It’s the most wonderful time of the year! For some this is true, for others it can be a time filled with overwhelm and anxiousness. Here are a few tips to help you navigate this season and feel confident.
5 Ways to Feel Confident
1. Wear What You Want
This time of year we see all the ‘influencers’ sharing their glitzy party dresses and fun fits. I love to grab inspiration from these ladies and I’m all about the glimmer and glam, however, I know not everyone is. The best way to feel confident is to feel comfortable. And how comfortable will you really be if you’re wearing something that doesn’t fit your personal style?
It took me years to understand why I felt like I had nothing to wear. It’s because I was buying what everyone else was wearing whether I liked it or not. Now, I wear what makes me happy. So if you don’t like sequins because they are itchy, ditch the sparkle for a luxurious velvet. If you feel self-conscious in a dress, opt for a stylish pant paired with a fun blouse.
Courage
Feeling confident in what you wear takes courage. You may feel most like yourself wearing something that goes against the trends, that’s ok! In fact, when you feel confident in what you wear you may find you’ll also receive more compliments.
2. Don’t Obsess Over The Number
Did you know the average woman gains 5-8 pounds during the holiday season? If the number on the scale goes up – that doesn’t mean you’re a failure who couldn’t stick to her diet or not disciplined enough to keep up with your your strict workout routine – it means you’re normal!!!
During this time you are doing so much more! You’re going to events, you’re finishing up projects at work, you’re spending time with friends and family, you’re living life. Enjoy the sweet treats that come with the joyous memories made during this time of year instead of worrying about a number no one knows but you.
3. Take The Time You Need
As I just mentioned above, this time of year is very busy. When handling a lot of extra tasks, it’s easy to feel burnt out. Whether spending time with lots of family or meeting new people at parties, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. This is why it’s so important to take time for YOU. If you need to go into another room for quiet time, do it. As someone said, they put themselves in “time out.”
If you need to leave a party early, that’s ok. When your social battery runs out, don’t try to extend it. If you need to cancel plans because you’re tired, that’s fine. Remember, you can’t take care of anyone else if you don’t take of yourself first.
4. To Keep or Not To Keep – Holiday Traditions
Traditions are ingrained into the holiday season – whether they are cultural or familial. Continuing to do something though just for the sake of tradition may not be worth the additional stress it causes. Let’s take Christmas Cards for example – every year I hear at least one person stress about getting their christmas cards out. When are we going to take pictures? Do I need to order more stamps? When is the mail cut off date? Why are we causing ourselves unneccary stress? I can say, I’ve never lost a friend over a missed Christmas card.
While you might find confidence in breaking tradition you may also find joy in starting a new one! One year, no one in my family cooked Christmas dinner so we decided to order Chinese take-out. Now, its a fun tradition that relieves stress so we can all enjoy our Christmas day and be fully present.
5. Get Off Social
It’s so easy to get caught up in the comparison game, especially with all the social media sites sharing everyone’s ‘highlight reel.’ I’ve personally caught myself wishing I had what others had – their beautiful hair, well kept house, exciting vacation – but how does this help me? Well, it doesn’t. It just takes away the joy and happiness I find in my life with the things I DO have.
So what’s a girl to do? Change it up! Follow influencers that make you feel good by sharing positive and uplifting messages. Get off social media all together and get outside. A walk in nature always puts me in a great mood. The endorphins you pick up from a good workout will definitely help you feel more confident. Find a feel good movie to watch. Pick up your favorite book and get lost in a beautiful story.
Camellia’s Favorite Tip Journal – Write down 3 good things that happened to you today. This will rewire your brain to find positive moments while not paying attention to the negative ones. The more gratitude you see, the more confident you will feel.
