12 Powerful Ways to Boost Your Confidence this Summer
Hi, my name is Deanna from Life By Deanna! I’m a 20-something lifestyle blogger with the goal of creating a life I love and inspiring you to do the same. I love all things personal development, wellness, and living a positive & fun lifestyle! In my personal life, I am a crazy cat lady and could live off of mac & cheese. If you have big dreams (and possibly an unhealthy love for pasta) let’s be friends! Come hang with me over on the blog or find me on Instagram.
When summer comes, it brings warmer weather, longer days, and way more activities! For some people, summer is the best time of year and for others… it can be a little stressful.
If you are lacking confidence, summer can be a difficult time for multiple reasons. Warmer days usually mean less clothing and beach days. As much as we should all feel comfortable in our skin, that is not a reality for all.
Personally, up until recently, putting on a bikini or wearing shorts has been a bit of a nightmare. I was always comparing myself to others. When I’d go to a party and see other girls who looked PERFECT, I would be pretty hard on myself.
My confidence? Low.
However, with time, I have learned a trick or two to help boost my confidence! Not only in regards to how I feel in my skin but just generally in my life. Summer doesn’t need to be a time of stress. It can be a time of growing self confidence and feeling freaking good!
Confidence is a mindset
Believe it or not, most people are not naturally super confident. Maybe you’ve heard the term “fake it till you make it” when it comes to doing things you aren’t confident in. There is definitely truth to that!
Like most skills, with some practice, you can get better and better. Being confident is a skill just as much as it is a mindset.
As you get better at being confident, you will start being more confident naturally without all the “faking it” parts. But the tough part is getting there!
It all starts with changing your mindset. Allowing yourself to believe you are a confident person or at least have the ability to be a confident person comes from having a GROWTH mindset!
What is a growth mindset? The gist is that you believe nothing is fixed and that everything can be learned and improved. In this regard, you then believe you can learn to be confident and that even if you are struggling right now, things will change.
Society holds women to high standards
The body positivity movement that has been happening now for a while has really helped the super high expectations women have on their bodies, but it hasn’t totally erased it.
It’s easy to say that you shouldn’t worry about your clothing size and that every body is a summer body. However, it’s not as easy to believe it when society still shoves the ideal body down your throat.
Let’s just for fun, give ourselves a little extra love as you read the rest of this. Tell yourself you are the best, most beautiful person, regardless of what level of self confidence you are working with right now!
12 Powerful Ways to Boost Your Confidence this Summer
Buy clothes that fit your body right now
Look, I am notorious for keeping clothes with the hopes I’ll fit into them again one day. Earlier this summer I actually made the decision to throw all that shit out and buy new clothes. Clothes that actually fit me properly in my current body.
Guess what happened when I put on a pair of Jean shorts that weren’t too tight? I felt amazing!
Who even cares what the size on the tag says?? In one store I wear a size 10. In another store, I’m an XL. Another store I can fit a small. Like, who makes these sizes? To me, they are totally ridiculous and therefore I no longer care.
Practice affirmations
Some of you may find this silly, but talking to yourself and saying affirmations can really help with your confidence.
Try saying things like, “I feel great in my body” or, “I look amazing in a bathing suit.”
Literally repeat these daily multiple times until you start believing it (and you will, even if it seems far-fetched… our minds are powerful).
Pamper yourself
It’s crazy how much clean hair, some make up, and painted nails can change how you feel. Is everyone into wearing make up? No. And that’s okay. Just find something that you feel is pampering and do it!
Related: 100 of the Best Self-Care Ideas
Move your body
Even if your goal is not to lose weight or get toned, movement is a serious mood lifter! If you didn’t know, exercise boosts dopamine levels, making you happier.
A happier you is a more confident you! And a by-product of moving your body will be feeling more comfortable and confident in your skin.
Related: 10 Successful Tricks To Fit Workouts Into A Busy Schedule, 10 Simple Ways to Increase Daily Movement
Don’t compare yourself
Easier said than done, I know! This is something I struggle with on and off. The reality is if you can focus on yourself and no one else, then chances are you won’t be so negative to yourself.
Always remember that everyone has their own things going on. That girl with the “perfect” body may hate her body. You never know what others are going through, so just focus on you!
Make a favorites list
Even if you don’t feel super confident, there are still things you like about yourself.
Write a list of all your favorite things about yourself. It could be physical things, personality traits, skills, whatever you want!
When you are feeling low or lacking self confidence, grab your list and remind yourself of all the things you love about you!
Try to limit bloating
If you are like me, I feel most uncomfortable when I’m bloated, which feels like all the time lol. If you are spending all day on the beach drinking and eating, it can be hard to avoid.
But if you can try to get enough fiber and eat those fruits and veggies, it can help! It’s not a guarantee but hey, I find it helps me feel more confident, so it’s worth a try.
Related: The Best Smoothie Recipes For Summertime
Learn to accept compliments
If you struggle with your confidence, I am 99% sure you have a difficult time accepting a compliment. Maybe because you don’t believe what they are saying or you just feel uncomfortable with someone saying something nice about you.
It’s okay! Some people never like receiving compliments and that’s totally fine. However, next time someone gives you a compliment, respond with “thanks” instead of something negative. Even if you don’t believe it right away, just accept it and embrace it!
Talk to yourself like you would a friend
You know when your friend asks you if they look bad in an outfit or if their hair looks bad or whatever? You normally say no, you look great and mean it. Start talking to yourself like that.
Create a confidence boosting playlist
Is there anything better than listening to a pump up song and feeling like you can take on whatever the world throws at you? No. There is nothing better!
So create yourself a killer playlist that you can listen to when you feel down and most importantly when you are going out (to a party, to the beach, on a date, etc) that can totally boost your confidence and turn you into a badass bitch.
Give yourself a small compliment daily
So, we chatted about receiving compliments but now we are talking about giving them to YOURSELF.
When you walk past the mirror tell yourself you look good, that you like your hair, or whatever else you see/feel.
I personally struggle with driving. I have a lot of driving anxiety. So I started to compliment myself when I did something good or pushed through when I was scared. Saying things like, “Good job, you made it down the road,” or “Hell yes, you just drove across that bridge like a champ,” really do help you build your confidence!
Social media is a blessing and a curse. It’s a love/hate kinda thing! When you feel your self confidence is slipping, take a break. There is nothing wrong with disconnecting and DO NOT feel bad if your friends are the people that are triggering you. It’s really not about them!
Related: 3 Ways to Improve Your Relationship with Social Media
Self-acceptance is key to confidence
At the end of the day, being confident comes with a level of self-acceptance. If you can accept that you are who you are, regardless of any “flaws,” then confidence comes trailing behind. It’s not the easiest thing to just accept yourself, especially when you are lacking self confidence and are on edge about your body, how you look, etc.
However, try to remember in those times of intense worry that most people don’t care what clothes you are wearing or how you look in a bathing suit. They are too worried about how they look. We are very simple creatures in that sense.
So, this summer, please get out there with the most confidence you can muster up and just live your best life! Go to the beach, wear the bathing suit, eat the burger, wear the sports bra to the gym, talk to a stranger, put on your fav jean shorts… just be yourself, and those that matter won’t mind, and those who mind… well, they don’t matter. ♥️
If you need that extra reminder this summer, you can get 3 FREE phone wallpapers that will boost your self confidence and is something positive to keep you going on those tough days!
Related post: What Actually Helped My Body Image
If you enjoyed this post, be sure to go check out Deanna’s blog and Instagram!
If there’s something that helps boost your confidence that wasn’t included in this list, leave it in the comments! (:
