50 Ways to Feel Better About Yourself When You've Lost Your Self-Confidence

Take a deep breath, close your eyes, and visualize things working out. Repeat up to five times, until you feel your mood start to shift — and lift.

Write down five things that you are proud of. Stick the list in your wallet to pull out to remind yourself that you're awesome.

Give yourself a quick pep talk. If you have to, imagine that you're talking to a close friend or loved one. What would you say to them to lift their spirits?

Call a friend and tell them you're feeling down. Sometimes just admitting you're not feeling great makes things better instantly.

Watch a silly pet video. Enough said.

Give yourself an at-home manicure with a color you love but you regularly wouldn't wear and flaunt it. Every time you catch a glimpse of your nails, it'll give your spirits a lift.

First, take a deep breath. Then, acknowledge things aren't going your way. Finally, move on with your day. Repeat as needed.

Stop with negative self-talk. Switch the thoughts of negativity to positive mantras, such as "I am strong!" This isn't an overnight fix. First, start to notice when you're stuck in a negative self-talk loop. Then, begin replacing negative thoughts with positive ones that feel affirming. Over time, this will become habit.

Put down your phone and pay attention to what's going on around you. Just spending a few moments appreciating nature, unique faces, and the hustle and bustle gets your mind off things.

If you can sit for 20 minutes, great. If that sounds terrifying, keep your meditation short: close your eyes, take 10 deep breaths, and imagine something relaxing.

Stop comparing yourself to others! By trying to be similar to someone else, you're forgetting what's awesome about you.

Get some exercise, and you'll feel better in no time. Working out is a distraction from being in the dumps, and helps you tap into some sweet, sweet endorphins. One tip: choose your very favorite type of workout. No need to do something that feels grueling in the best of times when you're already in a funk.

Give yourself an at-home facial. When you spend time taking care of yourself, you remind yourself that you're worthy.

Write down what you're thankful for. Make sure to focus on things you really do feel grateful for, rather than trying to force yourself. Add to the list in your head throughout the day, when you notice something you appreciate.

Sing like no one can hear you. Really, it will change your mood in no time. If you're feeling especially adventurous, pair the song with a few dance moves.

Clean your desk. There's something symbolic about clearing off your workspace — it gives you a chance to mentally reset and start fresh.

Send flowers to a good friend. Or Venmo them $5 to spend on coffee or a small treat. The simple act of giving to others is a sneaky way to lift your own spirits.

Pet a dog or cat, which instantly calms nerves and lowers blood pressure. If you don't have your own, "borrow" a friend's.

Relive a favorite memory. Try to pull in all of your senses — what were you seeing, hearing, smelling, feeling, tasting? Hold onto the feeling, savor them, and let the good feelings flood in.

Put your shoulders back and act like you're walking the red carpet. Even though you're faking it, you'll help elevate your mood.

Do something different. If you always take the same route to work, try a different direction. Do something different with your makeup, or your hair.

Grab your journal and write about what's bothering you. Don't try to stick to any structure; just free-write until you feel a release.

Literally, smell flowers — or treat yourself to a stunning bouquet. Something about bringing nature near you can be instantly relaxing.

A safe risk — like, ask out your crush, or sign up for a class you've been dreaming about for a while, or apply to your dream job. It's sure to jolt you into a different perspective.

Plan the ultimate vacation, focusing on everything you want to do. Write down all the awesome places you'd like to explore and keep it handy when you need to focus on a better place. This can be a dream trip that never gets realized; just researching a new place is an excellent way to feed your spirit.

A "power board" is a poster board filled with pictures of yourself with loved ones, along with inspirational words and images. Just the act of creating it can be affirming, and if you end up in a funk later on, you can revisit the board to lift your spirits.

Ask yourself what you really have control over in the present moment. If there's something you can reasonably change to help improve your situation, go for it. But chances are, there's a lot that's out of your control. Identify those things, and let yourself off the hook for being responsible for them.

This is easier said than done, but: stop with should-have-could-have scenarios. You can't change the past, but you can put your best foot forward. In practice, this tip looks like catching yourself when you're rehashing a past event, reminding yourself that you can't change what happened, reassuring yourself that you're probably being harder on yourself than anyone else would be, and redirecting your attention to the present moment.

Indulge in something you love and remind yourself why it's one of your favorite things. Buy yourself that really-too-expensive coffee drink you usually don't splurge on; take yourself to a cafe to read a book while enjoying a pastry; wear your very favorite but kind of fancy outfit even if you aren't going anywhere special.

It can be hard to find ways to show yourself kindness, so consider asking yourself how you would be kind to a friend, and doing the same for you. Buy yourself a greeting card and write a nice message inside, for instance, or take yourself for a walk, or intentionally think to yourself a message of compassion when you're beating yourself up.

Be honest with yourself: Are you really the worst, or are you simply holding yourself to wayyy too high a standard? What would happen if you lowered the bar for yourself? Remind yourself that being perfect isn't possible, and you're doing great just as you are.

Reflect on your accomplishments. This can help pull you out of a mental spiral about your current circumstances, and remind you that you are pretty awesome.

Accomplish something on your to-do list. It can be anything, big or small. The act of crossing off a task is a surprisingly big confidence boost.

Whether it's a hobby you already love, a past-time you used to enjoy but lost touch with, or something totally new, a hobby can help take your mind off your troubles, relax you, and reconnect you with yourself.

There are so many positive social media accounts out there, from TikTok creators dedicating to rounding up clips meant to remind you of humanity's kindness, to Instagram feeds that post uplifting mantras multiple times a day. Try searching positive hashtags and see where they lead you.

Remember it's OK to say no when you're feeling overwhelmed. Look at your schedule and if there are events you're dreading — either because you're already busy or because it involves doing something or seeing something you aren't looking forward to — try to cancel.

Challenge yourself to try something new — signing up for a race or a pottery class, for instance. Even if you don't enjoy, novelty can be thrilling, and help get you out of your head.

Make a coffee or phone date with a good friend, and get vulnerable: ask them what they like about you. This might feel scary or rude, but a close friend will welcome a chance to talk about why they love you — and hearing the words from someone else's mouth will help you internalize them.

Sometimes, a mere phone call doesn't cut it. Instead, have a virtual happy hour with your long-distance friends. Even just having plans on the calendar can be mood-boosting.

Acknowledge your feelings. It's totally natural to feel insecure, and admitting it is courageous.