We all have hard body image days. It’s those days where nothing fits or someone makes a comment and then it’s all downhill from there.
It’s as if someone flipped a switch: Yesterday, we loved our hair. And, today it’s the worst.
It happens to the best of us. However, a bad body image day does not mean it has to be a bad day. There’s a way to turn this around and start feeling confident again.
I’m walking you through several ways to turn this day around, feel good, and kick body negativity back to where it belongs (far, far out of your mind).
Eat something amazing.
It’s up to you to define what “amazing” is, but a good starting point is going for something that makes you feel amazing along with tasting amazing.
Sometimes, it’s going to be an entire pint of Ben & Jerry’s because, man, we just have those days. Other times, it may be the most luscious salad you’ve ever had.
Either way, now isn’t the time to judge yourself for what you feel like fits your needs. Be kind to yourself and go for what you truly want, not what you “should” or “shouldn’t” have.
Get moving.
A lot of hard body image days boils down to getting stuck in our own heads and letting those negative thoughts rule the day. One of the best ways to get out of your head is to get out into the world. It doesn’t have to be the gym. A 10 minute walk can be enough to kickstart yourself.
Going out and moving your body may be the last thing you feel like doing, but it’s an easy fix to feeling this way. When you get moving, you’re taking the focus from out of your mind and into your environment around you.
Movement can also help your brain process all the emotions it’s holding in. Maybe this hard body image day is chalked up to a family member making a negative comment about your body or your jeans being tighter. Or maybe it has nothing to do with any of that and it’s really because you’re stressed to your max at work.
Regardless of the why, moving helps move all that emotion out of your body so you can feel at peace again.
It happens to the best of us. However, a bad body image day does not mean it has to be a bad day. There's a way to turn this around and start feeling confident again. Click To TweetLook at yourself in the mirror.
This may be the opposite of what you want to do right now. It may even be your natural reaction to avoid the mirror so you don’t go further down the rabbit-hole of criticizing and body hate. Completely understandable.
However, I want you to try a new tactic. When you get in front of the mirror, immediately start listing off the things you love about yourself.
It may be that all you can list is one trait before your mind wants to start going into a dark place of loathing. That’s okay. Repeat that one trait to yourself over and over again.
As you do, your mind will shift and start to notice all the other things that make you so gorgeous.
Make a list.
Let’s go down a different path from the one above. Instead of focusing on your physical assets, set to ones centered around who you are as a person.
Too often, we can feel like pretty is the price we pay to exist in society. It’s one of the biggest BS lies out there, but it’s damn convincing. You are so much more than your beauty.
Sometimes, we need to remind ourselves just how amazing we are. Being a good friend, a great listener, funny, kind, smart. These are all things you are and that a mirror could never tell you.
Keep writing out that list until you feel like you’ve covered it all. Pull it out throughout the day or whenever you need a reminder that you’re so much more than your looks.
Spend time doing something special.
My first suggestion with this piece is to go hang out with friends and loved ones. Again, this may be something you feel like avoiding today. But, nothing takes your mind off of, well, your mind than having a good time and laughing with people who love you.
We need those reminders from time to time that we are lovable and worthy of the love we receive. When our brain goes into a dark place that lies about the kind of love we deserve, it’s natural to retreat.
I want to challenge you and those thoughts to put yourself out there instead. In doing so, you’ll see those lies for exactly what they are and be able to accept the truth of who you are: You’re great.
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