For Those Days When You Just Don’t Feel Comfy in Your Own Skin
A quick disclaimer before we start: this article is for that odd day when you’re just not feeling yourself, when you wake up in the morning and fixate on aspects of your body you dislike. If this feeling of hating parts of your body is constant and persistent and never goes away, you may be suffering from body dysmorphic disorder, which is a serious mental health condition you should see a therapist or psychologist about.
After saying all that, here are my tips for dealing with not feeling yourself.
- Wear Loose Fitting Clothing
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This allows you to hide areas you may be feeling self-conscious about that day so you can’t focus on them. Out of sight out of mind. I like to wear sweats and a baggy sweatshirt or t-shirt. On a day where you have to be out and about, buy looser fitting pants (like a cute palazzo or wide cut jean) and flowy shirts to be dressed appropriately and still help when you can’t stop fixating.
- Do Nothing Different
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On days where you feel self-conscious about your body, you may be tempted to eat less or exercise more, even when those things are not part of your daily routine. Do not feel like you have to change your routine that day in order to like your body more. If you’re serious about exercising or eating healthier, come up with a plan to make it a healthy everyday routine, that includes not over-doing it on exercise, cutting carbs, or trying another unhealthy fad diet.
- Do Something You Love
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The best thing to do when you have overwhelming anxiety or feelings about anything is to distract yourself. Distract yourself from obsessing about yourself by doing something you love: painting, playing video games, or reading.
- Watch a Show You Love
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Watching TV (which can totally also be something you love) can be a great distraction. Watching your favourite show for comfort or getting into a new show on your to-watch list (I know mine is a thousand years long) allows you to exit your world and enter a new one. Watching a TV show with a positive message can also help you feel better about yourself. Disclaimer: if your favourite show right now is dark and depressing, I’d suggest switching that up for something a bit more upbeat so it doesn’t continue to bring you down on your off-day.
- Immerse Yourself in a Task
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Sometimes you can’t avoid commitments and sometimes things can’t be pushed aside. When this is the case, immerse yourself in your work to take your mind off what you’re feeling glim about.
- Have a Dance Party
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Put on your favourite song, get your blood pumping, and dance like nobody’s watching. Everyone loves a dance party!
- Avoid the Mirror
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Sometimes the easiest way to solve a problem is to pretend it doesn’t exist. While this is a bad thing to do when your problem is a paper due in two days, it actually works really well for this. Pretend you can’t see the perceived problem at all! Avoid the mirror, even if that means closing your eyes the entire time you’re in the bathroom.
And finally… remember you are a beautiful and amazing human being who people love. You’re simply just having a bad day. Be kind to yourself and eventually this feeling will pass.