5 Tips for Improving Your Self-Image

How you think and feel about yourself has major implications for your confidence and mental health. While everyone has moments when they feel unsatisfied or find it difficult to believe in themselves, being in these states for long periods of time can lead to problems such as anxiety and depression.

With your self-esteem being the result of a lifetime of experiences, particularly those that occurred during childhood, making any changes can seem like an insurmountable challenge. However, this is far from true. There are many things you can do to improve and strengthen your self-image. Get started with the following five tips.

Enhance Your Body Image

For many people, their low self-image stems from how they view their appearance. The first thing to understand is that body image is not fixed. As we age, both the way we look and how we see ourselves evolves and maintaining your body image is a lifelong process. Here are some practical steps for enhancing your body image from the inside:

• Confront and disprove any thinking distortions related to your appearance
• Challenge common assumptions about body image that are misleading
• Accept and love who you are
• Use positive affirmations

Treat Yourself

You can also enhance your body image from the outside. This can involve taking better care of yourself, be it by adjusting your weight through diet and exercise or taking better care of your skin. You might go for a new hairstyle or take some time to learn about fashion and change up your wardrobe.

Another option is to consult an esthetician about how you can look and feel your best with cosmetic changes. Whether it’s getting a new look through cosmetic surgery or simply spoiling yourself with a spa day, showing yourself that you care about your appearance and are putting effort into improving it will make all the difference.

Build Positive Relationships

One aspect of self-image that seldom receives the consideration it deserves is the company you keep. How others view you, or how you might think they view you, has a significant impact on how you view yourself. It’s absolutely vital that you surround yourself with people around whom you feel your best. There’s no shame in cutting out those who drag you down or make you feel uncomfortable. More often than not, how people treat themselves sets the standard for how they treat others, so paying attention to this factor can help you identify who is best for you.

Give Yourself a Break

Avoid being too critical of yourself. Nobody can be perfect every hour of every day, which is why self-esteem varies from time to time. You might feel confident and comfortable in certain situations, and anxious or uneasy in others. Some people, for instance, are in command of themselves in social settings but struggle at the workplace or vice-versa.

In any case, it’s also important to take on new challenges and test your limits. If you struggle around certain people or have social anxiety, which is often tied to self-image, then leaving your comfort zone and meeting new people can help you build a great deal of confidence. At the same time, remember not to put too much pressure on yourself to perform.

Improve Your Health

Physical health and mental health go hand in hand. It’s far easier to feel good about yourself when you’re in good shape. From staying active to getting enough sleep to eating the right foods, building these habits will make you a prouder and more confident individual.

It’s not possible to go from low to excellent self-esteem overnight, so take it day by day. Each step forward is a step in the right direction, and now is a better time than ever to get started.