10 Ways To Be More Body Positive

Body positivity is an essential aspect of self-love and acceptance. It's about appreciating and embracing your body for what it is and not judging it based on society's unrealistic standards. This can be easier said than done as everyone's body positivity journey is a continuous one, especially in a world full of unrealistic beauty standards.

Here are ten ways to help yourself be more body positive.

1. Challenge Negative Self-Talk

Actively listen to your negative talk. If you wouldn’t speak to a friend like this, then why speak to yourself like this? Instead, give your negative voice a name and try to speak to yourself with kindness and compassion. Practice positive affirmations to build a positive mindset.

2. Practice Self-Care

Taking care of yourself both physically and mentally will help you feel good about your body. This includes eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, and engaging in activities that make you feel good.

3. Surround Yourself With Positive Influences

Surround yourself with people who support you, follow social media accounts that promote body positivity, and read books or articles that inspire body positivity. Nobody has time for negativity so keep it out!

4. Embrace Your Unique Features

Celebrate what makes you unique, whether it's your hair, freckles, tummy rolls you are unique and beautiful as you are.

5. Dress for Yourself

Wearing clothes that make you feel good about your body can boost your confidence and promote body positivity. Clothes should fit you, not you fit the clothes. If something doesn't fit or feel good consider donating to charity or giving clothes you no longer wear to a friend. Wear what makes you feel good and forget about what everyone else thinks.

6. Practice Gratitude

Practicing gratitude can help shift your focus from what you don't like about your body to what you appreciate about it. Take time to focus on the positive aspects of your body and appreciate what it does for you.

7. Surround yourself with images of all types of bodies

Follow brands and people that are body positive. Watch TV shows and Films that feature a more diverse range of body types. You hold the power to you hold the power to build a more diverse world of media for yourself.

8. Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

Comparing yourself to others can be detrimental to your mental health and body image. Remember that everyone is unique, and there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to “The Perfect Body”.

9. Engage with body positive campaigns

Challenging beauty standards can help break the cycle of unrealistic expectations. Speak out and celebrate all types of bodies. The ‘#iweigh' campaign encourages people to describe their weight in terms of the important things in their life or ‘Operation Beautiful Movement’, which encourages people to post anonymous notes in public places for other people to find.

10. Work towards body neutrality

Body neutrality is to detach your sense of worth and value from how your look. It encourages us to appreciate and celebrate all the other things about you, maybe that’s being good at a certain hobby, sport or challenges that you are proud to have overcome.

If you need support…

If you feel you are frequently thinking about your body in a negative way there are plently of places to get support and advice. Here are a few below

Some body-positive social media accounts

• Eff Your Beauty Standards (@effyourbeautystandards )

• Kaguya (@p.s.kagyta)

• The Everyman Project (@theeverymanproject )

Some self-help books

• The Body Is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love by Sonya Renee Taylor

• Body Respect by Linda Bacon and Lucy Aphramor

• Body Outlaws: Rewriting the Rules of Beauty and Body Image by Ophira Edut and Rebecca Walker

It’s normal not to feel body positive all the time but if you're struggling it's essential to seek professional help and advice from your GP.

Remember, all bodies are beautiful and so are you.

Lovedrobe x