The way we think about ourselves greatly impacts the way we behave, and whether we attract other people. Positive, happy people attract the same type of people into their lives, while negative people who have low self-worth and self-confidence often make it hard to make friends.

If you’re hoping to overhaul your outlook this year, here are some ways you can improve your self-confidence:

Get Active

You may assume that you’re not the active type, but this is often because you simply haven’t yet found an activity that suits you. Whether you like to workout in the privacy of your own home and find some pilates videos on YouTube or have fun with Shaun T and Insanity, or you like the idea of a nice long run, there’s bound to be something that you enjoy.

Some sports that can greatly increase your self-confidence include martial arts, learning to dance, signing up for a marathon, or joining a cycling team. As you get active, it’s likely that you’ll tone up and lose some weight, which can also help you feel better about yourself.

Eat Right

We often find ourselves eating on the run, and shoving anything in our mouths, or sitting in front of the TV and mindlessly snacking. However, not only can this behaviour lead to heart disease, but this food is bad for our skin, makes us bloat, and causes us to put on weight.

Avoiding junk food isn’t easy, but replacing it with healthier snacks can happen gradually. Instead of chips and dip, switch to carrots and keep the dip. Switch soda for some infused water, and start the day with a healthy smoothy instead of just a coffee. The better you eat and the more active you are, the more you’ll notice that your skin is glowing, the weight is shifting, and you’re feeling great.

Whiten your teeth

How often have you smiled at someone and felt self-conscious since you know that all of that wine and coffee have stained your teeth? Teeth whitening is a great way to improve your self-confidence, and can ensure that you enjoy smiling and don’t feel worried about showing strangers your teeth.

Check your clothes

How often have you left your house in some old sweats, crossing your fingers that you won’t see anyone you know, only to run into five people who want to chat? Spend 10 minutes choosing a slightly nicer outfit, fix your hair, throw on some makeup (if you’re a woman), and you’ll feel much more self-confident when you’re out and about in the world, and you won’t be walking with your head down and hoping you don’t see anyone you know.

Know your worth

While there are plenty of things you can do on the outside to increase your self-confidence, it’s important to take care of your mind as well. Spend some time meditating and use positive affirmations to help you feel good about yourself.