Ways to #BeWell This Prom Season
Feel Good, Look Good: Ways to #BeWell This Prom Season
Prom is waltzing up just around the corner, and maybe your peers are already talking about what looks they can and can’t pull off, what dresses they want to fit into, and all that jazz (see, I’m doing a music thing here, because prom), but we want to be your friendly reminder this year to flip the old script: feeling good is looking good!
Did you know that 70% of women, and 43% of men, say they don’t like their own bodies? It’s amazing, and heartbreaking, how much time we spend wishing we looked less like ourselves. Well, we’re done wasting a minute more. We’re ready to celebrate the bodies we have, and prom’s a perfect place for that celebration. Having a healthy self image isn’t always easy, we know, but self-love isn’t a destination; it’s a daily effort. Read on for some helpful tips on how to feel good about the way you look.
1. Don’t compare yourself to others
People come in more shapes and sizes than breakfast cereals have varieties. One person is beautiful in one way, and the next person in some other way. And isn’t that how it ought to be? Comparing yourself to others can leave you feeling like you don’t look the way you should, but you’re not supposed to look like someone else; you’re supposed to look like you. Ask yourself, “Whats the most me quality about me?” And then dial it up this prom!
2. Cut out negative body talk
If you talk bad about your body, you’ll feel bad about your body. From here on out, only say positive things about the way you look. And keep some distance from others that only want to talk negatively about bodies, whether it’s about their own bodies or others. Eventually their focus on the negative can bring you spinning back to old insecurities. Even if you feel like you have to force it, turn your attention to what you like about yourself and others. When we don’t actively try to value ourselves, we can start to forget just how much we’re worth.
3. Give compliments to others
Giving a compliment doesn’t cost a thing, but it can mean the world to receive, especially in times of need! And the great thing is, when you spend time complimenting others, this helps you see just how much you have to celebrate about yourself too.
4. Think healthy, not skinny
When you’re making meals, or when you’re hitting the gym, don’t frame your fitness goals according to a number you’d like to see on the scale. Exercise and a healthy diet shouldn’t be a punishment; this is one way we show respect and appreciation for our bodies. So instead of thinking about how much your body weighs, or how it’s shaped, think about all the amazing things it can do, all the places it can take you, and the experience it brings you, and then honor it with nourishing meals and exercises that you actually enjoy.
5. Do something nice for your body
When’s the last time you gave your body a gift just to say, hey, thanks for sticking with me? Carve out some time to go lay in the grass, or take a bubble bath, or a walk up the hill to a pretty view. A good nap can be a gift too.
6. Avoid media that makes you feel bad about your look
It’s hard to overstate just how big of an effect media has on the way we feel about ourselves, and so much media today is image obsessed, highly edited, and fixated on unrealistic standards of beauty. Don’t let this stuff trick you. People don’t need to look like stars on TV, or fashion magazines, or even a friend’s heavily touched-up Instagram pictures. Be selective about what media you let into your life.
7. Focus on your whole person
Don’t forget: you are so much more than how you look! A key piece of having a healthy body image is to stop fixating on your body! Try to spend more time thinking about things other than physical appearance. Go throw yourself into you passions. Pick up a new hobby. Catch a movie with a friend. Make something. Your body isn’t just a decoration for looking at; it’s for doing. So get out there and get doing.
We want to know how you’re feeling this prom season! How do you boost your self-image, and what does being well look like to you? Join the conversation on social media using the hashtags #BeWell and #BeThere.