Staying body confident during a pandemic isn’t the easiest task - gyms are closed, we’re comfort eating and daily walks seem impossible if you don’t have the motivation to get yourself ready. Despite this, the prospect of being body confident isn’t completely out of reach. You can take back control over the way you feel by doing the following things.
Filter through your social media
Social media can be a blessing and a curse - but it can only act as a blessing if you use it wisely. Unfollowing users and pages which encourage you to make comparisons between yourself and others is key. Everyone is going to deal with this pandemic in different ways, but people will undoubtedly use social media to show the best parts of their life and make their lockdown experience appear better than yours. If you see someone working out in their home gym while you’re sitting cosily on the sofa with a tub of ice cream, who cares?
Do home workouts (if you want to)
Going to the gym is such a huge part of many peoples’ lives; it’s their form of escapism and way of releasing their everyday stresses. Without it, not only will it have a negative impact on their mental wellbeing, but it’s likely to encourage dysmorphic thoughts regarding their body. Although it’s not ideal, utilising the space in your home and taking the time to do a workout will be so beneficial (if that’s your kind of thing). Even if you aren’t an avid gym-goer, doing some yoga may be the answer to relieving your stress that you’ve been looking for.
Surround yourself with people who make you feel good
Arguably, this is the most important thing you can do. Having a supportive network of family and friends, who will make you see past your delusions surrounding your appearance, will make a world of difference. There’s never been a more important time to speak up when you aren’t feeling your best, and those around you are guaranteed to pick you up - but that can only happen if you’re open about how you’re feeling. Let them know if you’re feeling negative about your body image and trust that they’ll do all they can to change that.
Don’t feel guilty for comfort eating
Let me just remind you that we are in the midst of a global pandemic; no matter what you do you shouldn’t feel guilty, and that includes comfort eating. It’s likely that the reality of this situation is going to hit you in the face when you least expect it and if you resort to eating to make yourself feel better, allow yourself to. Having a treat every now and then is nothing to be ashamed of. Besides, you deserve it.
This is your time to be selfish. Putting yourself as a priority is a necessity. You should do whatever it takes to make you feel good, and just know that you don’t have to explain anything to anybody. Whether you delete someone off of social media because they’re encouraging negative vibes, opening a tub of ice cream out of comfort, or cutting someone out of your life because they no longer make you feel good, know that the only person you have to justify these decisions to is yourself.
Edited by Pia Cooper