Enough with the small talk- it’s time for the real talk. Intellectual self-care habits don’t get enough attention when it comes to social settings. There is tons of great self-care content out there, but what about caring for and challenging our minds to help with our social outings? Buckle up, because here are seven intellectual self-care habits that strengthen minds and boost your social confidence.
1. Make Eye-Contact
- It doesn’t matter who you are, I am going to STARE those eyes down as long as it’s me you are talking to!
- I can’t lie to my girlies though: this is one of the intellectual self-care habits that makes you feel like a weirdo only because you’re not used to it.
- If you’ve ever been told to “look at me when I’m talking to you,” that’s because it’s a sign of respect. And trust me- eye contact is powerful. It shows attentiveness, conveys confidence, and even boosts attractiveness. Practice makes it better, so start now!
2. While Walking: Keep Your Head Up & Phone Down
- In college, something I noticed was how almost everyone’s head was glued to their phones while walking around campus.
- I found this especially unattractive in guys- and made it RARE for anyone to see this behavior from me.
- Head-down phone use sends a social cue that you lack confidence hiding behind that tiny screen. Due to this, I became more aware of how I appear in my surroundings and began adopting this “heads up, phone’s down” intellectual self-care habit in my daily life and have seen a drastic increase in my self-confidence.
3. Speak with a Steady, Confident Pitch
- If people are leaning in, furrowing their brows, or asking “huh?”, it’s time to project your voice more clearly.
- But don’t go overboard- find the sweet spot between mumbling and shouting.
- Aim for a tone that fills the room and keeps heads nodding in engagement.
- This is such a great intellectual self-care habit because the goal is boosting confidence… even if you have to fake it til you make it! No one’s going to know that you’re actually freaking out on the inside, just you, and with enough practice you’ll become a pro!
4. Practice Mindful (Active) Listening
- Ok this intellectual self-care habit is for myself because I WILL zone out!
- Realistically speaking though, when you’re actively engaged in listening to what a person is saying to you, it’s easier to respond more thoughtfully.
- Active listening- being fully present, making eye contact, and avoiding distractions– helps you understand the message and shows the speaker they’re valued.
- They won’t realize you weren’t paying attention when they ask you a question and you struggle answering – we’ve all been there 🥲
- So put your listening ears on, show some respect, and build your confidence knowing you can participate in great discussions no matter the topic.
5. Engage in Meaningful Conversations
- There are too many surface-level interactions that don’t go anywhere– sometimes even among friends.
- If you don’t know your friends’ religious beliefs, political views, life views, morals, future goals, dreams, desires, etc., then what are you really talking about?
- Of course with friends, not every conversation has to be super serious, but balancing light banter with deeper, thought-provoking conversations makes your time spent richer and more valuable.
- Practicing this intellectual self-care habit transforms your social experiences- the small talk won’t cut it anymore, and you’ll crave something more substantial.
6. Curate Smart Content
- Social media doesn’t always have to be our destination for brain rot. There are countless content creators, podcasts, newsletter, and blogs 😘 out there that aim to reach, teach, and inspire minds.
- You never know who you’ll meet that shares the same interest as you and will dive into conversations based on that mutual curiosity.
- This intellectual self-care habit is beneficial to you because it broadens your horizons simply by changing the content you consume.
7. Learn Random Things
- When talking to a group of people you don’t know, having knowledge on niche or quirky facts can turn a casual gathering into something memorable. This sparks questions that deepen the conversion and leave others both intrigued and impressed.
- The internet is huge with a million rabbit holes to dive into. With this intellectual self-care habit, it’s important to find something interesting- something that people from different backgrounds wouldn’t mind learning about.
- So find something random, but interesting, go through the rabbit hole, and come out as a success at your social outings giving you all the confidence needed for the next.
Now that everything’s said and done, some habits here are easier said than done. So use that as a reminder to keep working on yourself, specially in areas that you want to improve.
Social confidence doesn’t come only from external validation- it also grows from within. Nourish your intellect with these self-care habits and be self-assured in any social setting. You’ve got this girly ❤️
