Summer Body Talk: tips for thriving through this season (+ Free Download)
In this article: Summer brings a wave of body talk, diet culture pressure, and social anxiety. This post covers why that happens, what summer body talk actually is, a free downloadable survival guide with scripts and boundaries, and how to start caring for yourself differently this season.
Table of Contents:
Why Does Summer Body Anxiety Spike Every Year?
It seems like as soon as we start rolling toward summer, temperatures start creeping up, and so do all those anxious thoughts about our bodies. The dreaded “get beach body ready” rears its nasty head again and the pressure is intense. We might have spiraling thoughts, paralyzing anxiety, compounded push from every direction to do whatever it takes to make our bodies smaller. Trips are scheduled, summer holidays are coming, beach and pool days are inevitable, and it can all start to feel like way too much.
Some of the things I tend to hear around this time of year involve the fear of judgment from friends, family, or anyone nearby. There are concerns about physical ability, like worrying about a summer hike (or honestly, just walking in the sand!) and the fear of trailing behind your group of friends. Its a combination of fear of judgment and fear of being left behind and othered in the process.
Then I hear clients ask, “How do I deal with my mother-in-law constantly making comments about my body?”, or “What if someone judges me for eating anything fun or enjoyable because of my body shape or size?” That often leads to massive amounts of prep for whatever the event or activity. Should I just eat before? What am I going to wear? What do I do if someone hurts my feelings? What if I get completely overwhelmed?
What Is Summer Body Talk?
When I say Summer Body Talk, you probably already have some idea of what that means. Its the narrative about the time of year where bodies are on display far more than other seasons. Think of the comments about food, eating, exercising, and on and on. From the subtle remarks to the more overt ones, all of them are toxic and can cause so much unnecessary pressure, fear, and SHAME.
Why is it more intense during these months than December? Basically, its hot. Less clothing, bodies on display, judgment of what people might see. But there’s also the pressure when we aren’t comfortable showing our body but its hot as hell, and we choose to wear more clothing than is physically comfortable because our emotional comfort got the front seat over our physical comfort.
Whats Inside the Summer Body Talk Survival Guide?
Inside this guide, you’re going to learn a bit about boundaries and why they are so important this time of year. You’ll get some helpful scripts for what you might be able to say if that body talk starts getting in the way of your summer fun, and a chance to organize your own support plan as you move through the season.
This is something that comes up every year with my clients, and lets face it, with everyone, myself included. I know how hard it can be to know what to say or how to say it, and how to support ourselves when weve been hurt by someone in our circle. This is why I pulled together this guide, to offer tangible tools that can actually offer support and a stepping stone to feeling more comfortable with yourself and closer to enjoying that summer experience we all deserve.
What Does a Summer Boundary Actually Look Like?
An example of a boundary someone might practice using in the guide might be when you’re ordering food and someone around you makes a comment about the size or ingredients in the item you ordered. This is one of those opportunities to have a phrase or statement in your back pocket to say, “Hey, can we just enjoy our food here?” And there are many other possible options included in this guide.
I think one of the best ways to start a conversation about body talk (without shame spilling into the room) is to approach it collaboratively. Try connecting with even just one person you know who might be part of your summer plans. Maybe pointing out how you really want to enjoy the summer and divest from body shame; coming together with a common goal can feel empowering and supportive at the same time.
What If I Still Feel Stuck?
Please know this season is hard and tugs on threads of shame that were sown a long, long time ago for so many of us, and you are NOT ALONE. No matter how hard it feels, I promise you at least one person (or maybe all of them) is wishing people would stop judging their body too!
If you want to learn more about how to make peace with your body all year round and begin to trust yourself again, schedule a consultation and we can talk about working together in therapy.
Ready to Get Your Tools?
If you have gotten this far and are still wanting more, you can download the Summer Body Talk Survival Guide yourself.
Take your time, read it at your pace, and remember, you deserve to enjoy this season safely.
About the Author
Sarah Jane Thomas, LMFT is a licensed therapist in private practice specializing in body image, disordered eating recovery, and weight-inclusive care. She helps people move from control and shame toward self-trust and body liberation. Sarah offers virtual therapy for clients in the SF Bay Area and across California.