5 Ways to Care For and Build A Positive Body Image
If I ask you the question, “How do you feel about your body?” If you don’t immediately smile and answer yes, you are not alone, in fact, you’re in the majority. As of 2022, more than 50% of adults from the US (and many European countries) have reported feeling unhappy with their appearance. To take it further, 1 in 3 gym-goers reported symptoms of body dysmorphia, a disorder characterized by being so worried about the way your body looks that it interferes with your ability to function normally.
Whether you personally are looking to improve your body image, or reading on behalf of a loved one, I’ve highlighted 5 helpful ways to build up a positive body imagine:
1) Keep A Top Ten List of Qualities You Love About Yourself
From being a good listener to a killer dancer… There are so many qualities other than our bodies that we often forget to celebrate. Have this list of your top ten. Hang it somewhere (like the mirror) or tuck it away and bring it out whenever you need that reminder.
2) Do A Social Media Overhaul
If you have social media, revamp it to be more body positive by:
Unfollow Some: Accounts that are triggering or cause you to engage in comparing
Follow Some: Accounts that make a conscious effort to promote body positivity or accounts that have nothing to do with bodies at all! Do you like gardening? Find a local flower shop. Give them a follow! You like puppies? Explore some @pupfix or @puppystagrams
Learn about “augmented photos:” Ready for a crazy activity? Download face tune. Try it once before deleting it. You will be shocked! See the pics of me here? Are you shocked? I sure am! A whole lot can be done with a 30 second face tune…
3) Name The Mean Voice In Your Head - Separate It From “You”
When you are feeling down and recognizing negative self talk, give that voice a name! I call mine Bernice. I look in the mirror and say “Shut up, Bernice!” It’s a silly yet effective way to distance yourself from the negativity and bring back positive thoughts.
4) Avoid Social Comparisons
The #1 action to take to feel better about your body is to work on stopping the social comparison process. As soon as you catch yourself engaging in the “Why don’t I look like that?” rabbit hole, it’s important to take a step back. And let’s be honest- It is SO easy to compare. TV, social media, magazines, billboards… everywhere you look there are photoshopped, face-tuned photos staring at you. What can you do?
Remind yourself: the photos are augmented. When a photo looks perfect, it’s constructed by a computer. Remember that magazines hire professionals to airbrush and photoshop.
Sometimes, I even look at a picture and tell myself “that’s how I’d look if I worked for that magazine!” Maybe far fetched, but it immediately boosts my confidence and stops me from comparing myself to the photo.
5) Use The Time That You Would Spend Tracking/ Worrying To Do Something Meaningful
Being stuck in a mindset of body shaming yourself not only affects your emotional well-being but can be TIME CONSUMING. If you’re spending hours researching weight loss tips or googling images of “fitspo,” try making an effort to do something meaningful with your time
Call a family member you haven’t spoken to in a while
Volunteer at a local organization that has a cause close to your heart
Practice mindfulness or do some yoga
Working on body image and body acceptance can be hard, especially with everything out there. At the end of the day, self-love and self-acceptance breeds confidence and a positive sense of self.
I hope you find these 5 actions useful and helpful. Feel free to reach out with any questions or thoughts :).