Summer Body Confidence with Dani
Hi Angels,
Summer is approaching quickly and that means beach days, festivals, tanning, swimming, partying and a whole lot more! Whilst summer activities are super fun, they also generally involve showing a lot more skin than usual (bikini’s, crop tops, festival outfits), and for some people, myself included, that can be scary.
You deserve to live your absolute best life this Summer, without letting insecurities get in the way. I know that it's sometimes easier said than done, but I’m here to share a little practical positivity with you and encourage you to embrace your natural beauty.
Here are my four steps to your perfect summer body:
Step One: Quit Scrolling
I’ve said it a million times and I’ll say it once more (for the people in the back), INSTAGRAM IS NOT REALITY. No one looks as ‘perfect’ in real life as they do online, and that’s a FACT.
I can guarantee that the ‘candid’ beach and festival photos you see on Instagram are, shocker, not candid. Behind every photo that makes it to the 'gram are 1000 that didn’t. Behind that one photo, is a lot of sucking in, posing, angles, filters, FaceTune, skipping breakfast, good lighting etc.
I could go on all day, but I know you don’t need me to.
The point is, you shouldn’t waste another minute comparing yourself to images of strangers on Instagram, when there’s a real world out there! Spend less time scrolling this summer and more time swimming, tanning and partying.
Step Two: Take Care of your Body
In order to feel your best this summer, it’s important to take care of yourself. Drink water, get enough sleep, wear sunscreen, take time to rest, use your moisturiser and don’t forget to nourish your body with wholesome foods!
Show yourself some love this summer by listening to your body’s needs and treating it kindly.
Step Three: Don’t Compare Yourself
My boyfriend said something to me the other day when I was having a meltdown about ‘not having a good body’ (*eye roll*). He said ‘there’s no such thing as a good or bad body, there’s just bodies’.
As humans we are all different in so many ways, and that’s what makes us individuals. It’s pointless to compare your body to someone else’s, because your bodies SHOULD be different.
Embrace what makes you, you. It’s time to stop comparing yourself to others and start focusing on loving what you have. Your body is a blessing and it’s going to be yours for your entire life, so stop trying to look like somebody else and start accepting your amazing self.
Step Four: Remember That There is More to Life
I want you to think about something for me. In 10, 20 or even 30 years, when you look back on this time in your life, what do you want to remember?
I know what my answer is. I want to remember being young and active! I want to remember beach days, festivals, hikes, enjoying the sun, partying and living my life to the fullest!
I don’t want to remember saying no to swimming because I felt too self-conscious in a bikini, or not wearing that crazy festival outfit because I ‘didn’t have the body’.
You deserve to enjoy life and make the absolute most of it. Remember that there is more to life than the way you look, or the shape of your body. Be confident and enjoy this time in your life, and when your confidence starts to slip, do it for your future self.
I hope you angels take these tips and put them to use this Summer. You are all unique and perfect in your own way, so embrace what you’ve got and enjoy the next season!