Every Body is a Beach Body

With the clocks set an hour earlier and the evenings lighter for longer, all eyes are finally turning to summertime. Months of a long, dreary winter are now behind us, and we can all start looking ahead to that moment when we stow away our laptops, put the revision cards and job applications to one side and enjoy the warm embrace of the summer sun.

But the arrival of the spring and summer months, whilst a welcome sight for many, can also usher in a period of new anxieties; of a daily self-consciousness as we battle with how we look, what we wear and how we shape up in the non-existent but ever-present battle with those around us (and ourselves). As the weather gets warmer, appearances seem to be in much greater focus than in the winter months, with our style and manner much less determined by a need to stay warm and dry. Add into that the societal pressures of dieting, shaving and having a perfectly unique outfit every single day, and suddenly summer can be a lot more work than it’s given credit for.

So how can we take advantage of the summer weather, whilst reducing the social anxieties and pressures as much as possible? Firstly, it’s important to recognise and validate each of our own anxieties and insecurities. Being insecure or hesitant about your physical appearance is incredibly common, especially amongst young women, who are so often judged and perceived by others according to their appearance, in conjunction with western beauty standards, including from themselves.

Being able to recognise this insecurity or hesitancy in ourselves is an important part of building past it. Whilst trying to simply pretend it’s not there is a short-term workaround, by recognising when we’re feeling insecure about our appearance, we can work to challenge this cognition or develop coping strategies and lifestyle changes to reduce the effect it has on us. So many people feel anxious about the way they look, particularly during the summer, so you’re certainly not alone!

Secondly, remember to put yourself at the heart of how you choose to navigate summer anxieties. Whether it’s the decision to wear a swimsuit or a bikini on the beach, whether to shave your legs or not, or to aim to lose an extra few kilos before jetting off, there is no right or wrong answer – as long as you are making the choices that you want to make.

If you like to take an extra five minutes every morning to make sure your legs are smooth as silk, that’s entirely up to you, as long as that choice is being made for you, and not based on what you think you should do, what others would or simply because that’s what’s ‘expected’.  If you are more comfortable, or simply want, to leave your body with hair on it, that’s just as valid as shaving, as is choosing to cover up all summer, re-wearing your favourite outfits over again, and not bothering with some complicated and borderline harmful diet regime. Put yourself at the heart of all you do, and you can’t go far wrong.

Thirdly, try to remember that people tend to take a lot less notice than you think they do. Imagine the last time you walked down the street; when you got to the end of the road, how many of the people you passed do you remember what they were wearing or what they were doing? Besides those close to you who will no doubt reliably inform you of how much they love your outfit choice, very few other people take much of a notice as to what other people look like, are doing or wearing.

Therefore, use this freedom as a way to take things your own way! Without the pressure of styling yourself for an audience who aren’t actually there, embrace the freedom to be your own person, however this manifests itself. If the audience in your mirror likes what it sees, then that’s all that matters!

Finally, remember that we’re all in this together, and your sisterhood is always ready to support you. Have a few friends who are similar sizes to you and are all looking for a new outfit? Why not have a leaf through each other’s wardrobes and find some new outfits for your next trip? 

Unsure whether a new style or piece of clothing is right for you? Grab your girlfriends to give you a hand. Looking to try a new outdoorsy activity and don’t want to go it alone? You and the girls can make a day trip of it! Your sisters are such a fundamental part of every girl’s life, especially when anxiety strikes, so don’t be afraid to call in the cavalry.

Summer is such a wonderful time, but it can bring with it a new set of challenges and anxieties that can seriously impact how we enjoy the warm weather. As someone with her fair share of body dysmorphia (who’s also terrible at following her own advice!), remember that everybody is a beach body, and every body is beautiful.

Written by, Sophie Layton (she/her)