5 Ways to Stay Body Positive During the Holidays
Our bodies are changing all the time, and the holidays are no exception. Maybe it’s a new creaky knee (hello, cold weather), or maybe it’s a pant size up or down. We often have strong ideas of what we want our body to look like, leading us to be overly critical if we aren’t ‘there’ yet. With the holiday season coming up, combined with gyms closures, and the gyms in Portland currently closed, it’s harder to hold a positive image of your body. Here are five ways to help you stay body positive during the holiday season.
1: Practice Gratitude
It is really easy to fall into the trap of comparing yourself to others, or comparing yourself to your body at a previous time. Don’t worry, this isn’t your fault, and you’re definitely not alone. Society primes us to compare ourselves to others and compete with others in a variety of ways, especially when it comes to how our bodies look. So, the next time you find yourself thinking negatively about your body or someone else’s, try reframing your thought process. For example, if you find yourself thinking “wow, I really hate my stomach,” try giving yourself some love instead. Maybe you think to yourself ‘I am so grateful for my stomach allowing me to eat my favorite foods’, or ‘I am grateful for my ability to hold myself upright’.
This might feel totally odd at first, and you may find some better examples coming to mind for yourself, but the idea here is to focus on the functionality of what your body does for you, without a focus on aesthetics. Remember, your body is doing it’s best for you every day. And, hey, if you need any reminders that your body is AMAZING, check out this YouTube video full of facts about, well, you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tozEuziqdpg. Or, you can check out this meditation, if that’s more your speed: https://www.yogiapproved.com/om/body-scan-gratitude-meditation/.
2: Reassess Your Social Media
Raise your hand if you’ve ever compared yourself to an instagram influencer.
No?
Alright, how about someone in a magazine, or an actor/actress on TV?
Chances are, you probably have a hand (or both) up right now. Social media can be a great way to spread information and connect with people, but it can also be a dark rabbit hole to fall down.
There is, of course, the option to pull off of social media entirely. However, if you use social media for work, or to connect with friends, this might not be a feasible option. So, you can always try limiting your time on your phone instead. Or, if you have no self control like me, you can check out one of these apps that helps you set boundaries on phone time.
If you don’t want to limit social media time, another great idea is to follow some body positive (body posi, for short) accounts, and unfollow accounts that trigger negative thoughts. There are thousands of amazing accounts to follow regarding body positivity, so I won’t name them all. I’ve listed a handful of accounts for you to check out below!
Jameela Jamil: @jameelajamilofficial
Iskra Lawrence: @iskra
Matt Diaz: @mattjosephdiaz
Shana Spence: @thenutritiontea
Check out this article here for more body positive accounts to follow.
3: Ditch Diet Culture
We touched on this briefly in our gratitude section, but let's get a little further into ways to re-frame your brain when it comes to diet culture.
Diet culture has been around since longer than most of us can remember, and it probably has influenced your ideas around food at some point. There is the idea that we should feel guilt for eating “bad” foods, and only focus on eating “good” foods. Instead of looking at food as bad or good, try acknowledging the nutrients or fuel the food is giving you. For example, instead of restricting your calories the rest of the day after eating a piece of cake, try honoring your hunger and rewarding your body with something that is nutrient dense for your next meal. It is important to listen to your body when it is hungry- opt for whole foods when possible, but don’t feel guilty for indulging in other less nutrient dense foods every now and then, either- especially when there’s so many delicious holiday foods to enjoy! Balance and non-judgement are key components of a healthy relationship with food.
If you are looking for more guidance on cultivating a healthy relationship with your food, we highly recommend Food Story Coaching from one of our longtime members and wellness coach, Ian Rubin! You can check out his website here: https://ianrubin.com/.
4: Make Movement Fun
We’ve all adjusted our workout routine in some way. Whether that’s limited gym time, outdoor workouts, or live streamed classes. With these changes, motivations might be lower than pre-COVID. At times where motivation is low, it can be helpful to shake up your routine. Here are a few tips that might help:
Check out an online class with yours truly (check out our class schedule here). **Bonus tip: invite a friend to join you!
Take time to get back into running, walking, biking, or hiking- as long as it’s socially distanced and safe, of course.
Remind yourself that exercise is not a punishment. Movement is an important part of mental health and physical health, and can be time to celebrate your body!
Carve some time out just for you and your body. Whatever the kind of movement - add it to your calendar just like you would with a work meeting.
5: Practice Self Care
One of the most loving things you can do for yourself is make time for you! The holidays can be a rush with family plans, cooking, and gifting. Take a bit of time out of each day, or each week, and do what makes you happy- don’t worry, it doesn’t have to be expensive, either! Maybe self care for you is a hot bath, maybe it’s a nice walk, maybe it’s a dance party in your living room (what, you’re telling me you haven’t done that?!). Everyone has different ideas of what self care looks like for themselves, but if you need some ideas, check out this list: https://www.infocounselling.com/151-self-care-ideas-the-best-self-care-tips/.
Remember, all of us have times in our life where our bodies fluctuate and change. The bottom line is, we are so lucky to have a body that wants to do it’s best to support us and keep us alive and thriving. By taking little steps to honor that, and by being gentle in your own expectations for your body, you can create a healthier, happier relationship with your body.