13 Self-Esteem & Confidence Building Activities to Feel Stronger

Confidence isn’t something you’re born with or without.

It’s something you build, one small step at a time.

If you’ve been feeling stuck, doubting yourself, or like you’re holding back from who you really want to be, you’re not alone.

Most people think they need to “fix” themselves before they can feel confident. 

But real confidence grows because you start showing up anyway.

These 13 confidence building activities are designed to help you reconnect with yourself, take up space, and feel proud of who you are, without faking confidence or pretending to be someone you’re not.

Ready to shift the way you see yourself?

Then let’s dive in!

What are confidence building activities?

Confidence building activities are simple actions or practices that help you strengthen your sense of self-worth, courage, and inner trust. 

They’re not about “faking it till you make it.” 

They’re about creating real proof, in your own life, that you can handle discomfort, speak up, try new things, and be seen.

Some of these activities are internal (like journaling or decision-making), while others are external (like trying something new or having a hard conversation). 

But they all work the same muscle: the belief that you are capable, enough, and worth showing up for.

Why are confidence building activities important?

Without confidence, even the best ideas stay stuck in your head. You overthink, second-guess, and play small. But when you start building confidence, you:

• Trust your decisions more
• Speak up instead of shrink back
• Take action without needing everything to be perfect
• Bounce back from failure faster
• Start feeling proud of who you are

Most importantly? You stop waiting for permission. 

You start giving it to yourself.

Benefits of doing self-esteem building activities

• Feel more grounded in who you are
• Strengthen your self-trust
• Break the cycle of overthinking and inaction
• Create momentum through small wins
• Feel more resilient in everyday life
• Reconnect with your inner voice
• Stop relying on external validation
• Feel more engaged in your relationships
• Start showing up more fully in your goals

13 Self-Confidence and esteem building activities to try out

1. Positive affirmations: Look yourself in the eyes in a mirror and say one kind thing. Daily. It sounds awkward at first, but it helps you connect with yourself as a friend, not a critic. Positive self-talk also subconsciously rewires old programs like “I’m not good enough” into something more empowering. Read more about affirmations for confidence or self-esteem affirmations.
2. A “done” list: If you always feel like you’re a failure, this exercise is for you. At night, list 3 things you did that day. It trains your brain to notice progress, not just pressure.
3. Solo challenges: Go to a café, movie, or event alone. Doing things solo gets you out of your comfort zone. It builds self-trust and reminds you that you’re enough, even without company. While it can feel awkward at first, you’ll overcome this feeling over time. You might even make new friends, although that’s not necessarily the goal.
4. Voice note journaling: Instead of writing in a guided journal, speak your thoughts out loud. You’ll hear your own wisdom more clearly when you stop filtering yourself. Journaling overall is a great way to increase self-awareness, which is a big first step for building confidence.
5. Take messy action: Pick something you’ve been avoiding and just do it for 30 minutes. Avoid judging whether it’s good or bad. The idea is progress, not perfection. Confidence comes from movement.
6. Give compliments: Lift someone else up. Text someone that you appreciate them. It shifts your focus from self-consciousness to connection. It gets you outside your own head. Plus, kindness makes you feel good, too.
7. Decide without permission: Even small choices (like lunch or outfit) matter. Trusting yourself in tiny ways builds the muscle for bigger ones.
8. Do something physically uncomfortable: A cold shower. A tough workout. Or wake up 30 minutes earlier. Choose a challenge on purpose and remind yourself: you can do hard things.
9. Declutter an area: Confidence grows in clarity. Start with one drawer or your phone home screen. Creating physical space and decluttering is a great way to create more mental space.
10. Say no (without explaining): Practice a boundary. Say “no” to something you don’t want to do. You don’t owe anyone a justification.
11. Try something new: Being bad at something and doing it anyway? That takes courage. And confidence is a byproduct of courage. Maintaining a beginners’ mind is a powerful way to kill your ego and learn fast.
12. Name your inner critic: Give it a silly name. It helps you notice when it’s them talking, not you. Whenever that voice arises, remember the silly name and that you don’t have to listen to it.
13. Power pose: Power poses can change how you feel. Shoulders back, chest open, head up. Your body teaches your brain. It’s a common technique used before public speaking, but you can do it anywhere to boost your confidence.

Avoid these common traps

1. Waiting to feel confident before you act: Confidence comes after the action, not before. It’s a mistake I used to make a lot. You need to start taking action. Overcome your fear by making the action very small and simple to do.
2. Comparing yourself to others: You’re not behind. You’re just building in a different season. Never compare yourself to others. Only compare yourself to where you were yesterday and build from there.
3. Thinking it has to be big or perfect: Small, consistent actions are more important than rare, perfect ones. Tiny consistent actions – including failures and setbacks – lead up to the big or perfect ones. One doesn’t come without the others. So take more action, faster.

How to get started?

Pick one activity from the list above.

That’s it. 

One small act of courage or kindness toward yourself.

Then, ensure you do something every day. Keep challenging yourself a little bit, especially as you become more confident with certain activities over time.

For example, where mirror talk may feel awkward at first, it becomes effortless after a few times. You might even begin to enjoy it.

That’s when you gain momentum.

Keep that momentum building with another confidence activity.

If you want more daily confidence tools like this, join the free Confidence Email Series. It’s packed with subtle mindset shifts to help you gain more confidence instantly.