Anxiety can happen at any time of day, but some of us notice that our anxiety often gets worse in the evening. We’ve finally reached the point in the day where we can sit on the sofa and try to wind down before bed… but our evening anxiety has other ideas. Some days, it can be really tricky to keep it at bay.
When we have depression, it can be difficult to know what to do with ourselves. Depression saps our energy and motivation to do things, and the financial issues that can arise from our condition make cost a factor too.
Finding depression-friendly pastimes, which take all of that into account, can be tricky. Doing things we enjoy can help boost our mood and self-esteem, so it is worth finding activities we’re comfortable doing when we’re unwell. Here are 21 ideas that might appeal that don’t cost the earth.
Oh my goodness, it’s that time of year, that where ever you turn, you see messages about having a “Summer body” or being asked if you’re “Beach ready”? Or my personal worst, having a “Bikini body!” I can’t think of anything worse. Zeppelinmoon https://www.zeppelinmoon.com have a wonderful image of Manatee wearing her bikini hollering at the sea. Such body confidence!
Sadly, our societies image of those who can wear a bikini, need to be socially acceptable from all angles. All angles,? what does that actually mean?
Short answer. One should have a specific body shape and a certain type of figure. This includes but is not limited to: a thin waist, round butt, full-but-not-too-large breasts, and long legs, it feels longer the better. We should have no cellulite, no body hair, no stretch marks, no blemishes. So that rules out a lot of us. We should be slender but not "too" muscular. In short, we should have the body of a heavily photoshopped celebrity that fits the profoundly narrow definition of beauty in western society. And that makes me sad.
Whose idea was the bikini? The bikini was designed by two French designers rivalled to create the world's smallest bathing suit: Jacques Heim debuted the “Atome,” named after the atom; while Louis Reard came up with an even tinier creation called the “Bikini,” after the atomic bomb testing on Bikini Atoll in the Pacific on July 1, 1946. It was so scandalous at the time, runway models refused to wear it!
However, more worryingly, I read an article which cited that the term "bikini body" was initially popularised as a result of a weight loss chain's advert campaign in 1961. The name of the company was Slenderella. "Summer's wonderful fun is for those who look young," one advert read. "High firm bust — hand span waist — trim, firm hips — slender graceful legs — a Bikini body!" The message was loud and clear: Want to look good in a bathing suit? You have to look like this. You cannot not look like this.
I understand that the company Slenderella specialised in weight loss aids, which had questionable success but did succeed in body shaming women. Sadly, it feels that society has continued moved along the same trajectory, with the pressure on all body types and gender identification, to comply to the stereotypical body image of society’s “perfect body”. The idea that one type of body is inherently superior to another, particularly pertaining to swimwear, seems to be as big as ever. It can be very hard to avoid the constant reminders of what we should and shouldn’t look like. It seems that we are told, over and over again that our life choices are unhealthy, that we will gain weight, sublimity telling us that we will be unattractive, rejected, and unloved. The negative affects can remain just as strong when we follow someones success story of weight loss on social media. No problem with putting up a post which celebrates one’s success but regular posts documenting one’s minutiae dietary and exercise successes, can leave some us feeling inadequate and feelings of being a failure.
Please don't get me wrong, information and support in being able to make healthy life choices is important. What I find so frustrating is societies influence on what is socially acceptable and unacceptable about how we look, what we eat and the question of do we exercise enough. Maybe it’s time, it was left up to those who are truly qualified in this field to educate us? And reach out an arm of constraint to those who seem to be so keen to pursue a course of publicly shaming those who do not conform to societal expectations. After all whose expectations are they? Not mine. However, that’s not what social media (and the wider media) would lead us to believe.
The pressure to change our bodies for summer weather can leave many people feeling insecure and wanting to isolate themselves or miss out on events such as beach or pool days with family and friends. Comparing ourselves to others, we all do it, even when it hurts. Instead of focusing on our bodies and how they compare to others, working on shifting our mindset set, by changing our own narrative and thoughts. Not an easy thing to do, takes practice and self compassion. There is no body that is better than another. We all deserve to have fun and make memories.
It’s also important to take care of ourselves. Even if the media tells us that we should be getting our bodies “summer ready,” we don’t have to listen. Just because “someone” says it, it doesn’t make it true. It’s important to hydrate and fuel our bodies and treat ourselves with respect and kindness. This comment was cited in an article I read, it something which I can certainly go with, “Body respect is important. I don't have to love my body, I don’t have to hate my body, but I will take care of my body”.
Be you, uniquely, beautiful you and think o the infamous words of Manetee as she hollered at the sea “Are you ready for ME?”
