Self-improvement month is coming to an end, but Best Life Hub still has some great tips for building up your well-being. Self-esteem is necessary for any human on the planet. It gives us confidence to go after our goals, get jobs, and get the most out of life.

However, low self-esteem is an issue for people of all ages. The good news is with a little bit of effort, you can help build up your self-esteem over time.

Don’t Confuse Low Self-Esteem with Depression

According to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration, low self-esteem can be confused with depression.

Low self-esteem is a symptom of depression. To make things even more complicated, the depression may be a symptom of some other illness.

Have you felt sad consistently for several weeks but don’t know why you are feeling so sad, i.e. nothing terribly bad has happened, or maybe something bad has happened but you haven’t been able to get rid of the feelings of sadness? Is this accompanied by other changes, like wanting to eat all the time or having no appetite, wanting to sleep all the time or waking up very early and not being able to get back to sleep?

If you answered yes to either question, there are two things you need to do

• See your doctor for a physical examination to determine the cause of your depression and to discuss treatment choices

• Do some things that will help you to feel better right away like eating well, getting plenty of exercise and outdoor light, spending time with good friends, and doing fun things like going to a movie, painting a picture, playing a musical instrument, or reading a good book

If you are sure that your low self-esteem is not caused by depression, consider the following:

• Be kind and encouraging to yourself. Having a negative outlook on life will immediately make your self-esteem worse. Using hopeful statements and reading inspiring quotes can help lift your spirits and make you feel as if you can climb mountains.
• Think about conditions or situations that typically drive down your self-esteem, such as a presentation, a crisis at work or home, or a negative change of life circumstance such as job loss. Preparing yourself for how you’ll react and handle the situation can help with your self-esteem.
• Do away with an all-or-nothing mentality. Some people put a lot of pressure on themselves to perform. If you deem yourself as a failure over one slip up (such as cheating one day on a diet), cut yourself some slack and start over.
• Don’t mistake feelings for facts. Just because you feel like a failure, doesn’t mean that you are a failure. Separating reality from your own emotions is challenging, but it will help keep your life in perspective.

You deserve to live your life as a happy person with great self-esteem. Continue following Best Life Hub for more self-esteem building tips and techniques to improve your life.