The Importance of Self Confidence: 5 Key Steps to Reset Your Self Esteem

In a slump? Rediscover the importance of self confidence and reset your motivation and self esteem with these 5 easy steps!

we have put together our best tips for getting back to your happy, motivated self as quickly as possible in order to reach your full potential.

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However, we want to recognize that these are only hints and recommendations for boosting your confidence and motivation when suffering from a brief bout of the blues. If you are experiencing an extended period of depression or mental distress, you should consult a mental health professional.

We hope this post sets you on the right track to being the happiest, most successful person we know you can be.

1) Lean On Nutrition to Help Boost Dopamine Levels

Changing what you're eating can be a shortcut to increasing dopamine (often called the 'feel-good' neurotransmitter) levels and reigniting your motivation.

Signs Low Dopamine Might Be Contributing To Your Slump

If you find yourself in a slump, it might be due to a minor dopamine deficiency. Here are some telltale signs to look for:

• Fatigue: feeling tired and lacking energy

• Social anxiety: heightened self-consciousness and fear of judgment

• Low focus: difficulty concentrating or staying on task

• Low motivation: lack of drive to engage in activities you typically enjoy

• Apathy: feeling indifferent or disinterested in things

• Sugar cravings: feeling a strong urge to consume sweets

Healthy Foods That Optimize Dopamine

Dietary superheroes like nutrient-packed proteins, healthy fats, and mood-lifting antioxidants will fuel your brain and help optimize your dopamine levels. Try these foods for a boost of energy and motivation:

• Chicken: a good source of tyrosine, which is the building block for dopamine

• Eggs: are also a good source of tyrosine and other mood-boosting nutrients like choline and vitamin D

• Avocado: is a good source of Vitamin K and healthy monounsaturated fat, which are essential for optimal brain health and the production of dopamine

• Dark chocolate: is rich in flavanols and phenylethylamine, compounds that stimulate the production of dopamine

• Spirulina: a nutrient-dense superfood containing high levels of tyrosine as well as other essential nutrients that support overall brain health and function

Supplements To Support Dopamine Production

• Adaptogens: adaptogens like ashwagandha and rhodiola can help your body better cope with stress and anxiety, which can, in turn, improve dopamine production

• Curcumin: a compound found in turmeric that has anti-inflammatory effects and may help improve dopamine function

• Magnesium: a mineral that plays a role in many bodily functions, including neurotransmitter production

• Tyrosine: a supplement form of the building block for dopamine

• Vitamin D: a nutrient that plays a role in many bodily functions, including mood regulation and neurotransmitter production

• Panax Ginseng: an herb that improves cognitive function and mood

2) Give Yourself Some Mental Motivation

Create a to-do list of what you need to get done. This will help shift your mind to a productive rather than anxious place so you can focus on priorities that will help you accomplish your goals. Of course, you don't have to get them all done in a day, but just making a list will help switch your brain to a "do" rather than "stew" mode.

Suggested Reading: 4 Simple Tips For Writing An Effective To-Do List

Clean up your space. A clean, organized space signals your brain that it's time to work. In addition, it will improve your mindset so you can focus on what you need to.

A clean environment can also make it easier to start new habits or routines by reducing distractions and making it faster to find the things you need. It will boost your mood and give you some positive momentum.

Try listening to self confidence affirmations. There is tremendous power in words. While you're getting ready in the morning or doing the dishes try turning on some positive affirmations. There are a lot of great options on YouTube and Spotify. It might feel silly to listen to at first, but the power of the words will begin to seep in and you’ll start to experience a gradual increase in your self esteem over time.

If you prefer, you can also opt to read personal affirmations to yourself. By incorporating positive affirmations and self-affirming mantras into your daily routine, you'll be amazed how often positive things don on you everyday.

3) Get Physical

Relax Your Body

Anxiety often leads to physical symptoms like muscle tension. Deep breathing, meditation, and stretching are all great ways to let go of the stress and tension that your body is subconsciously holding onto.

Also take some time to assess your posture. By keeping your back straight with your chest up you can trick your brain into feeling more confident.

Break a Sweat

Inactivity can exacerbate anxiety. When you aren't exercising, your body isn't releasing as many endorphins, which can make you more susceptible to feelings of anxiousness and stress. Exercising is also a great distraction from anxious thoughts.

Anything from taking a walk to signing up for a vigorous boxing class can help to alleviate feelings of anxiety.

Try Cold Therapy

Exposing your body to mild stress through cold exposure can influence your body's dopamine production, leading you to feel more alert and energized.

People often talk about taking an ice bath or a cold shower when discussing cold exposure. However, if standing in a cold shower for 2 minutes sounds impossible, you can get the same benefits by submerging your face in a bowl of ice water.

We like to take a salad bowl, fill it halfway with water, and let it freeze overnight. Then, when ready, you can top off the bowl with tap water and let the ice melt.

Take Time for Self-Care. Looking Good = Feeling Good

Here are a few of our favorite self-care activities that take 30 minutes or less.

• Take time to do your complete skincare routine and apply a little makeup if it helps you to feel more confident.

• Spritz on your favorite scent (non-toxic of course!) for an instant confidence boost.

• Give yourself a hair mask and scalp massage- trust us, this feels heavenly!

• Stick a sheet mask in the freezer for 10 minutes and then apply it to give yourself a little added glow. We love to use this time to call a friend or Mom. Someone we know who can give us a quick confidence boost.

Suggested Reading: 5 Self-Care Ideas For Women That Will Transform Your Mood In Under An Hour

4) Feel More Confident In Your Skinny Jeans- Tips To Debloat Fast

We all have those days when we look in the mirror, and nothing seems to fit quite right. Feeling puffy and like none of your clothes fit can majorly blow your self-confidence. But remember, it's just temporary!

Here are some fixes to help you get back to feeling like yourself in no time.

• Lymphatic debloat massage. A lymphatic drainage massage can help to reduce water retention and bloat caused by excess lymphatic fluid in the body. There are a lot of great videos on YouTube that can show you how to do a lymphatic drainage massage on yourself in less than 20 minutes.

• Legs up the wall. This is exactly like it sounds. Find a quiet space in your house where you can lay back and extend your legs up the wall. This will allow gravity to pull the lymph down the legnth of your legs and help to stimulate your parasympathetic nervous system, which aids in digestion.

• Drink room temperature water with chlorophyll drops- chlorophyll is said to have anti-inflammatory properties, which can help reduce inflammation in the body which can alleviate bloating.

Suggested Reading: 5 Natural Ways to Optimize Digestion and Reduce Belly Bloat

5) Get Inspired

Switch up your routine by diving into new things. Try a new hobby that will help you explore your creativity.

Take on activities and new skills that will help you build feelings of accomplishment. It doesn't have to be big and doesn't have to make sense to anyone but you. Accomplishing new abilities strengthens your connection with yourself and boosts your self-esteem.

• Try incorporating 10 minutes of running into your daily walk
• Challenge yourself to try a new yoga pose
• Take 15 minutes a day to learn a new language
• Of course there are many others!

Get on Pinterest and create a vision board. Want to start eating better? Meditating more often? Reading more? A visual representation of your goals is a great source of inspiration and motivation and helps you to get clear on what you really want, which is the first step to achieving any goal.

This post is about the importance of self confidence.

Self confidence means something a little different to everyone. Remember that building back from a place of low confidence is a process to approach in small steps. Every day is an opportunity to take action towards building confidence and becoming a more confident person.

By incorporating these 5 key steps, you can build a strong self esteem foundation that will help you achieve your goals and the life you want to live.

1. Eat foods that will help to boost your dopamine levels

2. Find quick and easy ways to motivate yourself and give yourself some momentum, like making to-do lists and tidying your space

3. Keep up with physical exercise, including relaxation and stretching techniques, getting your heart rate up, and incorporating cold therapy

4. If you need a quick confidence boost, try techniques that will increase lymphatic drainage in order to decrease bloat

5. Inspire yourself to try new hobbies and build new skills to help boost your self-esteem.

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