{via etsy by Katie Daisy}

I’m not much for clever planners, productivity apps or special efficiency software. I live by to-do lists. I love jotting down what I need to do on stationary or even a napkin (clearly, whatever is handy). I also love my paper planner. And, on some days, I get spontaneous and type in a text file.

While they’re helpful, sometimes, to-do lists have a way of obscuring everything else. We get so focused on checking off tasks — big or small — that we forget to look around us. We forget to savor. And breathe in what’s right in front of our eyes (ears, nose, hands).

{via etsy by BLintonPhotography}

We’ve all had those days when one look in the mirror spikes our stress levels. (I still do.) For many of us, that’s when the inner critic starts ranting and raving. Before we know it we’re bashing our bodies and berating our qualities as a whole.

But it doesn’t have to escalate to an all-out brawl between you and your body. Here are several ways to cope without fueling those negative thoughts and sinking your self-esteem. Some of these can be done in the moment; others can be done later in the day.

{via etsy by Laura Evans}

A positive body image goes beyond liking your looks. It encompasses taking good care of yourself and leading a fulfilling life. In this weekly series, I share some of my favorite posts from some of my favorite bloggers on this topic. Sometimes I also share relevant pieces that I’ve written on the Web. Hope you find these links inspiring!

Why you’ll never have a new body — and why that’s totally OK.

Let your light shine through.

{via etsy by Jessica Renee}

A positive body image goes beyond liking your looks. It encompasses taking good care of yourself and leading a fulfilling life. In this weekly series, I share some of my favorite posts from some of my favorite bloggers on this topic. Sometimes I also share relevant pieces that I’ve written on the Web. Hope you find these links inspiring!

Mara reveals why self-care is not a punishment.

{via etsy by Ashley Davis}

Every Monday features a tip, activity, inspiring quote or some other tidbit that helps boost your body image, whether directly or indirectly — and hopefully kick-starts your week on a positive note!

Got a tip for improving body image? Email me at mtartakovsky at gmail dot com, and I’ll be happy to feature it. I’d love to hear from you!

Here on Weightless I regularly talk about the importance of gratitude. (Here’s one example.) One of the great benefits about gratitude is that it’s always present.

Gratitude is present in the pleasurable moments, and in the painful ones.

{via etsy by BLintonPhotography}

April is National Stress Awareness Month, so today, I’m highlighting ways we can soothe and stave off stress in our lives. While stress is inevitable — it’s life, after all — it’s important we have tools at our disposal to cope with it effectively.

Stress can negatively affect how we feel about our bodies and ourselves. It can trigger emotional overeating and anxiety and sink our mood. In short, it can be really overwhelming. It also doesn’t help if the strategies we turn to are detrimental to our health and well-being.

{via etsy by Alisa Wilcher}

Today, I’m pleased to present a guest post by Brenda Bentley, a therapist and mindfulness teacher.

She’s also author of the book Eat, Guilt, Repent, Repeat: Break the Cycle! which features real-life stories and strategies to cultivate peace with your body, food and life.

Below, she shares a meditation to help readers find peace within ourselves and promote peace toward others.

{via etsy by Margaux and Walter Kent}

There are so many ways to practice self-care. One of my favorite ways is to connect to my creativity. This helps me nourish my mind, heart and soul. Maybe you’re the same way, or maybe you’d like to explore your creativity for the first time. Here are some ideas.

{via etsy by April}

Every Monday features a tip, activity, inspiring quote or some other tidbit that helps boost your body image, whether directly or indirectly — and hopefully kick-starts your week on a positive note!

Got a tip for improving body image? Email me at mtartakovsky at gmail dot com, and I’ll be happy to feature it. I’d love to hear from you!

Mindfulness can be helpful in improving our body image. It can remind us to savor the here and now (and stop chasing thinness). To tune out the noise of women’s magazines and other unhelpful media — and tune into ourselves. To savor our food and tiny moments. To observe our bodies, thoughts and feelings without judgement. These are incredibly powerful things.

A few years ago, professor and author Michelle Lelwica, ThD, explained the benefits of mindfulness in an interview here on Weightless.

“My decision to protect my sensitivity was one of the most influential acts of extreme self-care I’ve ever taken in my life,” writes Cheryl Richardson in her book The Art of Extreme Self-Care: Transform Your Life One Month at a Time. “It forced me to stop judging and disowning essential parts of myself and start honoring who I am at my core.”

I can totally relate to being sensitive. As I wrote in this post, “When I completed Elaine Aron’s Highly Sensitive Person Self-Test, I checked 24 statements. Out of 27.”