Social media has set unexpected standards towards body image. “Beauty standards” portray an unrealistic body perfectionism which has put many women and men in distress. What is perfect? And who gets to define this perfect?
Is having “the curves” more feminine and a “buffed body” advocates masculinity?
Perfectionism exerts body dissatisfaction which in turn has a huge impact on mental health and self-esteem.
Feeling depressed about your body is quite common with the ongoing rage of unrealistic beauty standards.
Anxiety about your body can cause over and disorganized patterns of eating leading to other health conditions.
After-all what’s all this worth?
Perfectionism sets unachievable standards which puts oneself in chains from liberty. Achieving those standards puts a different toll on one’s mental and physical health. It’s always “Never going to be enough” because beauty standards keep changing and they in fact keep escalating.
The key is in:
Being comfortable with oneself and accepting who you are, the way you are first.
Everyone is of different shapes and sizes and we differ with respect to many other aspects as well, like, skin color, skin texture, etc.
The important part to be focused upon here is to “Be Healthy”.
Being healthy should be a matter of concern and not, not being pretty enough.
Well having said that, let’s look into how you can feel more comfortable in your own skin:
Feeling comfortable in your skin can be difficult.
Not only do we have to deal with aches and pains every day, but depictions of beauty in the media can alter the way we feel about ourselves and our bodies.
Feeling comfortable in your body has its advantages.
For one, feeling comfortable in your skin means that you’re more confident.
Confidence is key for almost everything you do—from talking to your boss about getting that big promotion to going out on dates.
Unfortunately for many of us, our bodies aren’t what we want them to be, no matter how healthy our diets and how intense our workouts are. Fortunately, it only takes a little bit of mind power to feel more comfortable in your body.
Here are the changes that you can make to feel the most comfortable in your own skin.
- Practice Healthy social media Habits
We don’t mean putting your phone down before bed to get more sleep, although, if you find yourself scrolling Instagram at 2 a.m. you probably should.
What we mean by practicing social media habits is trying not to compare yourself to everyone else.
This can be difficult, but you can do it by ensuring your feed is filled with diverse individuals.
Many of the photos you see on social media aren’t real, so there’s no reason to judge or compare yourself to someone else.
Instead of being constantly blasted by images of people with bodies different than yours, expand your feed to include those who have similar bodies, then continue to broaden it by including a diverse range of body types.
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with following only fitness models, but if you find yourself comparing your body to theirs, it’s time to focus on other things.
The accounts you follow should inspire you, not make you feel any less than a beautiful person because you don’t look like someone else.
- Change Your Mindset
Repeat after me:
Feeling comfortable in your body has nothing to do with looks.
Yes, it can be difficult to differentiate between the two, but it’s all about your mindset.
Your body is simply a part of you; it is not who you are.
Instead, accept your body for what it is by reminding yourself that it’s because of your body that you get to experience some of the best parts of life, like connecting with others and going on hikes.
- Prioritize Yourself
Taking care of yourself is key when it comes to feeling comfortable in your body.
By prioritizing yourself and your own needs, you’ll be more in-tune with who you are.
You can prioritize yourself in several different ways, including everything from learning to say “no” to people who rob you of your energy or prioritizing “me” time, like using a nice anti aging cream or scheduling regular facials or daily walks around the neighborhood.
Those who don’t take the proper time for themselves are often harder on themselves in all regards.
If you’re someone who works and works without taking the necessary time to relax and decompress, you’ll feel the negative impact in all aspects of your life, especially when it comes to the way you view yourself.
By prioritizing yourself, taking care of your skin, and feeling confident in your skin and body you will begin to feel more comfortable.
- Make Healthy Choices
You don’t need to change your body in any way to feel comfortable in it.
While making healthier choices can impact your body and help you lose weight, it can also help you feel more comfortable in your body even if you lose no weight at all.
Healthy choices can be anything you feel that can improve your life and your health.
Some people simply take care of their mental wellbeing, while others do yoga and start making healthier diet choices.
You may also choose to take supplements known for improving mood, like CBG oil.
Healthy choices can help you get into a more positive mindset.
If you’re eating a poor diet, you may feel lethargic and even depressed, which can lead to negative thinking about your own body.
However, once you start eating healthier, you’ll feel better and have more energy so that you can start becoming more positive about yourself.
- Find a Job You Love
Feeling more comfortable about your body doesn’t have to start or end with your body itself.
Instead, you can feel more comfortable and confident about yourself by finding a job you love.
When you start working on projects that make you feel good about yourself, and you’re confident in your abilities, you’ll stop worrying about what you look like and start realizing your full potential.
Take a look at your current job situation and consider the impact it has on your life.
Do you feel confident while you’re at work, or do you feel drained of energy?
The more comfortable and confident you are in a place you spend 8 hours a day can have an impact on how you feel in your skin.
- Express Yourself
Expressing yourself is one of the best ways to improve your self-confidence.
If you’re not expressing yourself and instead choose to hide away, your self-confidence can take a serious hit.
To boost your body confidence, be self-expressive.
You can express yourself in several ways, such as singing, dancing, creating art, or writing.
- De-Stress
Take time off work when you need it, and never push yourself so much that you feel trapped.
You must take the time to de-stress from things that can negatively affect your mental health in the long run.
The way you feel in your body is connected to your mental health and self-image.
When you’re feeling down in the dumps, you may start to view yourself differently, so it’s important to make time for things that can help keep you motivated and happy.
Consider the things that make you feel calm and relaxed, from a bubble bath to petting your dog, and make sure to take time doing those things, especially if you feel yourself getting overwhelmed.
Similarly, you can de-stress by making plans for how to get yourself out of stressful situations.
For example, business owners worried about their business finances can make a plan to better handle them in the future.
The simple act of planning–whether it be planning your day or planning your future– can help give you back control.
- Spend Time Naked
If you’re someone who avoids looking at your naked body in the mirror, it’s time to open your eyes.
Spending time naked can help you gain self-confidence and feel more comfortable in your body.
While you might have an instinct to hide your body from even yourself, this can quickly spiral and make you unfamiliar with your body.
Looking at yourself naked helps you get more comfortable with your body because you see it more.
Just like everything else in your life, the more you see something, the more comfortable you are with it, such as friends, family, and even coworkers. By spending time with yourself naked, you can get to know yourself better.
When looking at yourself in the mirror, try not to be so judgmental.
Instead, thank your body for all of the things it’s able to do for you, such as walking, writing, playing with your pets, and more.
Without this one body that you’ve been given, you wouldn’t be able to enjoy life to its fullest.
While spending more time with yourself naked can be difficult for some of us who avoid mirrors and cameras, we guarantee that it’ll be effective.
You can start slow by simply sleeping nude and see how you feel.
These practices will not only help you boost your mood and accept yourself more but will also elevate your self-esteem.
Confidence is what is most attractive in any person and that is what makes them different.
Hence, you are perfect the way you are and can take it one step at a time towards not a prettier but a rather healthier life!
