and go somewhere fun. Even if it is a weekend trip, it will give you something to look forward to and fuel some of the other tips on here. Everyone needs a break and you deserve one.
- I literally cleaned out my closet. I’m a hoarder when it comes to clothes. I had clothes in my drawers and closet that I hadn’t worn in years. I just couldn’t bring myself to throw things away, whether because of the memories I had of wearing it before or because I thought I might want to wear it again one day. These are stupid reasons to keep clothes. Getting rid of clothing doesn’t mean you’re throwing away the memory. Suck it up, grab a few trash bags, separate the trash from the donation-worthy stuff to make space for new things.
- My skin became a bigger priority. Due to some medical reasons, my doctor changed my birth control. This did not make my skin happy. I’ve never really had a problem with acne but I’ve still never been totally confident in my skin and typically would have a pimple here and there and some dryness. I started researching products to try. Since I have sensitive skin, I get nervous trying new things, but I finally decided on getting a personalized skincare routine and it has improved my view of myself greatly.
- I stopped wearing so much makeup. This may be a result of taking better care of my skin, but this has made such a difference. I used to hide behind my foundation, spending my days avoiding touching my face or rubbing my eyes. I still wear eyeliner and mascara most days, but switching over to BB cream has not only given me more sleeping time in the morning but also gave me more freedom.
- I switched to black coffee. Admittedly, this was super gross at first. I like my coffee filled with sugar and creamer just like anyone else, but there’s something about adding that extra stuff that just really made me uncomfortable—and by uncomfortable, I mean bloated, gassy, and just gross. I couldn’t just cut out caffeine because that’s just insanity, so I started drinking it black. I got used to it eventually and it made me feel better when drinking it. It’s also super helpful if you’re trying to diet.
- I spent more money on myself. This one may be hard if you’re as broke as me but if I can find a way, so can you. I normally would only allow myself to get my nails done if I was going somewhere. I decided this was kind of stupid seeing how I haven’t been on a real vacation in about four years. I made sure that I was setting a little aside every paycheck to allow myself to be pampered. I found cheap massages and facials online, made monthly nail appointments, finally allowed myself to get my hair done, and went shopping. Financially, I should have probably saved that money or paid off some debt, but man, does it feel good to walk into a spa.
