4 Damaging Habits That Hurt Your Self Esteem

There are millions of articles that tell teens how to boost their confidence and self esteem, but what they don't mention the things that can lower it....

Self Esteem 101

Scenario: Sarah and Vivie are best friends. They do everything together and are attached at the hip. After getting their test scores back, Vivie got a higher grade and was praised for it. Although Sarah was happy for Vivie she felt that she was not "good enough" to be Vivie's friend anymore. Is this true?

Most of us have been through something that has made us feel like we weren't good enough. Factors like low test scores, friendship conflicts, and peer pressure can play a role in our self esteem levels. But what is self esteem? Self esteem is defined as they way a person sees themselves. Self esteem is either high or low. In the scenario above Sarah expressed low self esteem by feeling that she couldn't be friends with Vivie due to her low test score.

Self Esteem In Teens

Peer Pressure, Crushes, & Grades... OH NO! The Department of Health in 2017 claimed that only 6% of girls feel confident by the time they reach the 10th grade. This is contributed to puberty, influence by friends, and social media. So often teenagers drive themselves crazy trying to achieve the confidence that celebrities and public figures seem to have. But let's not forget that these public figures have people on their team that will paint them in a perfect light. If you are a teen who views themselves as having high self esteem beware because self esteem is like a light switch. As easy as it is to flip it on it can easy be "switched off" (Get it?). So let's be real about the fact that high self esteem doesn't develop overnight and needs constant maintaining. And there aren't any magic beans laying around you can plant that will give you instant and permanent confidence. BUT GOOD NEWS: Being a teen with constant high self esteem sounds impossible, but it's not.

Damaging Habits That Lower Self Esteem

1- Poor Hygiene

We all know that one friend, classmate, or lab partner who has a rather......interesting scent. Poor hygiene can lead to health issues and lower confidence. Not to mention that it increases acne development (YUCK!). So besides getting rid of that"puberty funk" (yes that's a thing!) will prevent someone's eyes watering when you walk past or walls peeling paint when you talk. Taking a shower can also reduce anxiety and depression. A nice shower will not only keep you clean, but to put your mind as ease.

2- Too Much Time On Social Media

Mindless scrolling on Instagram and TikTok will do absolutely nothing for your self esteem. Think about the last time you looked through your social media feed. How did it make you feel? As mentioned earlier many teens strive for the same "perfection"as celebrities, but there are people who are paid to make celebrities look good. Taking social media breaks for a day or even 1 hour can allow you to stay in reality and take the time you need to be discover the wonderful things in you!

3- Not Forgiving Yourself

There are a tiny, tiny, tiny amount of people in this world who have gotten a perfect score on every exam or test. If you're one of those people that's great, but if not there is no need to beat yourself up. Most humans on this beautiful Earth will make mistakes in our lives that we regret or feel guilty about. If you're currently feeling guilty about something here is what you should do: Look into the nearest mirror and say " I forgive what you did, (Insert name).". Try saying this everyday for 1 week and see the MAGIC you create.

4- Talking Down To Yourself

Want to know a secret? YOU are in control of YOUR life. You have the power to manifest the life that you want. This includes how your day will go. If you wake up expecting a bad day welp...that's what you'll get. It's all about your energy (A.K.A "vibe"). Author and Lecturer Bob Proctor said "Thoughts become things..". Making an effort to talk positive about yourself and surroundings will keep you on that path to high self esteem and confidence.

This article was written by @Peace Founder Pink Freud.

(Jan 5, 2022 7:00 pm)