10 Tips to Boost Your Confidence When Going Out

There’s no better feeling than when you feel good about yourself — especially as you’re headed out for the night. Whether you’re meeting friends at a bar or headed off for a first date, you deserve to enjoy the entire evening — from the moment you start getting ready to the moment your head hits the pillow. There are steps to take that will help make sure this happens — here are our 10 tips to boost your confidence, no matter where the night leads.

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Get Inspired

The reason we go out is to have a good time, so shouldn’t getting ready also be part of the fun? The answer is yes, definitively. There are ways to help kickstart the party and make sure your evening is everything you hoped it would be. 

1. Model Your Style After Someone – You don’t have to reinvent the wheel every time you get dressed. There are celebrities with stylists who spend a lot of time curating “looks” and highlighting what’s trendy and, hey, the more the merrier. If you see an outfit you love while scrolling through Instagram, save it and try to replicate it later. Let Diane Keaton’s hats and turtlenecks inspire you. Or channel your inner Channing Tatum with a relaxed long sleeve hooded shirt or a fitted long sleeve crew neck. If you have a specific idea of the look you’re going for on the night of, the easier it will be to get yourself ready and start having fun.

2. Have Your Outfit Picked Out Ahead of Time – Nothing can dampen the “get-ready” spirit more than not being able to piece an outfit together. And it happens — we’ve all been there. Makeup’s on, hair’s done. Yet as soon as you walk toward your closet and start pulling things off the hanger … disaster strikes. Next thing you know you’ve got clothes thrown across the room and you’re sweating. Best we just avoid this scene altogether. 

Instead, try this: When you have a little free time, start trying some things on. Do these pants go with this top? What about these shoes with this purse? You can start to get an idea of which items work with which others, and which definitely do not. If you’re feeling extremely ambitious, snap some pics while you’re at it and create an album of “yes” outfits on your phone. This prep work will spare you from trying to figure it all out the night of the next time.

3. Make It a Party — Two heads are better than one, yes? Grab a friend, or three, and make “getting ready” an event in and of itself. Friends are the ultimate self-esteem boosters; they make us laugh, and they reassure us when we need it most. A bonus to getting ready with friends: If you’re missing something, surely someone else has one you can borrow. 

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Set the Mood

You can create an ambiance whenever you’d like with certain habits, food, music … really, any free moment is an opportunity to shape the way you feel. When you’re going out, do the things you know put you in a good mood. Chances are that energy will stay with you throughout the evening.

4. Play Upbeat Music – Music has been proven to lift our spirits, which, in turn, improves our health. It’s an incredibly effective way to shape our moods, especially before a night out. Pro tip: Take the time to curate a playlist of the songs you know make you feel confident and happy. Pro pro tip: For songs you really love, put them on the playlist twice in a row. No need to kill a vibe just because the song has ended. Simply play it back to back and enjoy.

5. Get a Quick Workout In – Nothing gets the heart pumping and the adrenaline moving quite like a little cardio. Before you take a shower, set aside 15 minutes, throw on your favorite long sleeve for men and work up a bit of a sweat. It doesn’t have to be anything crazy: Pump out three sets of pushups, do a few sun salutations, consider jumping jacks if no one lives beneath you. Whatever your flavor, spending a few moments focused on your breath and body will not only mentally get you in a good headspace, but it will also increase your serotonin so you feel good physically.  

6. Try Flossing (in the Shower) – You heard that right. Flossing might be the most underrated hype event of our lifetime and here’s why: It transforms your mouth. Flossing somehow makes you feel … lighter, fresher. It’s like an instant restart to the day. Flossing takes a fair bit of focus, too, which is actually kind of nice. After a long work week, taking a moment for a little strategic selfcare feels great. The last piece to this: Do it in the shower. Why? You’ll know why. Just try it and you won’t regret it. It’s like the get-ready preamble you didn’t know you needed.

7. Dress with Intention – It is an absolute truth that the way we dress affects the way we feel. Referred to as “enclothed cognition,” this phenomenon represents the idea that our outfit choices directly impact our psychological processes and the way we perceive ourselves. Picking an outfit that feels authentic to you, which isn’t insanely uncomfortable, that represents a style or “vibe” you identify with … all of these things can help make or break the evening. Make sure you select an outfit you love and love being in. 

8. Go Somewhere Familiar – There is a lot to say about trying new things: It can be exhilarating, interesting, always good for a story at work on Monday. But when it comes to feeling confident, sometimes it’s best to stick to the territory you’re most familiar with. For many, repetition can be joyful. There is a sense of freedom from knowing what’s coming next. When going out, it can help to know what drinks are on the menu and where the restrooms are. If confidence is what you’re after, consider picking a spot you already know and love.

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Finish Strong

A strong, post-going out routine will help lead to a productive and confident morning.

9. Hydrate – Not a ton of explanation needed here. Water is the ultimate healer: It hydrates us after a night of drinking, it helps to detox our skin, it keeps our organs functioning properly. So drink up! There’s an 8-ounce glass calling your name from the kitchen.

10. Wash Up – It’s been said that cleanliness is next to godliness. This means that if you wash your face after a night out, it might just feel like heaven when your head hits the pillow. In godliness we trust. 

No matter what kind of night out you like to have — champagne at a gallery, burgers in the pub — it’s important to remember that confidence can be encouraged by taking strategic steps to help boost your self-esteem. We all deserve to look and feel our best, so why not do everything in our power to help make that happen?