"Summer Body" Ready: Managing the Pressures of Body Image

Spring is here, which means summer is just around the corner!

When you think about summer, do you feel any pressure about your body image?

I used to feel anxious every summer because it meant going to the pool or beach. I didn’t have six-pack abs, and my body didn’t look anything like the “ideal” physiques I saw on social media. The pressure wasn’t just about how others looked at me. It was also about this invisible standard of a “perfect” body that I felt I had to meet. I was filled with guilt, shame, and self-judgment.

As I got older and became a therapist, I learned to embrace myself, including my body. We all deserve to feel good about ourselves year-round, not just when summer rolls around.

Queer bodies, trans bodies, disabled bodies, and people of color face more daily scrutiny over our bodies. Our body image is a key part of our self-esteem, and we deserve to feel a love for our bodies that is independent from this external or internal assessment of value.

That’s why I want to encourage you to EMBRACE yourself every season:

• Engage in Enjoyable Movement: Exercise should make you feel good, not feel like a punishment. Find activities you truly enjoy, like dancing, yoga, hiking, or just taking a walk.

• Mental and Emotional Well-Being First: Do things that bring you joy, help you manage stress, and build self-esteem beyond your physical appearance.

• Be Kind to Yourself: Stop being your own worst critic. Your body will change over time, and that’s normal. Your worth isn’t tied to a number on the scale or the mirror. True confidence comes from appreciating yourself as a whole person.

• Refuel Without Guilt: Say no to restrictive dieting. Enjoy balanced, nourishing meals that give you energy rather than obsessing over numbers.

• Accept Your Body as It Is: Dress in a way that makes you feel comfortable and confident. Dressing in a way that makes you feel good can boost self-esteem and help you appreciate your body as it is right now.

• Choose Positive Influences: Follow social media accounts that promote body diversity, self-love, and mental wellness. Don’t let unrealistic beauty standards mess with your self-worth. Your everyday self is not a highlight reel.

• Enjoy Life Beyond Appearance: True confidence comes from living a full life, not from chasing society’s ever-changing beauty standards. Invest in meaningful experiences, relationships, and passions that bring you joy.

Your body is not just for summer, it’s worth celebrating every day! Instead of letting seasonal pressures define our self-worth, let’s EMBRACE ourselves all year round. Let’s create a culture that honors what our bodies can do, feel, and experience, not just how they look.

If you are struggling with body image issues, know that you’re not alone. Therapy can help you untangle these feelings and build a healthier relationship with yourself. You deserve to feel comfortable and confident in your body every season of the year.