5 Ways to Develop a Better Relationship with Your Body

5 Ways to Develop a Better Relationship with Your Body

Given the continuing prevalence of unhealthy, unrealistic beauty standards, there’s no denying that beauty and the body are some of the most fraught aspects of modern culture. In light of this, prioritizing body positivity and self-acceptance are no less than radical acts.

By choosing to ignore negative messages about your body and instead treating it more lovingly, you push back against social pressure and nurture healthy self-esteem. Furthermore, committing to treating your body better will also improve both your physical and mental health by leaps and bounds. This is something that I’ve long battled with while working in fashion and social media industry, but I have much more of a better grasp on now.

In this blog post, I’ve put together five actionable ways to heal your relationship with your body and get better at loving yourself. These are some of the things that have worked for me.

Take an Affirming Approach to Exercise

Exercise is undeniably essential for keeping yourself both mentally and physically healthy. However, there’s also no denying that modern culture often weaponizes exercise as a means of encouraging body- shaming and self-punishment. Thus, it’s important to approach exercise with balance and moderation, focusing on its holistic benefits rather than solely on appearance.

Rather than exercising as a means of working off “bad” food or attaining a specific body shape, embrace physical activity as a way to nurture and celebrate your body and your mind. Find activities that bring you joy, whether it’s dancing, yoga, hiking, or any form of movement that resonates with you. Work out as frequently and as long as you can enjoyably do without straining yourself, and know that it’s fine to give yourself breaks from time to time. I have to with my bad joints and health as I have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. But, by engaging in exercise that aligns with your preferences and respects your body’s limitations, you can foster a positive and empowering connection with your physical self.

Finding ways to make exercise more fun can also help make it a more sustainable part of your daily life. If social activity motivates and energizes you, try scheduling workouts with friends. Invest in workout clothes that you actually like wearing—buy leggings, sports bras, sneakers, and other pieces that look and feel good on your body. A cute workout outfit really motivates me! The more you treat exercise like its own form of pleasure instead of a simple daily obligation, the easier it will be to do it every day.

Try Intuitive Eating

If you find yourself constantly bombarded by messaging about diets and restrictive eating plans,
consider turning to intuitive eating. This approach to eating encourages you to listen to your body’s natural hunger and fullness cues instead of trying to dictate what and when you “should” eat. By nature, it offers a refreshing approach rooted in body respect and self-care, and it can help lead to a more balanced relationship with food overall.

Unlike diets that impose rigid rules and restrictions, intuitive eating honours your individual needs and preferences. It encourages you to enjoy a wide variety of foods without guilt or judgment. Intuitive eating can thus help strip away the stress and pressure that many people likely feel when they think about their diets. By practicing this approach, you get back in touch with the reality that food is meant to be a source of satiation and joy.

One way of eating that’s helped me tremendously is following the rules from The Glucose Goddess. Eating fibre first, then proteins and fats, before carbohydrates. Never eat sugar and carbs on their own as it will cause a huge glucose spike, which can lead to anxiety, insulin issues, weight gain, and acne etc. It’s something I’ve been doing for about a month, as well as using up the food energy after eating by taking a walk or by doing some light exercise, and it’s helped me really feel like I’m loving my body and doing good. My acne has pretty much cleared up entirely! Never deprive yourself of the foods you want, just make sure you eat sugary or carby foods with vegetables and proteins/fats.

Surround Yourself with Supportive People

The people you spend time with greatly influence your self-perception. If they criticize and tear you down constantly, you’ll soon learn to do the same to yourself—but the converse is also true. Research has shown that individuals who have supportive friends and loved ones experience higher levels of body satisfaction and self-esteem.

Once you commit to loving your body more, try to adjust your social circles to support that objective. Disengage from people who make you feel bad about yourself constantly. Instead, seek out friends, family, or communities that prioritize inner qualities and celebrate individuality beyond physical appearance. By surrounding yourself with these positive influences, you create an environment that supports your journey towards a healthier body image.

This also goes towards your social media usage. If you’re following people that make you feel ashamed of your body or make you feel insecure or upset when you look at them, un-follow them. Cleansing your social media or people that trigger you and just following those that uplift you and give you positivity and security is super important. There’s nothing worse than waking up in a good mood, scrolling on Instagram, seeing someone that triggers you, and then feeling bad. It’s a cycle that’s not worth it.

Practice Positive Self-Talk

The way we talk to ourselves matters. Negative self-talk can be damaging to our self-image and overall well-being. It’s time to replace self-criticism with kindness and self-compassion. Practicing positive self- talk is a powerful tool in nurturing a better relationship with our bodies. Expressing positive affirmations and words of encouragement to yourself significantly impacts your self- perception. This is because you’re essentially celebrating your body’s strengths, resilience, and unique features.

Instead of focusing on perceived flaws, shift your attention towards appreciating the remarkable things your body can do. Write out these affirmations in a journal, or say them aloud to yourself whenever you need to. While it may feel awkward or uncomfortable to do at first, you’ll find it becomes more natural with practice. You wouldn’t constantly be negative and rude to someone else, so don’t do it to yourself.

Stop Punishing Yourself

One of the most detrimental habits you can develop is punishing yourself for perceived shortcomings. Engaging in self-criticism, body shaming, and comparison only fuels negativity and hinders your ability to develop a healthy relationship with your body. If you’ve struggled with self-punishing behaviors throughout your lifetime, it’s the perfect time to break free from this cycle and embrace self- acceptance.

I have always played the comparison game and I still find myself doing that on a daily basis without realising because I have insecurities with my body. I don’t have big enough hips for my liking, and I have huge hip dents, which I don’t like, so that’s something I will always compare when I see a beautiful lady with round hips. I need to stop doing this though because it’s like comparing a beautiful rose to twinkling stars. They’re both incredible and a work of art, but so different.

Practice self-compassion and let go of guilt. Treat yourself the way you treat your friends and loved ones—with kindness and respect. Remind yourself that your worth has nothing to do with how you look. Focus on self-care and nurturing your overall well-being rather than beating yourself up for not meeting standards that were unrealistic and inhumane to begin with. They are literally put there to make you feel insecure so the beauty industry can profit off of that, unfortunately.

Developing a better relationship with your body is an ongoing journey that requires patience, self-compassion, and a commitment to self-care. As you embark on this journey, be patient with yourself. Celebrate the progress you make, no matter how small, and acknowledge that it’s okay to have moments of vulnerability. Embrace your unique qualities, honor your body’s needs, and remember that your worth extends far beyond physical appearance.