Embracing Your Body in the Summer Sun: Navigating Body Image Challenges with Compassion

As summer arrives with its sunshine, social gatherings, and seasonal fashion, many of us feel the quiet (or not-so-quiet) pressure to have a “summer-ready body.” This expectation can spark anxiety, shame, or self-criticism—especially in a culture that often equates worth with appearance. As a therapist, I want to gently remind you that your body is not a project to fix. It’s your home. And it deserves respect all year long.

Why Summer Can Be Especially Difficult

Warmer weather tends to bring more body exposure: swimsuits, shorts, sleeveless tops. For those who struggle with body image, this shift can be triggering. Social media feeds fill with filtered vacation photos and "before-and-after" transformation stories, amplifying unrealistic beauty standards. Summer often highlights internalized messages we've absorbed over time—that some bodies are “acceptable,” while others are not.

The truth? There is no one “right” way for a body to look in summer (or ever). But it takes intentional work to push back against these harmful narratives.

Tips for Navigating Body Image Struggles During Summer

1. Tune into Your Inner Dialogue

Notice how you speak to yourself about your body. Are the thoughts harsh or critical? Would you say the same things to a friend? Try to replace judgment with curiosity: “Why am I feeling this way right now?” or “What does my body need from me today?” Self-compassion is a powerful antidote to shame.

2. Curate Your Environment

Unfollow or mute social media accounts that make you feel “less than.” Fill your feed with diverse bodies, body-positive voices, and messages that remind you that all bodies are good bodies. What you consume daily matters.

3. Dress for Comfort, Not Conformity

Wear clothes that make you feel physically and emotionally comfortable. There’s no moral value to any type of clothing—shorts, tank tops, bikinis. You don’t need to earn them. Your comfort is more important than societal expectations.

4. Practice Gentle Exposure

If wearing summer clothes feels vulnerable, ease into it. Try wearing a tank top at home, then around close friends, and eventually in more public settings. This kind of gradual exposure can help build confidence over time.

5. Reclaim Joy

Your body is not an obstacle to joy. You deserve to swim, dance, explore, and rest—regardless of your size or shape. Focus on the experience of summer, not how you think you’re supposed to look while living it.

6. Seek Support

If body image concerns are interfering with your quality of life, consider speaking with a therapist—especially one who practices from a Health at Every Size (HAES) or body-neutral lens. You're not alone, and healing is possible.

A Final Word

You don’t need to change your body for summer. Summer will show up no matter what, and you’re allowed to show up too—fully, freely, as you are.

Your worth is not dependent on the shape of your body, the size of your jeans, or the stretch marks on your skin. Your body is not a problem to be solved—it is a vessel for living, connecting, and experiencing this world.

Let’s give it the care and kindness it deserves.

By: Taylor Warren, Ed.S., LPC

Owner, The Grove Counseling & Consulting, LLC