7 Daily Habits to Improve Your Self-Esteem

The power of a habit is that once it’s established, it becomes second nature and you don’t actively have to think about it. Instead, your daily habits become an automatic part of who you are and how you live your life.

Just as you automatically brush your teeth in the morning or make your bed, you can also build rituals that help to sustain positive emotions and improve self-esteem.

How to make habits part of your life

Start small. Don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to make too many changes all at once. Instead, focus on one habit you want to start incorporating and stick with that until you find you’re doing it automatically.

Keeping your new habits very small and easy prevents overwhelm and the possibility that you’ll give up because it’s too hard.

For example, daily exercise is a great habit for both mind and body, but don’t plan on spending an hour at the gym if you’ve never been before. Just five minutes a day is enough to start building a strong foundation.

It can help to stick to a specific time or set a “hook” to remind yourself of your new habit. Use a habit that is already established (like brushing your teeth or making your morning) to trigger the new one. So every time you brush your teeth, you could make a conscious effort to stand tall and think of something positive about yourself.

How a morning routine can set you up for success

Creating a morning ritual or routine can be an incredibly powerful way to start your day. This will help to create a positive foundation for the whole day and bring more focus into your life.

Your morning routine doesn’t need to be complicated or time-consuming. It can simply involve starting each day with gratitude, setting an intention for what you’d like to achieve, or making a specific self-care practice (like meditation).

When you start your day with positive thoughts and self-esteem rituals, it can be much easier to maintain an overall feeling of well-being throughout the day. It’s also a great way to bring more structure into your life so that you can proactively work towards achieving your goals.

Ideas for esteem-boosting healthy habits to incorporate into your daily routine

There are no rules when it comes to creating healthy habits, so you should choose what you want to do and what you think will make the biggest impact in your life. Some ideas you could consider include:

Move your body

Even just the word “exercise” can be intimidating to some people, so think of it as moving your body instead. This isn’t only great for your physical health but also has proven positive effects on mental health and self-esteem.

A few minutes is enough to start with. Jumping jacks, a few stretches, running up and down the stairs, or anything that gets your heart rate up just a little will be beneficial.

Hydrate

Your brain can’t perform at its best if it’s not hydrated. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day helps to keep your mind and body functioning optimally, improving focus and energising you. Try to start your day with a big glass of water.

Gratitude practice

Being thankful has many positive effects on overall well-being. Each day you can take a few moments to write down five things that you are grateful for. This could be something big or small, like the smell of freshly brewed coffee when you wake up.

Journaling

Writing your thoughts and feelings down is a great way to relieve stress and emotional pressure. It can also help you to figure out what your goals are and create a workable plan for achieving them.

Meditation/mindfulness

Take a few moments every day to calm your mind and transform your mental state, focus, and motivation. Training your mind to be in the present moment and be more mindful has countless benefits.

Positive affirmations

Positive affirmations are statements that can help you reframe your thinking to focus on the good. Say positive self-love phrases to yourself like “I am capable”, “I am worthy of love and respect”, or “I can accomplish anything I set my mind to”. Don’t worry if you don’t believe them right away, this will come in time.

Something that brings you joy

Finally, it’s important to do something that makes you happy each day. This could be reading your favourite book, listening to music, or going for a walk in nature. Make sure this activity is one that fills you with positive energy!

Harness the power of positive habits

Sticking to a habit shows you can keep promises to yourself and will gradually build your self-trust and improve your self-esteem.

By replacing the habits that don’t serve you with positive, confidence-building habits, you can create a powerful foundation for sustained well-being and happiness. So give it a try and see what amazing things start to happen in your life.