Boost your self esteem
Self-esteem is the way we see ourselves, it is how positively you feel and think about yourself and life in general.
What can I do?
There are many ways to work towards increasing your self confidence:
Look after yourself – try eating healthy foods, getting a good amount of sleep, exercising even if it’s just walking the dog.
Beware of negative thoughts and try to replace them with positive thoughts. If this is hard, create a notebook or list on your phone with some examples.
Build positive relationships, try and share your feelings with a friend or someone close who you can talk to about it.
Spend time with friends and family who are positive and appreciate you.
Do things you enjoy.
Create goals have something to aim for. Achieving them will increase your self-esteem.
Start saying ‘no’. Don’t feel you have to say yes to other people if you do not want to. This can lead to you feeling angry and overrun.
Recognise what you are good at and write them down. Keep them to hand.
Low self-esteem is normal
It’s normal to sometimes struggle with your feelings and everyone worries from time to time – whatever your age, race or gender.
How does it affect me?
The way you feel may affect how you behave, you might not want to take part in activities if you don’t think you can do them well, or you might struggle to go out and talk to others.
Non-urgent advice: Other support available
Child Line has some great advice, including how to cope with nasty comments, listening to music, doing good things for others, and answering questions in class.
Young Minds Believe in Yourself’ page also has some good suggestions for boosting self-confidence.
Find out what ChildLine has to say about building your confidence and self-esteem.
Alternatively, speak to a trusted person about how you are feeling; this could be family, friends or even a school counsellor. You could also try speaking to your GP who may be able to recommend some ways for you to boost your self-esteem.
Page last reviewed: 12 January, 2023