Trying to navigate a path that you can follow happily through the craziness of life can be a challenge. Sometimes it seems that nothing is easy in this world, especially keeping your head up and feeling good about yourself. Yet, this is something that should take precedence in your life. Even if you are busy and feel as if you cannot spare yourself a thought, you must. If you want a better sense of mental and emotional wellbeing, more confidence, and to increase your self-worth, then you need to take time out to focus on you. Over time, self-neglect can be extremely damaging. Emotion and stress can build up, and you lose a sense of who you are and what you need for you. The end result of this can be extremely negative. However, it does not need to be that way. That is why you have to take time for yourself. Here are a few ideas that will help you develop your confidence and sense of self-worth.
Get away from it all
You need to have a quiet place. Somewhere you can go and spend ten minutes, half an hour, alone just to completely unwind. This could be a space in the back garden, a private place in the woods, your bedroom, the bathroom, just so long as you can not be disturbed. Meaning those pesky phones need to be switched off too. When you get to your stress-free sanctuary, you need to find a method to break away from the crazy world and to allow all your worries to melt away. Breathing exercises are a good bet, as is a little meditation. Being alone will enable you to build your mental strength, and it will help you put things into perspective. If you have a lot on your mind, getting away from it, all will help you see how better to proceed, to find a way through it. Usually, things are never as bad as they seem, and a little solitude will help you come to that conclusion.
Use the magic word ‘no.’
When you start using this word, you will begin feeling its power straight away. Every time you use it, a little piece of the world will fall off your shoulder. Your load will be lighter, and you will be happier, more confident, and have a better sense of self-worth. If you are in the habit of saying ‘yes’ when someone asks a favor, such as a co-worker, a friend, anyone, then at first using the magic word, it will be hard. You may be a people pleaser, and that is not a good way to be. Your natural, helpful, and loving nature will have been taken advantage of for too long, and this means that you are probably not respected, and who is worse, you probably don’t respect yourself. If your life is already busy, the last thing you should be doing is running around after anyone else. Only you have the power to change it, and you have to start by saying no.
Say goodbye to those bad habits
There is nothing more liberating for your soul than to take charge of your life and finally get rid of those bad habits. Everyone has something they wish they could stop doing, something that may be having a detrimental effect on their mental and physical health. Perhaps you spend too much time on social media, or maybe you eat far too much fast food. There are smoking and drinking too. Why not switch fatty foods to healthy food and alcohol for water. You know that these are so much better for you. It is in your power to stop anything you know is bringing you down. Make a plan to stop and stick to it. If you can finally release yourself from the prison of your bad habits, then you will gain confidence and a better sense of self-worth, because you know you are strong.
Make plans
Are you someone who seems to let themselves flow with the wind? Not really got any direction, a real free spirit, so to speak. Although that way of life can have its good parts, it can have some serious downsides when you realize that it is too late for the things you really desire. You need to create some structure. Having responsibility can add meaning to your life and makes things seem more worthwhile. Make future plans and have life goals. If you know that you are unorganized look at some Tips To Be More Organized In Life.
Start exercising
Getting out and doing exercise is an absolute must for your confidence levels. Most people know they should be exercising but are not doing it. They may feel overweight and lack energy, but for some reason, just cannot force themselves to do the thing that will really help them. Exercising doesn’t have to mean running a marathon or going to the gym all the time, you can start small by walking more, but you have to do it at least three or four times a week. When the extra activity starts showing, you can build up to jogging. Exercise is a natural mood enhancer and stress buster. Not only that, it makes the skin shine and tones you up, as well as making your body more healthy.
Sleep
Do you get enough sleep? If the answer is no, then you are doing yourself a lot of damage. Not sleeping enough takes its toll on the body in a number of ways. First of all, you will have a hard time remembering things. While you sleep, your body transforms short term memories into long term ones. Your body also does a lot of healing while you are sleeping, so you will find it harder to recover from illnesses and injuries; it makes you age quicker too. There may be many reasons why you’re not sleeping, and some will be down your lifestyle, too much alcohol, perhaps. You need to sleep properly to boost your happiness and confidence levels, so look at things you can change to get the recommended seven to eight hours a night.
Mandy X
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Author: Mandy Kloppers
Mandy is a qualified therapist who treats depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, trauma, and many other types of mental health issues. She provides online therapy around the world for those needing support and also provides relationship counselling.
