For many of us, becoming body confident is easier said than done, but negative body image has a profound impact on our wellbeing. So much so that the Mental Health Foundation (MHF) even chose body image as their topic for Mental Health Awareness Week 2019, encouraging the promotion of body kindness and self-acceptance. At the very heart of Liz Earle is the desire to help people feel good, by creating products that will nurture, protect and love your skin. And we know that at this time of the year, the season of shorts, bikinis and strappy dresses, many of our customers struggle to cope with the negative effects of body image issues. So we wanted to provide you with some of our best tips for loving your body, and in turn, getting the most out of summer.
The no.1 rule: all bodies are good bodies
In their research, the Mental Health Foundation found that over a third of UK adults feel down or low because of their body image. No one deserves to feel like that. Every body, regardless of size, appearance or skin colour, is equally deserving of love and acceptance. When you look at other people, accept their bodies for what they are, and then turn that inwards – accept your own body for how it is. This doesn’t mean that you can’t change your body through diet, exercise, beauty procedures and so on – but body acceptance is the key to positive body image.
Make social media work for you
Many of us find that social media can be a constant source of insecurity – according to the MHF, one in five adults say that images on social media negatively affect how they feel about their bodies. But by following people who create uplifting, body positive content, we can transform the impact that these apps have on us. We love following @bodyposipanda, @nerdabouttown, @calliethorpe, @alexlight_ldn and @chessiekingg on Instagram. There are also lots of hashtags you can peruse for solidarity and inspiration, no matter what your body type. Here are just a few examples, showing that no matter who you are, you really can find a community on Instagram; #midsizestyle, #dresslikeamum #disabledandcute, #celebratemycurves, #selfloveclub, and #stylehasnosize, plus thousands more just a tap away.
Show your body that you care
Doing things to look after your body, such as staying active or pampering yourself, will send a message to your mind that your body is worth being loved. It doesn’t have to be elaborate or time consuming – something as simple as 15 minutes of yoga, or treating yourself to an indulgent bodycare ritual can do the trick. But remember, as the MHF states, there’s a difference between punishing your body with overly-hard workouts or painful procedures, and treating it well, with pleasant activities to support your wellbeing.
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