Tips for Getting Over a Bad Body Image Day

Our bodies are precious—every shape, size, and color have a unique beauty. But, aside from the beauty of the body, we should take some time to reflect on all that the body allows us to do and feel—movement, rest, pleasure, and pain. Our bodies are magical and complicated machines, and the ways we perceive our bodies are just complex. If you're in a negative self-talk rut, realize many of these critiques and anxieties come from the outside world rather than naturally within you. Read on to find out how you can pull yourself out from under a bad body image day and start feeling good in your skin!

Monitor Your Self Talk Down to the Facts

Whether you are conscious of it, we are almost always engaged in an inner dialogue when we are awake. This doesn't mean that our internal dialogue is always right; in fact, we often reinforce negative societal views when we are talking about and critiquing ourselves. The opinions you are expressing are not facts—remember this next time you think, “Ugh, I look fat,” or “Ew, I'm so gross.” These are opinions, not facts. Once you realize this negative talk is not factual, you can more easily discern that biased and unrealistic standards feed these feelings and beliefs about yourself. Anything that is not fact can be shifted—start to turn your negative self-talk and self-image by sticking with the facts! You are a human with a shape; there is nothing inherently wrong with how you look.

Distract Yourself with Intention

We often fixate on things that give us “bad” or “negative” feelings. Naturally, we want to isolate what is giving us a problem so we can fix it; however, our anxieties and fears can trap us in a loop that only makes this feeling seem more extensive and impossible to correct. If you are struggling with self-image, motivate yourself towards things that give you positive reinforcement or complete a task that will shift your focus off your body for a moment. For example, do a puzzle, clean a space in your home, or listen to your favorite soothing music. Our world is full of distractions, so learning to be deliberate about shifting focus when feeling anxiety is an excellent tool for several things.

Pick Your Life Over Your Body

Remember, your life comes first over your body. If you choose to frame in this way, you will realize that the most important thing is how you want to live your life and your body is the vehicle you are riding. You are more than your body, but you can also learn to thank it for allowing you to experience all that you enjoy in this life. Reframe your ideas around what the body is here for, and your gratitude and attitude will shift accordingly.

Be Loose and Eat What You Want

If you have an awful self-image day, wear your favorite comfy clothes so that you can move around freely without any resistance. Feeling free and mobile won't trigger any negative feelings that tighter clothes might. In a similar vein, keep eating what you want! Dieting and diet culture are notorious for being unsustainable and anxiety-inducing practices. Learn to feel okay about nourishing your body with what it desires, as this will not create feelings of scarcity or insufficiency, which do not mix well with negative self-talk. Remember to be free in all things!

Understanding that your body is beautiful no matter what size, shape, or color is just as important as knowing you are much more than your body. So, honor and cherish what this body allows you to do and tune up the gratitude with some freedom and kindness.