If you’ve been wanting to attract more people, you may think that changing your physical appearance is the key. You might be right, but there are many other things that can help you make yourself more attractive.
For instance, a smile is a natural aphrodisiac and a confident posture will make you look taller. You can even double your allure by swinging your hips when you walk—a study found that this can boost attraction by up to 40 percent!
1. Look Your Best
There isn’t a guy on the planet who doesn’t want to look good. And while it’s true that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, there are some things you can do to make yourself more attractive, based on legitimate science.
For instance, a healthy smile is one of the top physical traits people find appealing. So be sure to brush and floss daily, and consider investing in some teeth whitening kits for an extra boost.
And as for your posture, a study from the University of California found that men are seen as more attractive when they display expansive body language like outstretched arms and a broad stance.
2. Be Confident
Often, when people are insecure, they try to make themselves feel confident by implementing all kinds of strategies. They may start exercising, dressing up or practicing a firmer handshake. These tactics will work in the short term, but they don’t get to the root of the issue.
Instead, it’s important to focus on how you carry yourself and how you make others feel. Practicing good body language and smiling can go a long way toward making you appear more attractive. For example, a study by the University of British Columbia found that women who smile seem more approachable and sexually receptive.
3. Smile
From graduation pictures and wedding photos to candids and selfies, there is no shortage of opportunities for you to show off that gorgeous smile of yours. But sometimes those smiles can start to look a little fake or forced after so many snaps of the camera.
A genuine smile can make you seem more approachable and friendly, so practice smiling when you see people you don’t know – like the mailman or your neighbors out jogging. Even if it seems fake at first, over time the brain will register that you’re smiling and it will become more natural.
4. Be Mindful
There’s a lot more to attractiveness than just your physical appearance. Studies and experts say that feeling good about yourself is also important. A mindful attitude and practice can help.
To practice mindfulness, try focusing on one part of your body at a time for a few seconds at a time, such as your toes or the breath entering and exiting your lungs. Repeat this throughout your day to flex your awareness muscles.
Practicing mindfulness can also increase your confidence. This means that you’re confident being exactly who you are, which is a highly desirable quality in an attractive person.
5. Be Grounded
Grounding is the practice of re-establishing an effective connection between your mind and body. This can include quick strategies like taking three deep “belly breaths” or longer, more formal practices such as meditation.
Emotionally, a person who is grounded is deeply and fully present. They are not preoccupied or disconnected from their experience because of shame, insecurity, anxiety, depression, or any other mental chatter that takes them away from the moment at hand.
When it comes to physical attractiveness, being grounded can mean avoiding constant and biased comparisons to people you deem more attractive than yourself. Viewed in this light, it becomes clear that physical attractiveness only makes up a small percentage of overall attraction.
6. Be Active
Ask any woman what they want in a man, and many will answer “a sense of humor.” Women find men with humorous personalities more attractive. If you’re not naturally funny, don’t worry; there are other ways to elicit attraction from your partner.
For example, research has shown that people who smile a lot are found more attractive by others. Also, exercise regularly—just three or four times a week! It will make you feel more confident, and the pheromones you release during and after a workout can help you look more attractive as well.
7. Take Care of Yourself
People are more attractive when they take care of themselves. That doesn’t necessarily mean going on a diet or dying your hair, but rather taking small steps to look and feel their best.
In addition to dressing up, posture and how you carry yourself also makes a big difference. Women should keep their chin up to highlight their neck and jawline, while men should walk with more swagger.
Happiness is another major factor in attractiveness, and studies have found that people find others more appealing when they’re happy. Women who smile seem friendly and “sexually receptive,” while men who are happy are perceived as more masculine.