19 Quick and Easy Tricks to Boost Confidence

By Alexandra Duron

Like finding the perfect pair of jeans or getting to inbox zero, confidence is a pretty elusive thing. But without it, it’s all too easy to fall down the rabbit hole of self-doubt and negativity. And this not only hurts us on a personal level (anxiety, depression, membership to the lonely heart’s club), but it can also put a damper on our professional success. That’s why we made it our mission to find self-confidence shortcuts.

We searched high and low for the 19 best ways to power past insecurities and doubts, and we have to say: they’re pretty darn awesome. Consider these tips your booster rockets to soar over the toughest situations—whether it’s rocking a first date or acing an interview—with swagger.

1. Spritz on a scent.

Your favorite fragrance does more than make you smell oh-so-nice. As it turns out, it can actually make you confident, too. One study suggests that not only can a fragrance inspire confidence in men, but the more a gent likes the fragrance, the more confident he might feel Manipulation of body odour alters men’s self-confidence and judgments of their visual attractiveness by women. Roberts S. C., Little A. C., Lyndon A., Roberts J., Havlicek J., Wright R. I. International Journal of Cosmetic Science. 2009;31:47–54.. Another study found that 90 percent of women feel more confident while wearing a scent than those who go fragrance-free Neurobiology of Sensation and Reward. Gottfried JA, editor. CRC Press; 2011..

2. Straighten up.

Mom was right: The next time you find yourself slumping in your chair or slouching your shoulders, sit up straight! According to research, doing so can lead to more confidence in your own thoughts Do Slumped and Upright Postures Affect Stress Responses? A Randomized Trial. Nair, Shwetha; Sagar, Mark; Sollers III, John; Consedine, Nathan; Broadbent, Elizabeth. Health Psychology, Sep 15 , 2014. Plus, sitting with good posture can keep both your self-esteem and mood lifted Do Slumped and Upright Postures Affect Stress Responses? A Randomized Trial. Nair, Shwetha; Sagar, Mark; Sollers III, John; Consedine, Nathan; Broadbent, Elizabeth. Health Psychology, Sep 15 , 2014. Try it: Experts recommend opening up your chest and keeping your head level to look—and feel—assured and poised.

3. Give me a “V”!

Though generally a part of a cheerleader’s repertoire, throwing your hands up in the air is a pretty spectacular power pose. While you can’t bust this move out anytime anywhere, just two minutes in a wide stance with your hands in the air will give you an instant confidence boost—you might even want to invent your own pep rally cheer. (No, really. See number 10.)

4. Nod along.

Nodding your head isn’t just good for signaling “yes” or warming up in a group fitness class. Research suggests that the up-and-down movement may actually improve confidence in your thoughts, …read more

Source:: Greatist