When the temperatures begin to rise, it may be hard to ignore the seemingly constant chatter about achieving a ‘summer body’. Whether it’s on social media, through conversations with friends or colleagues or on TV, ‘summer bodies’ are considered by many to be tan, thin, fit, sexy, and the list goes on. Many find that they wish to strive for the perfect ‘summer body’ and disregard the harm they may be doing to their body in order to achieve this societal standard.
What truly is a summer body outside of the media’s portrayal?
The truth is this: Every. Body. Is. A. Summer. Body.
Close your eyes for a moment and think about how you have spent your summers in the past.
Maybe you…
- Went boating
- Cooked s’mores over a bonfire with friends
- Camped out in a tent
- Went to the local ice cream shop and enjoyed your favorite dessert
- Attended barbeques with family and friends
- Laid out at the beach and read a good book
The great news is that you can do all of these activities no matter your size, fitness level, skin tone, etc.
If you’re feeling a bit skeptical about these statements, that is completely normal! There are several actions you can take to work towards enjoying summer in your body just as you are:
Set Limits on Social Media
It’s common to scroll through Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites and feel as though what we have or who we are isn’t good enough. If this sounds like you, it might be time to unfollow accounts that bring up these thoughts for you.
Spend Time with Care-Free People
If you have children, nieces, nephews, or other little ones in your life, you are in luck! Despite their limited years on this earth, young children strive to have fun no matter what. They may run through a sprinkler with their siblings, go to the beach, eat popsicles, tell ghost stories, or have slumber parties. Take a cue from the kids. Summer is almost always full of fun adventures and the body simply provides the ability to enjoy all that summer has to offer.
Create a Summer “Bucket List”
It’s easy to let the summer slip away waiting for the “right” body before having fun. Sit down with some loved ones in your life and make a list of everything you would like to do this summer. Make sure to leave judgment at the door and be mindful of automatically eliminating activities from your list because of how your body does or doesn’t look. Then start making plans to cross off everything on your list knowing that you already have the summer body you need to experience all of them!
Every single body is a summer body. Our bodies don’t define us or constrain us to what we’re allowed to do just by how they look. Why waste another summer waiting to look “good enough” to engage in your own life? With these tips, you are on your way to having a fun, memorable summer.
