By Silver Linings volunteer, Benazir Radmanesh
Ahhh, the amazing feeling of the summer heat after a long, cold winter spent bundled up under layers of clothing. As the temperature rises, however, so does the pressure to shed those layers of clothing. And along with those lost layers comes the misguided societal pressure to shed some pounds. With fitness and diet culture bombarding us with messages of “bikini-body quick fixes,” I’d like to share 5 tips for tuning out the noise that you’re not good enough just as you are and tuning in to inner peace and acceptance of your body.
1) Write a gratitude letter to your body.
So many of us only think about our bodies when we’re criticizing ourselves. We focus on all of the parts that we don’t like, completely ignoring all of the amazing, important things our bodies do for us. Take a quiet moment to write a list of at least 10 things that you’re grateful for about your body. Examples could be the ability to see beautiful sunsets, to listen to your favourite music, to touch the soft fur of a new puppy, to take in the delicious aroma of fresh roses.
2) Go on a cleanse...a social media cleanse.
It’s hard not to be bombarded at least once a day with “fitspo” images--pictures of people’s workouts, meals, bodies, etc. Consciously note the content that fills your social media feeds. Is it making you feel better or worse about yourself? Does it inspire you or simply give you an unrealistic standard to compare yourself to? Instead of following fitness models or celebrities, perhaps choose to follow body positivity accounts, cute animal pages, or just the friends and family members who you really care about. Take a social media detox to clear your mind of “compare & despair” clutter!
3) Focus on comfort.
When I was in the early stages of recovery, it was very important for me to dress in clothes that made me feel comfortable. For a while, that meant letting go of clothing that I was using to define myself and to punish myself with. Choose to wear comfy clothing and fabrics that make you feel good instead of self-conscious. If you’re wearing clothes that make you focus more on your body than on what you’re doing while wearing them, this should be a “red flag” to change into something in which you feel more at ease.
4) Spend time in nature.
Summertime means long days, blue skies, sunshine and green spaces! Try to spend more time outside enjoying nature’s beauty. A walk by the river, a bike ride in the park, a hike in the mountains: all of these are opportunities to focus on something outside of yourself. Noticing the inspiring beauty of the natural world helps us appreciate the bigger picture of life outside of our bodies.
5) Practice self-love and self-care.
Find ways to do loving things for yourself and for your body. Give yourself a nice pedicure. Watch a funny movie. Catch yourself in negative self-talk and replace these thoughts with something positive. Make positive affirmations part of your daily ritual. The kinder you are to yourself the harder it will be to dislike your body.
Remember: you are more than your body. Your body is an incredible tool that allows you to move through the amazing world around you. Surround yourself with people who love you as you are and remember to say “thank you” to your body each day. And most of all, enjoy your summer!
