How to Boost Self-Confidence

Although we also can feel insecure at times, having low self-esteem can increase the risk of developing psychological disorders such as depression and anxiety (1). To prevent suffering due to poor mental health, follow these 5 tips to boost your self-confidence. 

Practice Self-Affirmation

Despite how uncomfortable you may feel, compliment yourself! Neuroscience researchers from the University of Pennsylvania examined the brains of participants engaging in self-affirmation, finding increased activation in their prefrontal cortext and ventral striatum, brain regions associated with self-processing and reward (2).

Become Part of Various Groups

If you have the opportunity to join clubs at school, do so! Your self-esteem will thank you! Results from a widespread survey conducted by the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research indicated that belonging to multiple groups increased self-esteem, while having a large number of friends had no correlation to self-confidence (3). 

Practice Good Body Posture

Sitting up straight doesn’t only benefit your back! Researchers at Ohio State University assigned 71 participants to sit up straight or slouch while listing personality traits for a job interview. Results indicated that students who sat up straight more strongly identified with those traits than those who sat in the slouched position (4). 

Limit Viewing Selfies on Social Media

It’s time to reduce your Instagram and Snapchat usage. Researchers from Penn State University conducted an online survey and found a negative correlation between the frequency of viewing selfies on social media platforms and self-esteem (5).

Spend Time with Your Parents

While you are still living at home with your parents, find time to spend with them! In fact, researchers from Penn State University conducted a seven year study in which they interviewed 200 families on five occasions. Statistical analyses indicated that teens who spent more time with their parents not only had better social skills but also higher self-confidence (6). 

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC151271/

2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4814782/

3. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0124609

4. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091005111627.htm

5. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/10/161019141814.htm

6. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120821143907.htm