It’s that time again. Love it or hate it, the festive season is upon us. And this year, things are feeling (dare we say it) a little more normal. It’s the return of work parties, socialising and spreading cheer.
So why is it that the proclaimed ‘most wonderful time of the year’ makes us feel not so fabulous about ourselves?
Is it the thought of squeezing into those tummy sucking, unbearably tight knickers (if you’ve seen Bridget Jones, you know what we’re referring to) for your end of year work party? Maybe it’s in relation to those dark nights drawing in, after all no one enjoys arriving and leaving the office in the dark. Or it could be that December is additionally testing if you’re recovering from an eating disorder or alcohol/substance abuse? For some the holiday period is the loneliest time of the year – a stark reminder of those no longer with us, spending time alone and changes to our usual routines can emphasise mental health struggles.
Whatever the reason, we’re here to offer a voice of reason and support. To help you through what can be, for some, a difficult time. So, in true Ldn Dares style... we’ve got a little surprise for you...
We dare you to put your best foot forward throughout December and dazzle all those around you with your confidence!
It may sound daunting, but we’ve shared some key tips to get you started.
Start a body confidence advent calendar
Many are familiar with the more traditional advent calendar, but these days you can get them for just about everything. Candle lover – yep. Fragrance fanatic – you betcha. Pork crackling enthusiast... erm, apparently so (trust us, we Googled it).
Why not level up your self-love by creating your very own body confidence calendar. You don’t have to be a master creative, it could be as simple as putting 25 handwritten pieces of paper in a jar. But go with the concept that each day reveals a positive affirmation about you and your body which you tell yourself in the mirror. Try to focus on those areas you are less comfortable with, for example, if you don’t like your thighs try something along the lines of ‘my legs are strong and beautiful and take me on adventures’. Feel free to ask a friend or family member for help – but try to speak with someone who understands your body concerns so they can help keep it tailored to you.
Enjoy yourself
When we aren't feeling good about ourselves it can be easy to hide away and avoid socialising or seeing friends and family. If you’re not feeling 'happy' then just knowing what to do can be really challenging. It’s worth bearing in mind that both motivation and feelings of happiness and enjoyment often come after we have engaged in the activity/task, not before. So sometimes we must act before those feelings arrive (that's a real dare)!
The holidays are a time of overindulgence – and we can assure you that you won’t be alone in this. So don’t punish yourself. You want that new top? Buy it. You want a mince pie? Eat it. You fancy a night in with friends rather than a night out? Organise it. Remember that being daring doesn’t necessarily mean being impulsive. It’s about taking calculated risks to better our wellbeing and make changes that nurture ourselves, after reflecting on consequences. We know the feeling when we spend too much one month and then have guilt and stress the next. It might be a good idea to budget, so you know how much you can splurge.
But if that goes to pot – forgive yourself too – it happens! And if you’re totally broke at the moment, bear in mind the real long-lasting enjoyment and feeling good will never be found in anything materialistic. The most enjoyable dare you could set yourself is one of giving, caring, and connection; and that is the true spirit of the holiday season. Do what makes you happy and what makes you smile. Not sure what that is? Look to your intuition and to your values. Remember that happiness and laughter is contagious, there is nothing more confident than a smile, and you wear it so well.
Do a social media purge
We know we’ve mentioned this before, however the festive period can be especially overwhelming. We’re not saying to unplug completely (but if you think you’ll find this helpful try it!), we’re saying maybe try to reduce the amount of time you are spending on social channels and getting into to black holes. Instagram allows you to set reminders for when you’ve used the app for a set amount of time in a day – you’ll be surprised how easily you meet it, especially if you end up in a rabbit hole of reels.
Alternatively, unfollow those accounts which instil negativity within you – those which annoy you or cause you to compare yourself to others. Not ready to unfollow, some social apps now allow you to ‘take a break’ – this is good if it is a friend. Try to fill your feed with feel good content. A simple Google search will provide you with some bad ass body confidence pages to follow (including us of course).
So do you dare to accept our challenge? We’d love to hear from you about how you found it and what difference it made to your mood.
You can visit our blog archive to read about more ways to boost your body confidence or how to help those around you. And if this isn’t for you, share it with someone who might find it helpful.