As the old saying goes, “old age is not for the faint of heart.” Seniors face many health and wellness concerns because as we age, we become more fragile. With this, self-esteem and confidence can decline rapidly.
That is if we don’t prioritize mental wellness and ways of staying confident and comfortable in our skin.
So, in this article, we’ll discuss a few practical ways of boosting and maintaining self-worth over the course of your golden years.
Virtual Therapy Sessions
While many might assume that self-esteem is not a priority concern, feeling worthless can eventually leave its mark on your mental health. Those who experience low self-esteem eventually find themselves isolated from social situations, enduring depression and high levels of stress and anxiety.
The right virtual therapist can be a lifeline for seniors who need guidance in becoming more confident and comfortable in their changing skin. Because virtual therapy sessions can take place from the comfort of your own home, you won’t need to overcome the initial challenge of getting out of the house if you are experiencing isolation and depression resulting from low self-esteem.
Prioritize Self-Care
Self-care practices include anything and everything that gives you a moment to yourself to do the things that you enjoy. You could read a good book, enjoy a warm candle-lit bubble bath, spend some time doing your hair, or even indulge in a skincare routine.
Self-care can be affordable, even though most blogs and social media posts encouraging self-care tend to suggest that you’ll need to spend money going to the spa or on a costly shopping spree. Moreover, there are also self-care ideas that are perfect for introverts.
Learn Positive Mantras
Mantras are phrases we repeat to instill a particular belief over time. These phrases can be anything, although some believe that defined mantras are more effective.
When looking into mantras that boost confidence, you’ll find that these phrases can help cultivate trust and love in yourself and your abilities. These phrases can be anything from “I am comfortable being myself around others” to “my choices in life are within my control.”
If you are still determining which mantras you’d like to repeat to yourself for a confidence boost, it’s worthwhile to read through lists of confidence-boosting mantras and write them down. In time, you’ll notice a dramatic change in how you see yourself.
Take Pride In Your Appearance
It’s widely known that if you look good, you feel good. Although, with this, it’s imperative that you feel good in the way you look instead of misinterpreting the notion and dressing to impress others.
Spend some time each morning fine-tuning your appearance until you are comfortable with how you look, whether this means doing your hair, applying some makeup, or finding the most suitable outfit for the day. You’ll notice your confidence increasing over time as you feel more comfortable with your appearance.
Exercise Routinely
Whether you start doing yoga, low-impact workouts, or opt for a jog around the block each morning, exercise is one of the most effective ways to boost self-esteem.
You don’t need to completely transform your body through exercise either because physical activity encourages the release of dopamine in the brain, which can have you feel better about yourself. There are also tons of workouts that are perfectly suitable for older individuals.
But beyond enjoying dopamine, you’ll also improve your overall health with routine exercise because physical activity is essential for overall health and wellness.
Be Mindful Of Your Thoughts
Being more mindful of your own thoughts will require some practice. However, by being more mindful of your thoughts and thinking patterns, you will be more capable of eliminating thoughts that degrade your self-worth.
Over time, you’ll be more successful at identifying thoughts and thought patterns that chip away at your confidence, effectively boosting your self-esteem in the long run.
Join Relevant Support Groups
Whether your low self-esteem takes root in your senior struggles, a disability, a health condition, or anything else, joining a support group can help you find others that are facing the same situations. Moreover, regardless of your struggle, you will find a relevant support group.
Support groups are excellent for boosting confidence as well. Because members find ways to support one another, you’ll soon find that you are really not alone in your struggles and have so much to appreciate about your life.
Low self-esteem can be a challenge for many people of all ages. And even though lacking self-confidence is yet to be noted as a mental health concern, it’s crucial to find ways to boost your self-worth before it spirals into concerning mental health concerns like depression, anxiety, and stress.
