Ten Ways to Boost Your Self-Esteem



1. Talk to someone who listens to you. It could be your mother or father, or your best friend. It could be a teacher or work colleague. But sometimes it's important to get your feelings out in the open. Find someone you can trust that will listen to what you have to say. Find a person who can provide feedback in a non-judgmental way.
2. Make a list of the things you like about yourself. List your accomplishments. Then make a list of the things you would like to accomplish.
3. Start working towards your goals today. Make a list that you will update in 3 months, and in 6 months, and that you will look back and read and revise on a yearly basis.
4. Take a break from your routine. One of the best ways to get yourself out of a rut is to take a break from your everyday routine. You will see things in a different light, and it helps to put your life in a different perspective. If you feel "stuck", this is a good way to begin again.
5. Start a Bulletin Board or Journal. This is a continuation of the ideas you have already listed. You cannot hide your light under a bushel, but instead, you should be proud of any past accomplishments and achievements. That includes your children and your past work and academic experience. Hang your diplomas and display your treasured possessions.
6. Spend some time with a child, or take a pet for a walk. Having to care for another human being, or another living creature, and just getting out of yourself and seeing things from a child's perspective can really help you to move forward. Children and animals tend to accept people for who they are, not who they want to be. It's always a good idea to keep you living "in the moment" to spend time with children. And even if you don't have a dog, you can usually find a friend or relative who would love to lend their pet to you for a short walk outside.
7. Take a good look at yourself. You don't want to be super-critical, but if you see something about yourself that you would like to improve, go for it! Put on a bright shirt, have your hair cut, get a make-over, or join a gym. Sometimes a short-term pick-me-up is a great motivator. You may want to take on a cleaning project to pull you out of the doldrums. If you have been putting off cleaning a room or a garage, make a list with bullet points. Start small, and clean up one area with large trash bags. If this looks really good, and you find things that were missing, it will motivate you to continue the cleaning spree. At that point, make a list to finish what you start. Don't make the mistake of putting things in bags and leaving them untouched for a year! Start small, and aim small. Every week, you can keep it up and you can mark off the improvements you make, by month and by season. Have a goal in mind, and you may want to start another cleaning or home-improvement project right away to keep the motivation high!
8. Volunteer to do something for someone else. Take your problems and set them aside for a while and you will lift the weight of the world off your shoulders. When you begin to look around, and see others in need, and learn to focus your talents and help others, and you will see things from a different perspective that will help you as well as others in the long run.
9. Write down something funny that happened to you. Never fall into the trap of taking yourself or life too seriously. Laughter is one way to keep things in perspective and you will feel better every time you laugh about something funny that has happened or a funny joke you may have heard.
10. Go for a Walk. Look at the world around you. Go and move and focus on things around you. Exercise and you will feel better about yourself. Set mini-goals for your exercise dates and start moving more. Keeping fit will keep you sound in both mind and body.

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