For many of us, college is presented as being “the time of your life” filled with new freedoms and fun memories to make. While that may be true, college isn’t fun all the time and can be really difficult, especially if you are a freshman or transfer student attempting to get adjusted to a new school. It can be so easy to get in your head about making friends or trying new things when there’s the possibility of failure. Even if you’re not currently in college, I think we can all agree that some days really make us question our self-confidence. So if you’re struggling, don’t worry! Below are some tips that personally help me to feel more confident.
Practice Affirmations
I don’t always enjoy doing affirmations but I have found them to be really helpful. It takes discipline, but the end result is definitely worth it. To practice affirmations, grab a journal and write down some positive statements. You can find great examples online and on social media or you can write your own. Then, you’re going to look in the mirror and read the statements you wrote out loud to yourself. It feels really stupid at first but trust me once you do it a few times you can tell a difference.
Make a Playlist
For me, music has a powerful effect on my overall mood. On days when I’m not feeling like myself, I have a specific playlist that I listen to filled with songs that make me feel good. This can put you in the right headspace to go throughout your day and remind you that you’re that b*tch even when you feel like you’re not. You can find tons of confidence-boosting playlists on Spotify or make your own with your favorite songs.
Surround yourself with Kind People
This one is more self-explanatory but being around people who make you feel good will instantly help strengthen your confidence. Finding those friends who hype you up when you’re not sure if you can pull off an outfit makes such a difference. Seriously, life is too short to spend your time with people who make you overthink or question if you’re enough.
Dress up for Yourself
I love fashion and I have found that I feel my best on days when I’m wearing a cute outfit and have taken the time to do my makeup. For me, it feels like I am investing in myself, and is a way that I practice self-love. However, wearing makeup and dressing up is a personal choice and if this doesn’t work for you, I encourage you to find something different that helps you express self-love.
Meditate
Meditation is a great way to help clear your mind and put negative thoughts to rest. If you are a beginner, I would recommend downloading an app like Headspace which has guided meditations for people of all experience levels. You can choose how long you want to meditate with Headspace which comes in handy on busy days. If you have never meditated before, I would highly encourage you to give it a try!
I hope that you find these tips useful and never stop investing in yourself. You’ve got this!