Staying Body Positive While Studying & Working in the Fashion Industry
Body Positivity has become a very hot topic in society in the last decade, and companies within the Fashion Industry have had to evolve accordingly. However, let’s be honest, the Fashion Industry still has a long way to go to truly create an encouraging, body positive environment. Living in the age of social media, which has created insane beauty standards, it can be very difficult to love and accept your body. Working or studying in the Fashion Industry can make this even more difficult. I know this because body image and disordered eating is something I have struggled with since middle school. I am not alone in this, as 24 million people in the United States suffer from an eating disorder, and eating disorders are among the deadliest mental illnesses (nutrition.org). Through the guidance of professional nutrition therapists as well as my own research and experiences, I have cultivated several ways to work towards loving your body and treating it with kindness. Here are some valuable tips for staying body positive while working or studying in the Fashion Industry.
1. Realize that comparison is the biggest thief of joy.
Comparison is a large contributing factor to one’s negative body image. When you think about it, comparison is a weird thing. After all, what keeps life interesting is diversity; the fact that everybody has unique characteristics to them. Life would be truly sad if everybody looked and acted the same way. Bodies are no exception to this, and everyone’s unique shape should be embraced! Simply remembering this is an important key in loving, or at least making peace with the body you were given.
2. Take care of yourself with the right intentions in mind.
Nutrition and exercise are very important components to staying healthy and feeling your best. However, they can become damaging to your health when done with the wrong intentions. If you are restricting eating or obsessively exercising with intentions of weight loss, it will likely end up being harmful to your mental and physical health. Conversely, when you practice gentle nutrition and work out with the intentions of feeling your best and getting stronger, that is when your mental and physical health will thrive. If you are currently struggling with some of these restrictive or obsessive tendencies, I highly recommend learning the practice of intuitive eating. A good start to this is reading The Intuitive Eating Workbook: Ten Principles for Nourishing a Healthy Relationship with Food by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch. It is an amazing and informative workbook that is recommended by many eating disorder and nutrition therapists. This book can be purchased on Amazon using the link below!
3. Monitor your social media usage and know when to cut back or filter your feed.
Most people can agree that social media has contributed to the rise in comparison and hyper fixation on one’s appearance. Social media can be a slippery slope for falling into bad body image, so it’s important to know when to take a break from it. Whether it’s taking days, weeks, or months off, taking a break from social media can be a very positive thing to do for one’s mental health. Muting or unfollowing people who you find triggering can also be beneficial. It is also key to remember much of what you see on social media is people’s highlight reel of their best photos, many of which are edited and photo shopped. It is not real life, you are not missing out by taking a break, and you are so much more than your social media.
4. Practice positive self-talk, care, and love.
We must start talking to ourselves like we talk to our loved ones! Anything you wouldn’t say to someone you love, like your best friend, you should never say to yourself either. Self-talk, care, and love are such important components to having a positive body image. Doing and saying things that are kind to yourself is crucial. Positive affirmations, journaling, and meditation are things many have found to be helpful. Simply focusing on what you’re doing and who you are with when you feel your best and most confident self is key!
5. Know that if you are struggling, you are not alone, and there are so many resources ready to help!
Sadly, since eating and body image struggles have become so common, many people are struggling in silence. Please do not do this! There are so many amazing resources that can help. If you are working to improve body image and disordered eating habits, google “nutrition therapists near me” or “intuitive eating counselors near me” to find your closest resources. Most universities also have a team dedicated to eating/body related concerns. Here is the link for Auburn’s https://wp.auburn.edu/scs/ed-treatment-team/team.com For more serious and immediate cases, visit, https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/help-support/contact-helpline.
Loving your body is a complex concept that many people struggle with. After lots of research and treatment from nutrition therapists, it is still something I work through on a daily basis, and likely will for the rest of my life. Working/studying in the fashion industry surely can heighten these struggles. The tips above have been helpful for me on my bad days, and I truly hope others will find them helpful as well! Remember to be kind to yourself today, after all, we only get one body, we shouldn’t have to spend our whole lives at war with it.
