Every January is always the same on social media. Diet culture is rampant, preying on anyone (and everyone) who has had or does have issues with their bodies and food.
It creeps up in sneaky ways, typically disguised as New Year’s Resolutions or even seemingly harmless intentions.
But none of that is harmless. All of it feeds into the vicious, never-ending cycle of diet culture and the “New Year, New You” BS.
Truth is, there doesn’t have to be a “new you” ever, let alone every New Year, and thinking so does an injustice to everything that you’ve overcome over the years.
Resolutions, more often than not, are rooted in negativity, such as telling yourself not to do this or looming over your head as something you simply cannot break. Of course, that’s until the pressure to keep your resolutions becomes too much and you end up going through the stages of self-loathing, denial, and then the old stand-by: “I’ll try again next year.”
Then the cycle repeats. Over and over again unless YOU choose to break free of it.
Today, I’m sharing how you can escape from diet culture this year and every other year to come.
Stop setting New Year’s Resolutions and instead, set New Year’s Affirmations.
I shared more about my thoughts around New Year’s Affirmations in THIS post on Instagram. You see, I think New Year’s Affirmations come from a place of power and intention that serves you and allows you to stop negative thoughts and diet culture in their tracks.
These are a few of my faves:
What should you do with these affirmations? Repeat them out loud to yourself. Memorize them. Say them when you’re feeling worn down by diet culture and society. Let them lead you to a place of self-love and contentment.
Protect Yourself from Diet Culture on Social Media
Social media is a cesspool of Highlight Reels and diet culture. But it doesn’t have to be a place of negativity for you.
It can be whatever you want it to be.
Instead of following accounts that have a tendency or possibility to post negative content or something that may conjure up negative feelings within you (jealousy, comparison, self-hate, etc.), choose to unfollow those accounts and fill your feed with accounts that uplift you and make you feel good.
You are not obligated to follow accounts that make you feel bad about yourself. Period.
Make 2022 all about YOU
This year, make a vow to keep being you and keep doing you. Wear what you want, eat what you want, move when you want, read when you want, clean when you want, etc.
Do it all on your own terms. That is how you live a life free of diet culture!
Here’s to a 2022 where we stop living small, embrace who we are, and ignore the b.s. 🥂
For more posts like this, follow me on Instagram (@et.the.rd)