3 Steps To Cultivating Confidence As A Student
You are taking a full load of courses and earned that A on that English essay, but you need to feel better about yourself. You are feeling overwhelmed and starting to think that you may not survive college.
Listen up; college is hard. It takes a lot of work inside and out to make it through. It takes having a healthy self-confidence to be successful in school. Having self-confidence will help you achieve your goals. It's the foundation for socialization, courage to try new things, and learning. In this blog, we will talk about how you can cultivate self-confidence and have a positive experience as a student.
1. A Balanced Lifestyle
If you are not taking care of yourself, how can you build your self-confidence? Let’s start with the obvious, your physical and mental health.
Sleep
After a good night's rest, you will have the clarity, motivation, and capacity to tackle daily challenges and boost your confidence. Lack of sleep, on the other hand, will leave you feeling delirious, burned out, and emotional, which can cause you to question who you are and be prone to making costly mistakes in school. Make it a point to sleep well every night; your mind and body will thank you for it.
Eating healthy
I understand flaming hot Cheetos, cookies, tacos, and pizza are delicious food, but it is not the best for your emotional well-being. The way you eat can affect your self-confidence and energy levels. Focusing on the essential nutrients in your meals, such as fruits and vegetables, you'll reduce stress and anxiety, leaving you more confident and boosting your self-esteem.
Exercise
Exercising enhances your self-confidence. It helps you manage stress more efficiently than not exercising! You will feel better about yourself, contributing to a more confident demeanor.
2. Taking A Holistic Approach
You would not think practicing holistic methods would help your self-confidence, but it does! Holistic health methods will help you feel confident, rejuvenated, and refreshed. It involves learning how to be your best self.
Be gentle and kind to yourself
Embrace the person who you are and be proud of that person. Do not let your inner critic alter your perception of yourself. Focus on the good traits you have and all the things you have accomplished. Even write down all the good things about yourself in a journal so you can always use it as a reference if your inner critique tries to creep back into your mind. Recognizing all the good things about you will make you more content with who you are, ultimately boosting your self-confidence. Focus on those wins!
Do not compare yourself to others
First and foremost, STOP! We are all different individuals, and no one has the same path in life. Comparing yourself to others takes away from your story and accomplishments because you believe the rules and standards you have created are one-size-fits-all. Additionally, comparing yourself to others is a destructive habit that diminishes self-confidence.
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3. Build A Positive Environment
Let’s face it, to cultivate self-confidence within ourselves, we need to think about our surroundings, including our activities and relationships.
Build positive relationships
When you surround yourself with toxic-minded people, it’s hard to feel good about yourself and your accomplishments. If you have a toxic friend or family member, set boundaries to maintain these relationships from a distance or take one step further and end the relationship. Unhealthy relationships will only hinder your self-esteem.
It would be best if you surround yourself with positive and uplifting relationships instead. Having great relationships with people who encourage you will influence you to accomplish more in your life and ultimately help you build your self-esteem.
Set your own goals
Do not let others, such as your parents, create your goals and plans for your life. They will rarely think of your actual needs and wants, ultimately leading you to unhappiness and failure. For example, if your parents want you to major in science to become a doctor, but you want to be a teacher, set a major that will align with your goals to become a teacher.
By having control of your life, you will feel more confident about yourself because you are committed to doing what you have always wanted for yourself. Of course, it is important to set manageable goals to avoid anxiety and stress.
Reward Yourself
We often are too busy focusing on our mistakes and failures. We often forget to celebrate our achievements, big or small. A way to help with self-esteem is to celebrate your accomplishments.
There are many ways to reward yourself: give yourself a break, go to a concert, buy a fun book to read, or go to dinner with your friends. You must celebrate yourself through all the good things you have done because it will help you feel good about yourself!
Cultivating self-esteem is a vital personal resource you can have. Having healthy self-esteem will aid you in having success in all aspects of life. While pursuing higher levels of self-care and being kinder to yourself, you are taking the proper steps to cultivate self-esteem.
Related:
Tips To Professional Growth After College From Two Career Coaches
Find a Job Fast: The Job Search Accelerator For Career Professionals
5 Reasons Why College Students Should Take a Mental Health Day
Meet The Writer!
Hola! I’m Amanda Ortiz. I am a freelance writer and run my own freelance writing business, Starlit Writing. I have a B.A. in English from the California State University of Channel Islands and an M.A. in History from the California State University of Los Angeles. I have experience in technical writing in marketing and content writing. In my freetime, I spend writing about social and cultural obstacles that come with being a first-generation Latina. Please feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn and check out my blog on my company website!
