Low self-esteem

Self-esteem is the way you feel about yourself - whether you value your abilities and achievements. Self-esteem is an opinion and not a fact.

Quick tips to improve self-esteem

  • Avoid comparing yourself to others - everyone has different strengths and weaknesses
  • Do things that make you feel good
  • Be with people with who you feel good
  • Avoid things and people that make you feel bad

How can I help myself?

1 Self-esteem and your study

  • Do not put all your self-esteem 'eggs' into one basket - your worth is not determined by any single thing
  • Do things other than work that help you feel good
  • Enjoy your successes, learn from failures
  • Feel good about yourself for the effort you put in

2 Make time for fun and friends

  • Think about the ways you enjoy yourself
  • Arrange to be in situations that are playful and make you laugh
  • Spend time with people who respect you and treat you well

3 Reward yourself

  • Give yourself some leisure time every week
  • Buy yourself a little treat
  • Do something you particularly enjoy but rarely get round to

4 Look after yourself physically

  • Eat regularly and healthily
  • Sleep well and look after your wellbeing
  • Exercise can give you confidence and help you to feel good about your body
  • Pay attention to how you stand and walk, just walking with your head held high can boost confidence

5 Be compassionate to yourself

  • If you wouldn't say something mean about someone else, don't say it to yourself
  • Low self-esteem can make it difficult to identify strong points, but it doesn't mean you don't have them, only that they are unfamiliar to you
  • Being 'good enough' is a great goal to aim for
  • Don't assume you are unimportant

6 Ask for help

If you think your low self-esteem is affecting you, please contact someone. Friends, family, colleagues and your manager can all help.

Resources