10 Ways to Boost Confidence in 30 Minutes or Less

After spending an awe-inspiring weekend workshop with acclaimed author Martha Beck, I now know the solution to many of our greatest life-challenges is often the opposite of what society tells us. Where we believe we need more: money, stuff, attention; these external rewards don’t ultimately lead to lasting happiness. Sometimes less is more.

On that we agreed, although since wrapping up a read of “The Confidence Code, The Science and Art of Self-Assurance”, I also know that two of the most critical keys to self-confidence are both less and more: less over-thinking, more immediate action.

Since the challenge of maintaining self-confidence is one faced by many of the clients I work with, the less and more combination struck me as compelling. So I worked it into my course curriculum and discovered an overwhelmingly positive response from participants.

Of course, one of the most difficult parts of the job search is the lack of feedback following a resume submission, especially when the job seems like a perfect match. Expectations unmet, even the most qualified candidates eventually end up wondering what they’re doing wrong, overthinking and (understandably) taking a broken process personally.

Gone unchecked, this classic pattern is a surefire path to loss of confidence. It’s also difficult to recover from the emotional low that follows. 

One strategy for redirecting this thought pattern is by shifting from less rumination to more action using the 30 minute Less and More Challenge. 

If you have 30 minutes to spare, create a pattern redirect using a quick fix from the list below or substitute one of your own.

Here are some actionable ideas from among the countless ways to boost your confidence in 30 minutes or less:

1.  Power Pose
2. Give 3 LinkedIn recommendations
3. Take a brisk walk outdoors
4. Rewrite your story
5. List 3 things you’re grateful for
6. Add your industry-specific key words to Google Alerts
7. Meditate
8. Reach out to someone you’ve been meaning to contact and schedule coffee or lunch
9. Hold plank pose for 60 seconds
10. Research your target companies and begin an outreach plan

The key is to take action, interrupting the negative thought pattern with a activity that shifts your mindset. So the next time you find yourself in overthinking mode, use the Less and More Challenge to stop the negative thought patterns, take action and enjoy the results!