30 Tips to Help You Get Your Swagger Back

photography by Delgoff

We’ve all been through it at some point. I’m talking about that rut, funk, spell or period in our lives where we feel like we’ve lost our swagger.

There are many reasons why this loss in confidence occurs (I’ll let you fill in the blanks), but when it happens to you, it sucks major.

Here are 30 tips to get you out of the doldrums and help you get your swagger back.

Some say to get a tattoo, go sky diving, shave your head, change your name, throw out all your clothes, move back to your home town, have a one-night-stand and things of that nature, but I want to focus on less extreme measures and more of the simple things you can do.

If you think about it, when an NBA player is in a slump, they’re always told to get a few easy layups in or to get to the free throw line to get them going. These types of things should be no different for you. You don’t need to necessarily overhaul everything you do. Sometimes you just have to do the little things that make a big difference to get you going again.

Take a Good Hard Look in the Mirror

1. Improve your diet. Like the old adage says, “You are, what you eat.” Take out Rockstar, add in water. Take out beef, add in fish or chicken. Take out the M&M’s, add in vitamins. Take out McDonald’s, add in Subway. You get the point.

2. Get more sleep. Not only will it make you feel more refreshed, but it helps in so many other countless ways. Here’s a great article about the importance of sleep: “Sleep: You Need More.” [LifeClever.com]

3. Get to the dentist. Now is not the time to reschedule that appointment. Get your teeth cleaned, crowns fixed, bridges built, and root canals dug.

4. Get yourself a real haircut. Okay there’s nothing wrong with those Supercut $14 specials, but it just won’t do this time. I’m not saying go to one of those foofy salons where they serve you wine and make you take off your shirt. But just ask that one guy (you know who I’m talking about) in your circle of friends where to go.

5. Update your wardrobe. When you look good, you tend to feel good. Treat yourself to a new outfit. Stick to buying pieces that you will always have a need for like a 2-piece suit and leave the trendy new stuff for the fashionistas.

6. Get new glasses. Update your look with a fresh or modern pair of specs. If you’re tired of wearing glasses then try contact lenses.

7. Get a new watch. It’s time to retire that Fossil of a watch and get a true timepiece. Skip the brands that also make clothes and opt for those that only specialize in making watches exclusively.

8. Shine your shoes. Don’t use the fake liquid shine stuff. Use real shoe polish, some water and a lot of elbow grease. If you can’t see your reflection on the shoe, then get them shined by a professional.

9. Buy new cologne. The goal here is not to smell like teen spirit. Sample more than a few scents and ask the sales person for their recommendation.

10. Bring your suits to the tailor. It might cost you a few bucks, but there is simply no substitute for well-fitting clothes (even better if you can swing a made-to-measure suit). Here’s a great video we posted before, “How to Suit Yourself.”

11. Wear your favorite underwear. If you don’t have one, get one. If you can’t decide between boxers or briefs, go with boxer briefs.

12. Get a car wash. There’s something about arriving in style that never seems to get old (even better if you get your car detailed).

13. Stop comparing yourself to others. This is easy to say and difficult to do, but it is essential.

Get Your Shit Together

14. Align your priorities. Take a piece of scratch paper out and identify what is important to you in your life right now. Make sure you put yourself as #1.

15. Set goals. You don’t have to wait for the new year to set goals. Here are some tips on “How to Write Resolutions That Stick.”