Be Kind:

The way you treat your body

Appreciate What Your Body Can Do

Instead of always worrying about how your body looks, try thinking about all the things it allows you to do. Your body lets you play sports, dance, swim, walk to school, hug your friends, laugh until your stomach hurts — the list goes on. When you focus on what your body does rather than how it looks, it’s easier to feel proud of it.

Moving your body in ways you actually enjoy — whether that’s football, yoga, running, or dancing in your room — can make you feel stronger, healthier, and more confident.  

Nourishing Your Body 🍎

Nourishing your body means taking care of it with food, rest, and kindness. Your body needs fuel to think, move, laugh, and grow — and food is a big part of that. Intuitive eating is a way of tuning in and listening to what your body needs, instead of following strict rules about what or when to eat. It’s about trusting yourself and finding balance.

Start by noticing your hunger and fullness cues. Eat when you feel hungry — not just because it’s a certain time — and stop when you feel comfortably full. Pay attention to how different foods make you feel: which ones give you energy, help you focus, or make you feel satisfied. There’s no such thing as a “perfect” diet — all foods can fit. Some days your body might want fruit, pasta, or a smoothie; other days it might want chocolate or pizza. That’s totally okay!

Listening to your body also means being kind to it. Don’t ignore hunger or feel bad for eating something you enjoy. Food isn’t something to earn or feel guilty about — it’s fuel, comfort, and part of enjoying life. When you eat in a way that makes you feel good physically and mentally, you’re showing your body the respect and care it deserves.

Exercise to feel good 💛

How do you know if you’re exercising for the right reasons? Are you doing it because it makes you feel good, or because you feel like you have to?

A good way to tell is by paying attention to how your body and mind feel. If moving your body makes you feel happier, calmer, or more confident, that’s awesome — that means you’re doing it for healthy reasons. You’re listening to what your body needs and showing it a bit of care.

But if you’re thinking things like, “I should exercise,” or “I’m lazy if I don’t,” it might be time to pause. Ask yourself — how do I feel when I skip a workout? If you start to feel guilty, stressed, or like you’ve “failed,” that’s a sign something’s off. Exercise shouldn’t make you feel bad about yourself.

Pushing yourself when you’re exhausted, or skipping fun stuff to work out, isn’t actually healthy. Your body deserves rest, too. Try checking in with yourself: Why am I doing this? If it’s to punish yourself, to “burn off” food, or to change how you look, that’s not real self-care — that’s pressure. Exercise should be about feeling strong and good inside, not about guilt or “fixing” yourself.

When you start tuning in to what your body really needs — rest, movement, balance, fun — you’ll start to build a way better relationship with it.

Be Kind to Yourself ❤️

Here’s something that can change how you see yourself: self-compassion. It basically means treating yourself the way you’d treat a good friend — with kindness, patience, and care. If your friend made a mistake or felt insecure, you wouldn’t tear them down, right? You’d probably say something supportive. So why not do the same for yourself?

Try letting go of the idea that you have to be perfect — in your body, school, or anything. You deserve to feel good in the skin you’re in right now.

When People Say Unhelpful Stuff 😒

Sometimes friends or family make comments about how you look — and even if they don’t mean to be mean, it can still be upsetting. You’re allowed to tell them that it’s ‘not cool’ or that you don’t want to talk about bodies or appearances. Setting boundaries doesn’t make you rude — it’s just a way of taking care of yourself.

Hang out with people who make you feel good, who see you for you, not how you look. Real friends lift you up, not tear you down.

Be Smart About Social Media

Scrolling through Instagram or TikTok, it’s easy to feel like everyone else looks “perfect.” But most of those posts are filtered, staged, or edited. Nobody looks like that all the time. If your feed makes you feel bad about yourself, hit unfollow, mute, or delete. Fill your timeline with accounts that make you laugh, inspire you, or show real people with real bodies. Remember: social media is highlight reels, not real life.  You will find more advice on challenging social media pressure here.

Try Something New (Like Cold Showers!)

This one might sound a bit weird, but some people find that doing something challenging, like taking a cold shower, helps them feel stronger and more confident. The idea is that if you can handle a shock of cold water, you can also handle stressful moments in life. Plus, it can leave you feeling awake and refreshed.

Practice Everyday Self-Care

Confidence doesn’t just come from looks — it also comes from how you treat yourself. Wear clothes that make you feel comfortable and happy, not just what’s “in fashion.” Do little things that make you feel good, like listening to your favourite music, having a long shower, or spending time with people who make you laugh. These small acts of kindness towards yourself are reminders that you deserve care and respect. You will find more advice on listening to and connecting with your body here.

Stay Present With Mindfulness

If you start feeling nervous about how you look, try grounding yourself in the moment. Focus on your senses — what can you see, hear, feel, or smell right now? For example, if you’re at the beach, notice the sound of the waves, the feeling of sand between your toes, or the warmth of the sun. Taking slow breaths and tuning into your senses can support you to feel calmer.

Useful Resources + links:

💻 Website: For information on intuitive eating: click here

🎧 Podcast: Listen to Dr. Hazel Wallace and registered nutritionist Laura Thomas discuss diet culture, body neutrality and intuitive eating - click here.

🎧 Podcast: Listen to psychotherapist Sharon Martin discuss how to add more self-compassion into your life - click here.

💻 Instagram account : For practical advice from intuitive eating Ireland: click here

🎧 Podcast: Listen to personal trainer Tally Rye discuss the concept of intuitive movement - click here.

📰 Article: This article on A Lust for Life discusses modern gym culture and male body image and considers the pressure that gym culture may exert on men to adhere to a certain ideal body shape and size.

📰 Article: This article provides some useful insight into body talk and practical suggestions on gently setting boundaries with friends or family who may be making unhelpful comments about your body.