Everyone has days when they don’t feel their best, but for some, a lack of confidence is a constant. If you struggle with poor self-esteem, here are some steps to help you boost body confidence and feel more comfortable in your skin.
Get active
Many of us associate exercise with weight loss, but being active has so many benefits. Moving your body reduces the risk of conditions, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some types of cancer, but crucially, it also makes you feel great. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins and the levels of dopamine and serotonin in your brain increase, triggering a natural high. Exercise can also be fun and it can help you lose, gain or maintain body weight, tone up or build muscle mass. If you have a sedentary lifestyle, try to increase your activity levels gradually, vary activities and get friends and family involved. If you’re short on time, you could also explore treatments like Emsculpt NEO, which help to reduce body fat and promote muscle gain, or look into classes or workouts that burn calories quickly, such as circuit training and HIIT (high-intensity interval training). Always ensure that you warm-up and cool down before exercise to lower the risk of injuries.
Dress to feel good
We’ve all had dressing room disasters when we’ve tried outfits on in a store that don’t look great. Trying on clothes that don’t suit you can affect your confidence, but dressing up and putting looks together can also make you feel amazing. Dress to feel good, be open-minded when you’re shopping for new clothes and get to know your body. Find items that will flatter your body shape and make you feel confident when you look in the mirror. It’s an excellent idea to take inspiration from catwalk trends and social media, but don’t be afraid to be original and creative. Fashion should be fun. Don’t feel pressure to follow trends that you’re not into or to wear clothes that don’t make you feel good just because they’re fashionable. Be prepared to try pieces or colors that you would normally write off because you assume that they won’t suit you. You might be surprised.
Avoid making comparisons
It’s human nature to compare yourself to others, but this can be detrimental, especially in the age of photo editing and filters. We tend to have a very narrow view of what is beautiful and what constitutes the perfect body, and the majority of people don’t fit in this mold. Celebrate your body and try to avoid making comparisons with others. You don’t have to be a specific size or shape to be beautiful. Be kind to yourself. Treat yourself in the same way that you treat your closest friends.
Many people have low body confidence. If you dream of feeling more confident when you look in the mirror or try clothes on, take these tips on board. Get active, dress to make yourself feel amazing and try to avoid making comparisons between the way you look and the way others look.
