Take time out to reinvigorate your mind, body, emotions, and spirit regularly.

When our confidence runs low we often can feel tired, angry, trapped, overwhelmed, and the emotional toll of low confidence can leave us with physical manifestations of the self-consciousness we’re trying to overcome. Take time for yourself, with activities which bring you the mental, physical, emotional, or spiritual replenishment you need to keep moving forward.

Many of us have heard the advice “No one can refill another’s cup from an empty cup” or “Put your oxygen mask on before helping another”; to that end, you cannot build confidence without properly giving yourself time to decompress and let go of that which has taxed or vexed you.

Giving yourself time to decompress and rejuvenate regularly will refill your energy and allow you to grow more into yourself.

Some things you can try:

·        Watching movies or shows which uplift you or perhaps re-watch some old favorites to bring you comfort and remind you of who you are, perhaps even how far you’ve come (as rewatching certain movies or shows can sometimes spark old memories to resurface). Video games (if that is your choice of decompression) also can be cathartic.

·        Listen to music to help fuel your mood. Whatever your jam is— be it “Tightrope” by LP, “U.N.I.T.Y.” by Queen Latifah, “Quiet” by MILCK, or “Love’s in Need of Love Today” from the show “Pose”— listen to the songs which inspire, sooth, and refresh you from whatever atmosphere you may find your current mentality.

·        Exercise. We may hear it often enough but something as small as 10 minutes of yoga stretches, swimming, going for a jog, lifting weights, or dancing can help expend excess negative energies and refresh the mind.

·        Make something. Be it cooking, baking, grilling, painting, crocheting, sculpting, sewing, macramé, writing— channeling our inner creativity can help remind us of the talents we have as well as the pieces at the core of who we are (such as our own personal flairs!).

·        Spend time with someone or something you love. Have pets? Kids? A partner? Best friend? Set aside all other distractions and focus on your relationship with those you love. Cuddle them (if they consent and you’re a cuddler too— cuddling is also a great way to boost oxytocin!), play a game or with toys (such a feather toy with cats!), or have a conversation. Making time for the relationships we love also makes room for ourselves to grow and connect.

·        Volunteer. Giving back can be such a rewarding feeling, giving us a reminder we are not alone, as well as leading us to show others they don’t have to “go it alone”.

·        Get outside! Going for a hike or nature walk, gardening, and birdwatching are great ways to not only get fresh air and a shot of Vitamin D (which studies have shown can help improve your mood!) but by taking out time to appreciate the beauties to be found in nature, one can reset their perspective.

When we take time to invest within ourselves, we often find we’ll learn how much we truly value and love ourselves for who we are.