Understanding confidence

Confidence is defined as ‘the feeling or belief that one can have faith in or rely on someone or something’. In this case, that someone or something is you.

It’s more than that, though. Being confident is underpinned by self-belief, which can determine our whole worldview. Perspective can change instantly depending on how confident we feel in our ability to overcome a challenge. Take a professional athlete: one game, they might struggle; then the next be world-class; the only difference is how they felt that day.

Any challenge can be overcome, and it’s within you to do just that. But how can you channel your self-confidence when you need it?

It’s a process

Remember, confidence doesn’t develop overnight, and it’s okay not to feel confident 24/7. The majority of people don’t: it’s entirely natural. By incorporating the following strategies over time and being persistent with them, you’ll be taking the first steps to improve your confidence. Remember, there’s support available for you, and if you’re struggling with your self-confidence, it’s best to reach out. You can also use websites like Student Minds to find more tips on improving self-confidence.

Strategies to increase confidence

Self-image

Positive self-talk – if you don’t feel confident, it’s easy to think negatively. When this happens, make a conscious effort to replace those thoughts with things like ‘I can do this’ and ‘I am confident’. Consistently doing this over time changes your self-cognition, and is proven to have a positive effect on confidence. It’s a small change that makes a big difference.

Body language – your body language can subconsciously impact how confident you feel. If you’re slouching, looking down, or exhibiting other inward body language, your mood can reflect this. Try to stand straight, look ahead, and be outgoing with your body language. Replicating the body language of the people around you who you believe to be confident is a good step towards this.

Improving academic confidence

Set achievable goals – when you look at the big picture, it can often be overwhelming and create a sense of uncertainty. Whatever you’re facing, breaking it down into manageable chunks will make it less daunting. Taking on the process step-by-step will make it feel easier.

Likewise, celebrating small wins will build your confidence. Reflect on your successes and let that build your self-belief over time.

Time management – if you’re running late and pressed for deadlines, you’ll feel stressed. It’s much harder to feel confident when you’re stressed. Keeping on top of things by utilising strategies such as checklists or reminders can help make your time feel more structured. Confidence in your timekeeping often translates to confidence generally: we all like to feel on top of things.

Seek feedback and learn from criticism – if you’re unsure about something, be it a piece of work or anything else, getting feedback can help you with this. It’s important to use feedback constructively, though: criticism is a chance to learn, which should improve your overall confidence.

Health, Wellbeing, and Stress

Mindfulness and stress management – mindfulness techniques have been found to both reduce stress and increase confidence. Building these into your routine at the start of the day can leave you feeling more optimistic about the challenges ahead and only take a few minutes.

Health and wellbeing – one of the best ways to feel self-confident is to exercise regularly. It’s proven to lead to higher energy and happiness levels and is crucial to consistent self-belief. Even if it’s a 20-minute walk every day, building this into your routine will create positive change.

Investigate further resources – there are plenty more resources available if you want further advice on feeling confident. Books, articles, online courses and videos are all popular ways people can learn more about self-belief and find actionable advice. There’s a wide variety of these; researching the right one for you is important.