Self Improvement

There's no magic recipe for self-confidence, but there are certainly a few everyday habits that can set you on the right path. Whether you're stressed, overcommitted, bored, or simply insecure, we've come up with some quick tips to help you boost your self-esteem and maintain a positive attitude. Struggling to feel good about yourself? Here are 11 simple ways to love yourself more:

1. Surround yourself with positive people. Moods and attitudes can be contagious, so if you're hoping to boost your self-esteem, it's important to keep confident company. Steer clear of the Debbie Downers: people who are constantly rattling off their insecurities will only prompt you to acknowledge yours.
2. Be a planner. Organization is key to feeling good on a day-to-day basis, so do what you need to do to stay on top of your schedule. Rushing around, running late, and missing deadlines puts you on the fast track to anxiety, but you can avoid these common culprits by simply tackling your to-do list.
3. Make time to do the things you enjoy. To be your best self, you need to set aside plenty of time for the hobbies and passions that fulfill you. Whether it's long walks, a good book, or a few minutes of art each day, you need to prioritize the simple pastimes that put you at ease.
4. Get plenty of Z's. If you're exhausted and run-down, your mood — and your confidence — is sure to plummet. You need energy to be social and productive, so try to avoid burnout by balancing your work with plenty of R&R.

Keep reading for more confidence-boosting tips.

These days, a really good deed rarely goes unnoticed. That's because kind acts or charitable campaigns can easily make the rounds on the Internet and reach thousands of people in just a few hours. Here, we've rounded up some of the most high-profile good deeds that we won't be forgetting anytime soon.

• The mail opener: For one terminally ill man named Scott, opening mail is one of life's simple and best pleasures. So his nephew decided to post on Reddit and asked users to make Scott's day. Soon hundreds of letters poured in from around the world, including Japan, Australia, and Mexico.
• The giving cop: Talk about an officer serving the community. On a cold night near Times Square, an officer saw an older man sitting on the street barefoot. He left for a short time and came back with a new pair of boots that he helped the man put on. Someone caught it on camera and just like that, the snap spread around the country.
• The missing engagement ring: In the latest good deed gone viral, a woman named Sarah accidentally dropped her engagement ring in a homeless man's donation cup. She thought she might never see it again, but the man, Bill Ray Harris, kept it safe until she returned looking for it two days later. To show their appreciation, Sarah and her husband set up an online fund-raiser to pay him back. To this day, they've collected more than $175,000 in donations.

Read on for more.

You may wake up on the wrong side of the bed, but that doesn't mean you have to adopt a negative attitude. Sometimes bad days seem inevitable — you miss the bus, arrive late to work, then forget a major deadline — but just a few tweaks to your everyday routine can set you up for better, happier days. Hoping to have a joyful Spring? Check out 10 simple ways to make a good day more likely:

1. Set multiple alarms. It's hard to be satisfied when you're tired and groggy, so do yourself a favor by going to bed at a decent hour. More importantly, though, be sure to set several alarms so that your day gets off to a prompt, panic-free start.
2. Eat a healthy breakfast. If you're hungry, it's not a good day. Period. Easy solution? Allow yourself enough time each morning to sit down and enjoy a filling, nutritious meal. Pack healthy snacks to make sure you have plenty of energy throughout the day.
3. Look good, be comfortable. If you dress well and feel positive about your appearance, you're more likely to channel your best self. Your attitude will shift, if only slightly: "The rain is terrible, but at least my sweater is cute."
4. Have a plan. Avoid any hectic moments or anxious breakdowns by giving yourself a daily schedule. If you're able to prep the night before, you'll feel much more relaxed as you tackle your daily responsibilities.
5. Chat with loved ones. Engaging with the people you care about, be it in person or over the phone, can do wonders for your attitude. Even a five-minute conversation with your pal will be enough to lighten your spirit and leave you energized.

Read on for more ways to improve your days.

Although it's good to focus on your own happiness, it's always beneficial to spread the joy around. In fact, studies have shown that people who perform kind acts see a boost in mood. Since today is world kindness day, let's celebrate by doing some nice things for people.

• Send a postcard. Send a postcard to a friend or family member who doesn't live in the same city, updating them on your life and telling them that you're thinking of them.
• Give affirmation. Praise someone about a quality that they have that you really appreciate. Make sure it's true for you or it won't sound genuine!
• Help someone with their belongings. If you see an elderly person struggling with their belongings or even groceries, offer to help carry them. Perhaps you can help them load the bags into their car, or if you live in the same neighborhood, you can drop them off at their door.
• Aid someone with their job search. Take some time out of your day to help an unemployed friend or family member. Go through job listings and send her a list of suitable jobs, offer to edit her resume and to prep her for interviews.
• Clean your home. If you live with roommates or a partner, clean the home and do all the chores without any prompting.

Read on for more kind acts.

A lack of confidence can hold you back in many ways. It may cause a self-defeatist attitude that prevents you from reaching your full potential. I talked to life coach Martha Beck, a speaker at the O You! event in Los Angeles this Saturday, who had some wise words of advice for those who don't feel good about themselves. Here's how you can drop your insecurities:

• Challenge yourself. "The only way to become confident is to do things that frighten you," Beck says. "When I was 14 years old, I started doing one constructive thing that feels scary every day. I still hold myself to that. It's the only reason I have any confidence at all."
• Acknowledge it. "It's not unhealthy to be insecure as long as you don't lie about it. Insecurity is natural. Admitting it is courageous. Being honest about insecurity allows security to develop."

It's always good to have a few lifesaving skills up your sleeves because you never know when you might need them. Wise Bread shares the skills everyone needs to learn.

There are many dangers that lurk in the world around us; fortunately, basic knowledge, common sense, and not panicking can ensure you come out on top of most emergency situations. Check out the skills below to know how to wisely react if and when you're ever put to the test.

RELATED: 6 Items You Might Have Forgotten in Your Emergency Kit

1. CPR

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) methods have changed a bit over the years, but the three basic CPR actions are to check for unresponsiveness and call 911, begin chest compressions if the victim is not breathing normally, and tilt the victim's head back and give two one-second breaths through the victim's mouth. The pattern is 30 chest compressions, then two breaths, and continue the pattern until the victim begins to breathe or help arrives.

2. The Heimlich Maneuver

If an adult is choking and cannot breathe, the Heimlich maneuver can dislodge the foreign body responsible for the victim choking. The Heimlich Institute recommends this technique: from behind, wrap your arms around the back of the victim and form a fist below the victim's ribcage but above his belly button. Grasp your fist with the other hand and press into the victim's upper abdomen with a quick upper thrust and continue until the foreign object is expelled. Seek training for infant and child Heimlich techniques, as they are less intuitive than the adult method and can do more harm than good if not done correctly.

Read on for more lifesaving skills to learn.

In the spirit of Positive Thinking Day, let's take steps to banish some of the most common negative thoughts many of us repeat to ourselves. Being in a negative space is harmful to our overall well-being, because what you dwell on can easily become self fulfilling if you don't change your mindset.

I'm not good enough. This type of negative thought that can apply to many categories. Maybe you don't think you're a good enough mother or good at a sport. Even if you find yourself lacking in something, there's no need to keep repeating it to yourself. The human brain is an incredible thing. Be inspired by Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, Harvard-trained neuroscientist who suffered a stroke that left her unable to walk, read, write, talk, or remember her previous life. Dr. Taylor took eight years to recover and has since then written a best-selling book about her experience and appeared on Oprah. Keep on working toward something, and watch the leaps and bounds you'll make.

No one cares about me. To accurately say that your family and friends don't care about you would be a very rare situation. Maybe you're being too negative and overlooking the gestures of love they show you. They don't even have to be big gestures, but it's the little things they do for you that count. And people may be reacting to the energy you're putting out; perhaps you think they don't care about you so you don't make any effort in your relationships. Start showing people you care, so they can show you back in kind. And if you don't have good relationships with the people you know, what's stopping you from making new friends?

Read on for more.