What is ONE thing you do to help you feel better about yourself?

When I'm feeling like I need a confidence boost, I find a basketball court. In-game, my shot selection is much more conservative (I make up for it in defense), but when I'm by myself, I'm only attempting difficult shots. My favorite tough shot is the back-to-the-basket-turnaround-fadeaway-bank. It's a tough shot and I learned it from watching old Wilt highlights. Everytime the ball goes in, it makes me feel good about myself. Thank you for your consideration and I hope this helps! Best, Nick Varga nick@eridejournal.com

Every morning I sit at my desk, open my notepad and write down three things I am grateful for at that moment. Can be something small or large, but it doesn't matter. This routine helps me understand what I love about my life at this exact moment and puts me in a great place to start the day. Try it out for a week and see how you get on and how it makes you feel.

Every time I feel down, I remind myself of all the things I've managed to do and all the challenges I've overcome. After all, each year we come across countless challenges that demand significant effort. It could be a project at work that you've managed to finish despite hardships, or perhaps you were suddenly tasked with something you're not good at yet still succeeded. All you need is to just switch up your perspective and realize you've done some amazing things along the way.

I get down on myself for being negative about certain situations, falling short of others' expectations, getting upset with my children or spouse, or any myriad of moments. I tend to place a lot of blame on myself, and it affects my feelings of self-worth. When I realize I've fallen into this trip, I start thinking about all the good things I've done lately that make me a great human. It might be tipping my server a little extra, holding the door for someone, doing someone a favor, or putting my kids' laundry away for them. Every little good deed matters. They remind me that my worst moments don't define me. This is usually all I need to restore my sense of self-worth and feel better about myself.

Exercise is not just for bodybuilders or swimsuit models- it is for everyone who has a body. Exercise fortifies my mind and body. Mentally, during exercise, there is a voice that always pops up that asks- what are you doing this for? Wouldn't you rather just relax? Exercise helps you conquer these voices because its not just showing up in exercise, these voices show up in every aspect of life whenever we do something new or scary. Our growth happens at the end of our comfort zone. Exercise helps relieve stress and can feel like a moving meditation when you focus on the mind-muscle connection. Physically, I vary my exercise routine- sometimes its running or jumping rope, other times its lifting weights or taking a walk outside. Exercise is the one thing I do daily to feel better about myself.

I practice self-reflection and self-compassion as a way to increase my self-esteem and feel better about myself. This entails giving myself compassion and understanding as well as taking the time to reflect on my ideas and feelings. The following are some actions I do to engage in self-analysis and self-compassion: I set aside time each day to think about and process my feelings. I journal, practice meditation, or just take a few seconds to be silent and peaceful. I give myself space to feel what I am feeling and validate it without passing judgment. This raises my level of self-awareness and helps me better comprehend and process my emotions. I am nice and understanding to myself just as I would be to a good friend.

My top tip for feeling better about yourself is to practice self-care. Taking care of yourself by doing things like exercising, getting enough sleep, and eating healthy meals are great ways to boost your energy and overall wellbeing. But beyond that, it’s important to take time out of your schedule each day to do something you enjoy – whether that’s reading a book, playing a game, meditating, or even just taking a walk around your neighborhood. Without taking the time to focus on myself, I can quickly become overwhelmed or stressed out. That's why I make sure to prioritize self-care and set aside at least an hour every day to do something that brings me joy. This has made all the difference in how I feel about myself and my work - when I come back energized from some “me time,” I feel ready to tackle any challenge that comes my way!

Looking back at your successes can help you get perspective on yourself and improve your personal feeling about where you are at in your life. Just taking a few moments to reflect on past successes and the things you have done can completely turn your mindset and bring you into a more positive light, especially if you've been focused on negatives or feeling down about certain things. You can simply sit and think about these things, or you can actually look at physical items that can remind you of these things, which might be more effective. Whether it be awards, diplomas, successful products, and more - any concrete evidence of your success can make a big difference!