To help build self-esteem, we need to focus on setting achievable goals, surrounding ourselves with a support system, practicing self-care, and using positive self-talk. Having a daily routine and rituals can also help our self-esteem is vital, as it provides us with consistency, structure, and a sense of purpose. This creates a space for us that is dedicated to self-care, reflection, and growth. These are all essential for building and maintaining healthy self-esteem!

Here are some daily habits that we can try to improve our sense of self and self-esteem:

1. Morning Gratitude

Starting our day with gratitude can help us shift our focus towards the positive aspects of our lives, cultivating a sense of appreciation. Doing this can increase our happiness, reduce anxiety and stress, enhance our relationships, and allow us to have a more positive outlook on life.

Prompts:

Write down 3 things you’re grateful for

What is one good thing that happened today?

Who has supported you recently?

What habit has improved your life?

2. Journaling

Taking time out of our day to journal our feelings, emotions, and thoughts can allow us to reflect on our experiences, process emotions, and gain clarity. Journaling can help with personal growth and be a valuable tool for self-discovery.

Prompts: What challenges did I face today?

What is one thing I can do today to get closer to my goals?

What do I know to be true that I didn’t know a year ago?

3. Daily Affirmations

Creating and saying daily affirmations that resonate with us can reinforce positive beliefs about our abilities and ourselves. Daily affirmations can boost our self-esteem and confidence and lead us to a more positive outlook on life. Create a list of daily affirmations that resonate with you and repeat them to yourself every morning!

Prompts:

I am enough

I am thankful for my body and what it does for me

I am worthy of love

I can achieve my goals

4. Routine

Having a daily routine can significantly impact us by promoting accomplishments, reducing stress, and fostering a sense of stability. Routine can also help us prioritize our self-care and self-reflection, therefore leading to improved moods and boosting our self- esteem.

How can we implement a daily routine?

Define our priorities and goals

Create a schedule & tasks you want to implement

Make it sustainable

Be consistent and track your progress

We can also develop habits to avoid feeling trapped in our low self-esteem, such as cultivating self-compassion. Self-compassion is the act of treating ourselves with kindness! When we are faced with difficulties or feel as though we are failing, striving to encourage ourselves instead of being self-critical can help us with our self-esteem. Trying to have self-compassion with ourselves daily involves accepting negative self-evaluations and self-doubt. When we treat ourselves better and with compassion, we are better equipped to handle life’s trials and tribulations.

Small, incremental changes to our routines and daily habits can help us boost our self-esteem. Setting more realistic goals for our day-to-day and practicing self-compassion more can help us make these improvements as well. Goal setting can be a powerful way to build our self-esteem as each time we each our goals, we reinforce our abilities to succeed and our self-worth.

Having some habits can make big changes in our lives! Having healthy self-esteem comes from within and is rooted in self-compassion, self-acceptance, and a deep understanding of our beliefs and values. Some individuals seeking individual therapy feel as though their worth is jeopardized, thinking things such as: I feel as though I am being judged by those around me, I feel as though I’m consistently at fault, and I don’t believe I deserve my achievements and successes. If you relate to any of these statements, you may be struggling with low self-esteem and know that you are not alone! Seeking support through therapy can help you focus on your personal well-being journey, set realistic goals for daily habits, and practice self-compassion to help increase your self-esteem.

References

https://www.forbes.com/sites/traversmark/2023/01/12/a-psychologist-offers-5-healthy-habits-to- improve-your-self-esteem/

https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/the-angry-therapist/202403/7-daily-rituals-to- improve-your-self-esteem

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