The coronavirus pandemic got you feeling less confident in yourself? You’re not alone. Social distancing and working from home have people around the world dealing with low self-esteem and confidence.
According to a British survey, 20% of respondents report feeling less confident than before the pandemic (Cosmetic Business); meanwhile, in the United States, AdCare, an addiction recovery website, reported similar findings. The percentage of residents in the following states rank the lowest for self-esteem during the pandemic:
- 42% Nebraska
- 41% Maine
- 35% Alaska
- 25% Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, and South Dakota
A OnePoll survey further backs up the connection between the pandemic and loss of confidence in oneself, with 51% of Americans claiming the pandemic has negatively influenced how they feel about their bodies, with another 40% reporting they could relate to the idea of passing by a mirror and not recognizing their reflection.
Finally, a study by Anglia Ruskin University, as reported by Science Daily, indicates that COVID-19 related stress has people yearning for thinness in women and masculinity in men.
Knowing you’re not alone might help make you feel somewhat better, but are there things you can do to help restore your self-esteem and confidence?
Your Smile Is a Great Place to Start
Feeling good about your teeth and smiling more often go hand-in-hand. Research shows any time we smile, even if it isn’t genuine, can make us feel better.
If you’ve been unable to visit the dentist due to COVID-19 or you’ve gotten into some bad oral hygiene habits, it’s time to make an appointment with your dentist and return to routine brushing and flossing. Adding a peroxide-free whitening gel can further help you reclaim your smile by whitening and protecting your teeth without removing essential minerals.
Need some inspiration to smile? What follows are four suggestions that will make you smile.
Acquire a New Skill or Knowledge
Learning something new is a great way to boost your confidence and get you smiling more. Believing you can accomplish something, like winning a race or writing a book, is what self-confidence is all about. Take the time to learn a new skill or knowledge to regain some self-esteem.
Due to the pandemic, you might find free or reduced offerings at your local community center. Of course, you can watch YouTube or TikTok how-to videos or register for a membership to sites such as MasterClass that provide you a library of videos and tutorials from experienced professionals like famed author James Patterson, photographer Annie Leibovitz, and conservationist Jane Goodall.
Rid Yourself of Doubt
Dr. Maggie Warrell, author and contributor to Forbes, explains the reason people fail to achieve their potential is “not due to a lack of knowledge, opportunity, or resources but that belief in themselves”.
The best way to increase your self-confidence, according to Warrell, is to act confident, even if you don’t feel it. That means wherever you go you present a self-assured posture by standing tall, holding your head high, shoulders back, and smiling. Pay attention to how people behave around you and how it makes you feel.
Quiet Your Inner Negative Voice
Sometimes we are our own worst enemy. When we listen to our inner voice criticize the things we do, self-doubt comes to the forefront. According to the Mayo Clinic, the following six thought patterns undermine our self-esteem.
- Viewing things as all-or-nothing
- Focusing on the negatives
- Turning positives into negatives
- Jumping to negative conclusions
- Confusing beliefs and feelings for facts
- Under valuing yourself
Being aware of negative self-talk is one of the leading ways to increase your self-confidence. Know that even the most confident people have moments of self-doubt. To help control negative thoughts you must dismiss them when they arise. Avoid things, like social media or news, if they trigger negative thoughts for you. Remember if people don’t speak to you negatively you shouldn’t allow your inner voice to.
Relate With Children
How do you nurture self-worth in children is difficult, when you have little confidence? The Marine Corps Community Service has a few ideas including asking kids for advice or opinions on subjects. In addition to helping foster self-confidence in themselves you’ve initiated a rewarding conversation that can benefit you both.
Carol
Information sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only.
Sources
- https://www.cosmeticsbusiness.com/news/article_page/Covid19_sparks_epidemic_in_declining_selfconfidence/178569
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/10/201022201407.htm
- https://adcare.com/blog/low-self-esteem-during-the-pandemic/
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/04/190412094728.htm
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/margiewarrell/2015/02/26/build-self-confidence-5strategies/?sh=6afcdbac6ade
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/self-esteem/art-20045374
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/self-esteem/art-20045374
