4 Ways Self-Love Can Boost Your Career and Professional Life

Written by Linda Harvey

Being employed and bringing home a paycheck can be very empowering, especially for your self-confidence and feelings of self-worth. At Together We Bake, we see that happen with our Team Members and Alums since workplace success is a key component of our job training program.

Yet feelings of pride and satisfaction can easily turn to burnout, stress, and insecurity for various reasons during our professional lives. That’s why self-love habits — showing yourself appreciation and practicing self-care — need to be prioritized and incorporated into your life no matter what type of job or family responsibilities you may face. 

Having a foundation of self-love will fortify you and allow you to get through the times you face setbacks. Together We Bake Team Members learn to do this with empowerment exercises and other classes that teach them to nourish their souls, their minds, and their bodies.

By showing yourself some love, you’ll make your work days more fulfilling, and you’ll thrive as a more confident and happy employee. Here are ways you can build your own foundation and avoid certain career roadblocks. 

1. Embrace Your Strengths to Overcome Imposter Syndrome

Many of us face the dreaded imposter syndrome when it comes to our careers and how we view ourselves in a professional setting. We may ask ourselves: Am I good enough for this job? Will others assume I’m lacking certain skills? What if I’m found out?

Letting these thoughts and doubts about yourself simmer over time will only limit your growth, making you less likely to take risks, move into leadership positions, speak up in meetings, and believe positive feedback. Unfortunately, you may also miss out on enjoying your own successes.

Here’s where self-love and embracing your self-worth can help you change your mindset and enable you to thrive at a job you earned and are qualified for. First, stop questioning yourself and start listing your unique strengths and accomplishments both as a person and as an employee. Use your kind and encouraging voice! Keep in mind that many of your personal qualities, such as resilience or timeliness, translate well in the workplace. Also, overcoming struggles and disappointments show your strength and how far you’ve come.

Keep your list handy, like on your phone’s Notes app, for a confidence boost and a self-love pat on the back. Don’t forget to add to it – you’ll keep seeing what value you bring to employers both as a person and an employee. You are not an imposter!

2. Set Healthy Boundaries for Work-Life Balance

It’s important to treasure both your time and your self-respect when working at a job. If you find yourself people-pleasing others and not yourself, you’re more likely to face workplace stress and become dissatisfied with your job. Setting boundaries both at work and during your time off are essential. You can only be a productive and effective employee if you take care of yourself and maintain a work-life balance. 

Use your work hours wisely and set up some time-management guidelines so you don’t get sidetracked or feel like you’re constantly catching up. Take breaks, stay hydrated, and make time for lunch or even a quick refreshing walk outside. And always take PTO — paid time off — when needed!

When your work day ends — whether it’s on-site, hybrid, or at home — switch gears and make sure you leave that day’s responsibilities behind. Remind yourself that most emails and text messages can wait. That way you can be fully present with family and friends. It’s not always easy, but try to compartmentalize this time so your mind isn’t ruminating over the next day’s to-do list or any coworker drama. Soothing or energizing routines can help with this transition — a workout with a friend, a funny podcast on your commute, or relaxing music while you meal prep.

Step up your self-care routines and fit them into your day so you feel refreshed or recharged. There are endless possibilities that don’t need to be expensive or time-consuming. Take that morning walk or savor your first cup of coffee. Find a crafting hobby that taps your creative side or reward yourself with a must-see TV episode after household chores. Or, head to the park with your family or friends for a take-out dinner — a no-fuss evening that’s enjoyable for everyone! 

Wind down before bedtime with a routine that relaxes you and sets you up for a good night’s sleep, such as a soothing shower, a meditation app, or a favorite author’s latest book.

3. Attract Opportunities by Exuding Confidence

Most experts agree that confident people are more likely to get ahead in their careers. If you want more opportunities for advancement and leadership, you need to showcase your confidence (even when you might be shaking inside!). 

When you trust yourself and are less self-conscious, you’ll engage more with others at work, find connections within your field, advocate for yourself, and take on more experiences. It’s a snowball effect that attracts even more opportunities.

Building confidence, however, can take time. The good news is that you can work on it and keep increasing it, especially if you insert some self-love in your pursuit. Showing yourself compassion and support in times of insecurity will boost your feelings of worthiness, ultimately impacting how confident you become.

Remember that it’s completely normal to feel inadequate in certain situations or with some skill sets. First and foremost, be understanding and not hard on yourself. Then get to work and invest in your development — prepare, practice, study, and put yourself out there. Repeat, and keep repeating until your confidence feels natural. Soon you’ll be speaking with clarity and authority at your next meeting!

If you don’t take professional risks even when you’re prepared, you’ll never grow and you’ll miss out on learning from those situations. Seeing that you survived, and maybe thrived, is how you keep building confidence. You’ll begin to see challenges not as threats but as opportunities — and you’ll have a healthy sense of self-worth to take them on! 

4. Accept Failure and Learn to Bounce Back 

Experiencing failure is not easy and can put a big dent in your self-confidence and self-worth. Maybe a coworker got that promotion you wanted, or your supervisor gave you a less than stellar performance review, or you missed a deadline on a project. 

This is when you need to dig deep and find some self-compassion. Everyone makes mistakes or faces setbacks — and so will you. It’s how you conduct yourself after failure and how you move forward that makes the difference. 

If you already have a foundation of self-love, you’ll know that this failure doesn’t define you. You’ll have the resilience you need to bounce back more quickly and the strength to cope and reflect on your experience. 

Depending on your circumstances, take responsibility for any mistakes and work toward making things right. If it’s something that you can control, such as developing your skill set or talking to your supervisor, then focus your energy on that. You’re more likely to find success next time if you are proactive. No matter what, give yourself a hug — you might have failed, but you are not a failure.