How to Improve Your Confidence and Work Ethic

There are times in life when your confidence will take a hit. Whether it's a deal gone wrong or a major breakup, life has a way of providing its fair share of disappointments. However, you can't let those disappointments keep you down. If you're looking for intentional ways to improve your confidence and overall work ethic, consider the following five ideas.

1. Set a timer.

It's really easy to get sidetracked by all of the tasks on your to-do list. This is why it's a wise idea to be intentional about using a timer to help you stay focused on what you need to do. Most smartphones come with a timer app. Calculate how much time it will take to get a specific task done. Then, sit down and work until it's finished. Once you're able to finish that first task, you'll gain the momentum you need to keep going.

2. Do the hardest task first.

Instead of dreading the hardest task of the day, consider doing it first. If you can get the hard task out of the way, you'll become more motivated to conquer everything else on your list. If you try to procrastinate on the hardest task, it'll linger in your mind until it's done. When you have a difficult task lingering in your mind, it might create a sense of emotional stress, angst, and anxiety. If you can get the hard task out of the way, this will give you the mental space to move on and continue to have a productive day.

3. Learn a new skill.

When a child practices and learns a new skill, their sense of pride expands. This trait doesn't go away as you get older. This is why it's important to develop your skill set. When you're confident in what you offer the world, this increases your chances of being a standout employee in the workplace. Whether you choose to take courses in international service learning or learn a foreign language, it's always wise to pick up new skills. When you can remain competitive in a crowded workforce, you'll be able to keep an edge that will serve you well.

4. Incentivize the process.

For many people, it's not enough to set the goal. You'll have to go a step further by instilling some sort of reward program. Once you hit a specific goal, you can enjoy a special prize. You get to decide what the incentives are. If you're working on learning a specific certification, you'll have to study, practice, and learn the material. Once you're able to pass the class and gain the certification, reward yourself with a nice vacation or a massage. As you develop incentives for your different responsibilities, it'll help you associate completion with pleasure. Therefore, you'll work through the inconveniences, pains, and struggles in order to get the reward.

5. Get rid of distractions.

There are plenty of people who try to multitask. Unfortunately, this reflects through the quality of their work. If you want to develop a better work ethic, you'll need to focus. Get rid of any potential distractions that can slow you down. This means that you'll need to turn off the television and radio. Stop trying to listen to podcasts that will distract you. If you're in a work environment with a lot of people who like to talk, get headphones and listen to white noise. See if it's possible to switch seats.

As you develop a better understanding of yourself and what you need in order to thrive, you'll increase your chances of experiencing success. Plus, as you continue to achieve specific goals and gain the results you want, your confidence in your ability to succeed will increase. In many cases, people want others to believe in them because they lack self-confidence. However, when you fully believe in what you can do, your work ethic and confidence will skyrocket.