Can Getting Active Boost Your Self-Esteem?

This is a guest article by Lucy Wyndham

Confidence is one of the largest dictators of our everyday behaviour, according to The National Academies Press: self-esteem has the power to uplift and sabotage. Esteem refers to our beliefs regarding our own personal worth and value, and describes the feelings we experience resulting from those beliefs. Esteem is a powerful motivational mechanism that influences how hard we strive to fulfil personal aspirations and to take care of ourselves. It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, then, that self-esteem and wellness are closely linked. When one suffers, the other often follows suit. Whilst self-esteem is more complex than the two-dimensional high vs. low comparison we typically hear about, there are many ways we can go about boosting our own self-esteem, subsequently improving our overall well-being. And working out is a big one. 

Be Kind To Yourself

The challenge is that our self-esteem is fairly unstable to begin with. It consists of the ways we feel about ourselves overall, as well as how we value ourselves in very specific sectors of our lives, and is subject to frequent fluctuation. Because of this, the conversations we have with and about ourselves are very important. According to the Journal of Health Psychology, adopting the habit of using positive affirmations can be very beneficial, as long as we use them correctly. When our self-esteem is particularly low, declarations that are too contrary to how we’re currently feeling can actually make us feel worse. This can prove to be particularly accurate when it comes to exercise. It’s easy to fall short of workout goals, miss days at the gym, and get down on ourselves as a result. Preemptive praise for how hard we’re going to work to achieve something vs. all the goals we’re going to reach has the power to increase our motivation. Eliminating self-criticism is crucial, since it tends to show up most prevalently when we’re feeling low, and only serves to further damage our self-esteem.  

Hold Yourself Accountable

In addition to our inner monologues, the way we physically manifest our self-care can help to improve the way we see and value ourselves and our overall sense of well-being. This is where exercise comes in. The physical benefits of exercise are well known but, according to the Journal of World Psychiatry, it’s also effective in reducing depression, anxiety and general stress levels. Regular physical activity is equivalent to an investment in your mind and body, and such a healthy habit can promote your sense of self-worth while making you feel strong. Thinking about fitness centre memberships and fancy gym equipment can be intimidating, especially when you’re not feeling your best.

Luckily, when it comes to fitness, working out doesn’t have to equal going out. Working out at home has many benefits outside of the obvious convenience factor. You can save money, avoid gym germs, and work out in a private and comfortable environment. There are many advantages to incorporating equipment into your home workout to reap the mental health benefits of cardiovascular activity. Stationary bikes and ellipticals are good ways to get your heart rate pounding without taking up much space in your home, but there’s also plenty you can accomplish using simply your body and gravity. Exercise leads to an improved body image, and by reaching even your smallest workout goals, you’ll feel accomplished, which is an important facet of healthy self-esteem. 

Improving self-esteem does require a bit of work. It entails adopting and maintaining more careful emotional and physical habits. The way you feel about yourself lays the foundation for how you navigate life and the way you treat others, so putting in the work is a worthy investment.