What Does Body Neutrality Look Like?

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Popular culture is filled with conflicting messages that tell us how to feel about our bodies.

Overwhelmed by external pressure to conform to norms, it can be hard for individuals to be at peace with their appearance.



BODY NEUTRALITY, the practice of deemphasizing the importance of appearance, is one powerful way to promote self-acceptance.





IDEAS FOR PRACTICING BODY NEUTRALITY:

  1.  Try to spend less time in front of the mirror to avoid fixating on perceived flaws. Consider more fulfilling ways to spend your time and energy.
  2.  Challenge yourself to choose outfits based on comfort and self-expression, rather than socially prescribed beauty standards.
  3.  Exercise without fixating on weight-loss or muscularity. Instead, try to focus on the benefits for your health and wellness.
  4.  Do your best to eat according to intuitive hunger and fullness cues, rather than restricting or overeating.
  5.  Try to feel present and connected during intimate moments, rather than worrying about how your body looks.





At times when it feels most difficult to accept your body and appearance, remember that we all have days when body neutrality is especially hard to achieve.

Remind yourself that body dissatisfaction is often tied to gender-based appearance norms.





Over time, you can work to develop a more neutral or accepting stance towards your body.

Body Neutrality is an ongoing practice.




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