13 ways to boost confidence for under $30
I’ve never heard someone say that they don’t want to be confident. Confidence is something we all generally understand is helpful, so we all want to have it or have more of it. But when you want to have it, it can feel a little overwhelming figuring out how to get it…which is literally why I do what I do.
I know y’all are smart enough to know that the secret to confidence isn’t in one little purchase - there is long term focus and effort that goes into changing the way we think about ourselves. But that doesn’t mean that there aren’t some small things you can do to start.
The best part about starting small is you can sometimes feel an initial boost that helps you want to keep going. So in today’s post, I want to talk through some small, everyday tweaks and habits that can get the ball rolling. I’ve compiled a list of affordable, easy-to-implement ideas that can help you start building your confidence today. These are practical tips that focus on boosting your mindset and embracing self-love—no big budget required!
Before I launch into my suggestions, there’s one point that you have to understand:
Buying something will not make you more confident if you don’t change your mindset as a result.
All the products from previous Sephora sales that are rotting in your drawer should be evidence to this. We like to convince ourselves that this new thing is finally going to change the way we feel. It ain’t true. Buying things can make a difference but that comes from 1. actually using it once you buy it and 2. allowing the new stimuli to shift your mindset.
Let me circle back to that #1 one more time for emphasis because I know I need this reminder every time I go buy a new thing that I think is going to help me - it won’t help you if you don’t use it.
It won’t help you if you don’t use it.
Okay, have I yelled enough to get through to you? Good. So all of the below suggestions are going to be things that you could buy or potentially already have that can help you make some changes that can help get the confidence ball rolling down hill. I’ll talk you through how you can make sure this purchase actually can lead to a mindset shift, so we’re not just wasting your hard-earned cash.
Let’s jump in!
Easy ways to start building confidence today
Declutter Your Space (Even Just a Drawer)
Studies have shown that having clutter around your house actually leads to cluttered thoughts. (Yes, real scientists did full studies to confirm this thing we all have already felt!) This can cost no money at all, or you can invest in a few simple organizers from Target or Amazon to help create order in your space. The key here for it actually impacting your confidence is that you complete the task. So I’d strongly recommend against tackling your entire closet at once where you’re way more likely to get overwhelmed. Start small with a drawer or two and notice the satisfaction that builds from completing a task and see if clearing physical clutter helps clear a bit of mental clutter and gives you a boost of control and clarity.
Use a Confidence-Boosting Playlist
Music is a powerful mood-shifter but we often use it reactively rather than proactively. Putting on music to channel how you want to feel is an incredibly effective way to create a mood shift. Whether you want to curate a playlist of your specific faves or use pre-made Spotify playlists, using upbeat confidence anthems when you want to shift how you feel can be powerful and available to you even without a Spotify paid subscription.
Engage in Random Acts of Kindness
Counterintuitive but helping others actually has significant bounceback in feeling good about ourselves. Helping others can increase your own feelings of self-worth and improve your emotional well-being. Buying somebody’s coffee or leaving a huge tip on your lunch costs you very little money and notice the bump in your self-image when you see yourself as someone who does that type of thing for others.
Refresh Your Underwear
Nobody sees it, so it doesn’t matter as much as whatever else you wear, right? WRONG. Ratty underwear with holes or stretched out waistbands sends the signal that you don’t care that much about yourself. Even if it’s just getting fresh sets of your typical neutral colors, having fresh underwear can be a little boost in feeling put together, even though you’re the only one that’ll know. Most importantly, throw away the old ones when you replace them. “But, Sam, they’re still fine, I should keep them in case I’m low on laundry at some point!” Nope, that destroys the whole point - you are the type of person who takes care of yourself, which includes doing laundry with regularity and wearing put together undergarments. I promise you can do this.
Get Dresses for a Regular Day
While we’re on the topic of clothes, I know that you get dressed when it matters - the job interview, a date night, a girls dinner. But often we feel like those are the departures from the norm and who we are is… less put together (I used to say to myself things like slouchy and sloppy). So if you want to start building a self-image that you’re proud of, try getting dressed for a day when there’s no real occasion to. I’m not saying that leggings are outlawed or that you need to be dressed to the nines every day but even just putting 5 minutes of effort in to pick an outfit, or adding a belt and earrings to make your jeans and t-shirt look more put together can send the signal to yourself that you care who you are. Overtime, your self-image can start to shift as somebody who looks good, even on casual days.
Create a Vision Board
We’re motivated by what we desire. Whether you use magazines and printouts or good ol’ Pinterest, spend some conscious time collecting images or words that inspire and represent your goals, desires, and best self. The act of putting your vision into something physical helps anchor your aspirations and fosters a sense of purpose and self-worth. Extra points if you can pay attention to what limiting beliefs come up about why you can’t have these things so you can start diving into those in your larger mindset practice.
Commit to Journaling
A new journal can feel magical, like you’re opening up a portal to a future version of yourself. Whether you buy a new one, or if you’re like me and tend to accumulate pretty journals and are going to crack open one already in your cabinet, journaling is an extremely powerful habit for reframing your mindset and opening up new perspectives. Journaling helps you process emotions, set intentions, and track personal growth. If you’re feeling stuck, I’ve got some journal prompts for you here that are perfect to dive into and for all my people pleasers, here are some journal prompts for you too.
Try a Low-Cost Online Course (or Skill-Building App)
Part of confidence is built on competence, our belief in our skills. So identify a skill that you’ve been wanting to build and spend a little time every day making progress. Whether it’s a learning app (like Duolingo or Skillshare) or a very specific focus like learning new needlepointing stitches or improving your writing, actually building skills gives you more foundations to build on.
Take 5 Minutes to Meditate or Practice Deep Breathing
I know, I know. You’ve heard it a million times. But if you are feeling insecure or anxious, conscious breathing or a quick meditation can bring your body back down to calm for quicker than your thoughts pretty much ever will. This completely free tactic can help you get out of major thought spirals that can ruin a whole day.
Wear a New Hairstyle or Change Your Look Slightly
No, confidence is not all about your appearance. In fact, appearance is only one very small part of what affects our confidence. BUT we grow so used to how we look, seeing ourselves in the mirror that doing little things to break the patterns in what we’re used to seeing can also help us break the pattern in how we’re feeling about yourself. Try curling your hair a different way, using a claw clip or testing a new lip color and see what the jolt feels like. Remember, this alone will not change how you feel, it’s all about your mindset in allowing yourself to shift and grow, which is the larger muscle we want to build to support our confidence.
Take a Break and Walk Outside for 10 Minutes
A quick walk in nature or even just a stroll around the block can help reset your mind. Physical activity releases endorphins (the feel-good hormones), and taking a break to focus on the present moment helps you return to your day feeling refreshed and empowered. When the thought spirals start, moving your body can be a super powerful way to stop yourself from beating yourself up too much, not to mention it’s good for you!
Do Something You’re Bad At
Most people who struggle with confidence do so because they’re afraid to fail. So if you can build your tolerance to being bad at something, you’re actually helping yourself be more confident by seeing that it’s not the end of the world when it goes awry. Whether it’s trying a new recipe, taking a pottery class, trying a new exercise format or joining the pickleball league your friends have been talking about nonstop, the process of putting yourself out there and allowing yourself to be imperfect helps you grow and teaches you that you can tolerate not doing well at something better than you thought.
Make a Project Plan
Sometimes we don’t feel like we can do something because we’re overwhelmed. We’re more practiced in creating plans for work projects and obligations but you can apply the same principle for moving, upgrading your wardrobe, working on your side hustle or a million other things. Break the project down into it’s pieces, list out the various tasks, identify key deadlines and any possible obstacles. Notice how much more competent you feel at the end of the session for having understood the project completely and observe whether your confidence feels higher knowing more clearly what you want to get done.
Are these ideas rocket science? Of course not. Will they magically make you feel confident overnight? Nope. But these little steps can be amazing tools in your toolbox to reset when a day is going sideways or to start feeling progress when the bigger steps to confidence might feel a bit overwhelming at first.
