How to overcome swimsuit shyness
Are you feeling self-conscious or shy about wearing a swimsuit on your summer holiday?
I know it’s tough when there are so many messages out there saying you need to get ‘beach body ready’.
But, I really don’t want you to waste your precious holiday time worrying about your body (I’d rather you were having fun).
So, in this post, I’m exploring:
- Swimsuit shyness (yes, it’s a thing!) – what it means and its impact
- Why avoiding wearing a swimsuit doesn’t help your body image
- Five strategies to help you overcome swimsuit shyness
Listen or read below:
Summer body madness
In the run up to summer, the beauty and diet industry launch one of their greatest assaults on women.
Articles and adverts ask – are you ready for swimsuit season? Or, are you beach body ready?
Their aim is to convince you that your body isn’t good enough – that it’s not acceptable on the beach without some help.
If you do a quick scroll through social media you’ll find products promising to sculpt, buff and tone your body so that you won’t ‘let yourself’ down on the beach.
What is swimsuit shyness?
According to psychologist Leslie Heinberg, false advertising and social media can trigger ‘swimsuit shyness’, a type of self consciousness that results in the avoidance of swim wear.
At its extreme, it results in long-term avoidance of swimwear; one poll in the US found some people hadn’t worn a swimsuit for 10 years, and some never had!
It’s not surprising this happens when the media is cluttered with unattainable images of what a body should look like in swimwear.
Swimsuit shyness and avoidance
The problem is, while avoidance might temporarily relieve short term anxiety about wearing a swimsuit, it doesn’t help your body image in the long term.
Instead, constant avoidance of swimwear reinforces the belief that your body is unacceptable, and makes body image worse.
How to overcome swimsuit shyness
So, when you’re faced with a constant barrage of media bent on you toning up, slimming down and buffing up, how do you overcome swimsuit shyness?
The key is to learn to accept your body as it is, not constantly wish it was different.
It’s the only body you’ll ever have, so you may as well embrace it and get on with living your life.
Here are my strategies to help you overcome swimsuit shyness and enjoy your summer:
Go on a media ‘diet’
Don’t let media images and messages put you off wearing a swimsuit until you’ve ‘toned up’ or ‘lost a few pounds’.
Remember, you are being sold an unattainable ideal to deliberately make you feel inadequate.
Try taking a break from social media and any other content that triggers body dissatisfaction.
Focus on the senses
Focus on the sensations you experience being on the beach rather than what your body looks like.
For example, the feel of the sand between your toes, the sun and water on your skin.
Imagine what you’d miss out on if you let your body concerns stop you from experiencing the beach, the pool or whatever activities you enjoy in the summer.
Don’t compare
Stop focusing on how others look in their swimwear, and make sure you aren’t just comparing yourself to that one person at the beach who happens to have a good figure.
Take a proper look around you – you’ll see people of all shapes, sizes and ages.
What’s the worst that can happen?
If you’re reluctant to put on your swimmers, ask yourself what is the worst that can happen if you wear your swimsuit?
What if you accept your body and go to the beach or a pool? How good would that feel?
When you put off doing things because of how your body looks, you’re telling yourself you aren’t acceptable, which impacts your sense of worth and body image.
Focus on body function
Instead of focussing on your body’s appearance during the summer, focus on its function.
Appreciate all it does for you. So you might be grateful to your strong legs and arms that allow you to swim, or your sense of balance on a paddle board.
Don’t put off experiencing all the wonderful things summer has to offer because of body concerns. Life is short, it’s for living and it’s happening NOW.
Don’t let swimsuit shyness ruin your summer holiday. Get that beach body – put on your swim suit and head to the beach!
