Self esteem refers to the opinions we have about ourselves. Self esteem affects how we behave at home and at work and thus has an impact on our relationships with our family, friends and colleagues.

If you have a healthy self esteem, it means you have a positive outlook in life and accept yourself for who you are. While you are confident and aware of your good qualities and achievements, you also recognise that you are human and will make mistakes at times.

However, sometimes we may not feel so good about ourselves as we may be affected by events, such as a poorly delivered presentation at work or when we get negative feedback from our colleagues. At such instances, we may feel useless. If left unchecked, we may eventually take such negative opinions as facts, which can in turn lower one's self esteem over time.

Boost your self esteem with the following tips. Start with the ones that you feel most comfortable with.

Make a list of positives

• Why it helps:
  You have the right to feel good about yourself. However, this can be difficult when you are in a stressful or difficult situation. In such cases, a list which describes your positive traits and accomplishments can help you feel better about yourself.
  
  
• What you can do:
  Make a list which can include:
  
  • 3 positive qualities you have, such as patience, compassion or a sense of humour.
  • 3 achievements you have done in your life so far, such as mastering a musical instrument, getting your degree or your driving license.

Reward yourself from time to time

• Why it helps:
   Most of us have to juggle multiple tasks and roles, e.g. both as an employee and a parent. We might be so busy at work that the last thing we fail to look after is ourselves. If you make time in your busy schedule to reward yourself, it will give your physical and emotional wellbeing a tremendous boost. What you can do:
  Some ways you can pamper yourself include:
  
  • Carrying out a hobby
  • Meeting up with friends or loved ones for a meal to update one another on what has been happening in your lives.
    

Prioritise your tasks

• Why it helps:
  Sometimes we might feel useless if we fail to complete everything on hand. Such feelings can have a negative impact on our sense of self-worth. During such times, it is crucial to prioritise what we have to do.
  
  
• What you can do:
  Prioritisation and proper time management can help reduce the overwhelming feeling of having to complete numerous tasks. Learn to differentiate between tasks that need immediate attention from other relatively less urgent matters. Take one thing at a time. Completing one task means you have one less pressing item to complete, which can have a positive impact on your sense of self-worth.
  
  

Do something nice for someone else

• Why it helps:
  When we do something nice for another person, even a stranger, it can give our self-worth a boost.
  
  
• What you can do:
  It can be a simple gesture such as giving your neighbour a friendly smile as you leave for work in the morning, volunteering to help your spouse with an unpleasant household chore or even helping to fill your department's printer when it has run out of paper. Such gestures go a long way in helping you feel good about yourself.
  
  

Don't let setbacks overwhelm you

• Why it helps:
   As you work towards your goals, you may run into some setbacks along the way. However, don't despair and let setbacks overwhelm you. They do not define the individual that you are.
  
  
• What you can do:
  When your self esteem is low, it can be tempting to say "It's too hard" and give up. Fight such negative and demoralising thoughts with positive ones such as "I am a valuable person with unique qualities" or "To err is human. This is an opportunity for me to learn and grow. I won't give up." If you feel overwhelmed, talk to someone about it, such as a family member or a trusted colleague.

Incorporate some of these tips into your daily life. You will start to feel better about yourself and it will certainly help boost your self esteem.