8 Things You Can Do to Improve Your Body Image
Body image is a complex and multifaceted concept that involves how we see and feel about our physical appearance. It's common to struggle with poor body image, especially in a culture that often prioritizes certain body types and standards of beauty. However, there are ways to improve body image and feel more confident in your own skin. Here are eight tips to help you improve your body image:
1. Practice Self-Compassion
One of the most important things you can do to improve your body image is to practice self-compassion. This means treating yourself with kindness and understanding, rather than criticizing or judging yourself harshly. Recognize that everyone has flaws and imperfections, and work towards recognizing your inherent worth and value separate from how you look.
2. Expand Your Media
The media we consume can have a significant impact on our body image. It's essential to broaden our media consumption to include a more diverse range of body types and sizes, including people in larger bodies. This can help us develop a more realistic and accepting view of our own bodies. Research shows that viewing images of more diverse bodies even for a short amount of time can start to shift our biases.
3. Separate Your Worth from Appearance
Your worth as a person is not determined by how you look. It's essential to separate your self-esteem and self-worth from your physical appearance. Focus on the things that really make you you that have nothing to do with your body. A mantra that can help is “my body is the least interesting thing about me.”
4. Focus on What Your Body Can Do
Instead of fixating on how your body looks, focus on what it can do. Celebrate the ways in which your body supports you and allows you to engage in your favorite activities. This can help you appreciate your body for its abilities, rather than its appearance. This doesn’t have to be anything intense, but can be as simple as your body allowing you to feel the sun on your face, cuddle with your pet, or hug your friends.
5. Explore What's Underneath Negative Body Image
Exploring the underlying causes of negative body image can help you get to the root of the problem. Usually, negative body image or uncomfortable feelings about our bodies are really the canary in the coalmine – they are a sign that there is something amiss underneath. To explore this, ask yourself: What is changing my body going to get me? Often we have a fantasy of how changing our body is going to allow us to feel more confident, be more accepted, have other people care about us more. Working on the root of these issues is the only way to really work towards improving our body image.
6. Learn About Health at Every Size and Get Involved in Fat Activism
Health at Every Size (HAES) is a movement that promotes body acceptance and healthful behaviors for all body types and sizes. Learning about HAES and getting involved in fat activism can help you understand why you struggle with negative body image in the first place, feel more empowered and supported in your body-positive journey, connect with a community, and work towards body liberation for all bodies.
7. Practice Intuitive Eating
Intuitive eating involves listening to your body's cues and eating when you're hungry, stopping when you're full, and choosing foods that feel satisfying and nourishing. This approach can help you develop a more positive and intuitive relationship with food and your body. As long as we are engaging in trying to change our body, we stay stuck in the cycle of negative body image.
8. Care for Your Body on Challenging Body Image Days
On challenging body image days, it's essential to take care of your body and prioritize self-care. This can include engaging in relaxing activities, such as taking a warm bath or practicing yoga, and surrounding yourself with supportive and positive influences. Wear comfortable clothes and don’t beat yourself up for feeling this way. Instead of punishing yourself on challenging days, try taking care of yourself instead.
In conclusion, improving body image is an ongoing process that requires patience, self-compassion, and a willingness to challenge harmful messages from society that we all internalize. It often takes a long time, and can be connected to other issues such as eating disorders, anxiety, depression, and trauma. If you want extra support, I would love to help. Feel free to call me at (424) 231-5877 for a free 15-minute phone consultation or send me a message here. If you are looking for help with eating disorders, anxiety, or relationship issues in addition to body image, you can read more about how I can help here.