5 Research-Backed Tips for Men to Improve Their Confidence

It’s summer, but you might be feeling a little lost and depressed, beaten down or overwhelmed by the stresses of everyday life. Maybe you’re beginning to age and lose hair (we can help with that!) and are feeling it hit your confidence? It’s not uncommon to begin to question your effectiveness in this world, and, as a result, start to sink down into a pit of sadness. If that describes you, here are a few ways to help pull yourself up.

1. Get Outside of Your Comfort Zone

If you’re stuck in a rut, it may just be that you haven’t been challenged enough lately, either by yourself or by someone else. If so, then one of the first things you should do is try something new — something that you never thought you were previously capable of, such as rock climbing, learning a new language, or talking to that woman you always see at the coffee shop. Whatever it is that scares you, do it.

2. Hire a Life Coach

In some cases, it may be that as simple as needing a little extra push. The hindrance that you’re unable to see may be entirely clear to someone else — it’s a life coach’s job to push and encourage you further out of your current situation. It might cost a little bit to hire a quality coach, but that’s nothing compared to the improved quality of life.

3. Smile

Fact: it takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile! Studies have shown that people who smile more are happier, since smiling activates the brain’s reward center. A happier person is generally more confident as well.

4. Rethink Your Diet

There are plenty of diet fads out there that could be damaging the way you eat. If you’re exercising and dieting in hopes of getting that cut body, aim to reexamine what you’re doing. For example, the popular idea of eating six small meals a day? Might not be the smartest, since it probably isn’t going to satiate you. Additionally, give a critical eye to popular notions of what men should eat, such as meat, and cut back on it. It might actually be making you feel sick.

5. Exercise

One of the other things you can do to stimulate serotonin production is to exercise your body. Not only does it get you active and feeling better, but the sense of accomplishment will make you feel better about yourself, no matter what the scale or the mirror says.

As you can tell, it’s not hard to make the change: decide to make the difference! Commit today to create a new a life for yourself and watch your confidence begin to steadily return.

References:

(Image Courtesy of Davis Dental Care)

The Science of Smiling: A Guide to The World’s Most Powerful Gesture

Give us a smile! Are you using more or fewer muscles than it takes to frown?

Should You Really Eat Six Meals a Day to Lose Weight?

Men think they need to eat meat to be manly — and it’s making them sick

Originally published at sayarcare.com.