Every Monday features a tip, exercise, inspiring quote or other tidbit to help boost your body image. For many of us, Mondays are tough. We may feel anxious and stressed out, anticipating an arduous week, especially if we didn’t get much rest and relaxation during the weekend. These kinds of feelings don’t create the best environment for improving one’s body image. In fact, you might be harder on yourself and easily frustrated. You might even feel like you’re walking on egg shells – with yourself! With these posts, I hope you’ll have a healthier and happier body image day, that’ll last throughout the week.
Got a tip for improving body image? Email me at mtartakovsky@gmail.com, and I’ll be happy to feature it. It can be anything you do that’s healthy and helps boost your body image. I’d love to hear from you!
I’ve been working on one particular article for Psych Central for a long time now. Too many months to count. And too many to mention without blushing and getting embarrassed. Granted I was waiting part of this time for several experts to get back to me, but I could’ve worked on the other sections of the article.
You see, this is a long article that requires lots of information, which makes me very overwhelmed. But most importantly, my need for perfection is responsible for my postponing it. In my mind, even getting started has to be the right set of circumstances, and I have to be ready to devote days to it.
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Interesting take on perfectionism… do you think that it could ever be a positive? Is there just a thing as constructive, positive perfectionism? In some cases, if you strive for perfection, especially with your body image, it can obviously be harmful. But I also wonder if you can strive for HEALTHY perfection and arrive at a place where you are fueling your body in a perfect balanced way.
It is worth noting that intense levels of perfectionism can be harmful, as you described, and also to your health. Check out a study we just published at Rodale.com about the health effects of being a perfectionist: http://www.rodale.com/perfectionism
By the way, have you finished the article? 
@ Dana, hehe..not yet! But it’s on today’s to-do list! And, honestly, knowing that I have just announced that to the world is a good kick in the bottom.
I see what you mean about a healthy dose of perfectionism. If I look at perfection as certain traits like being conscientious and wanting to do your best within reason (and a time limit) on projects in general, then I do think it can be healthy and reasonable. But the very idea of wanting to be flawless can be destructive, leading to disordered eating and obsessive exercise.
Thanks for sharing the article!
So delighted to read this post today, as I’ve been reflecting on the very same thing and wrote a similar post on my own blog on not buying into the myth of perfection. It is a balancing act. While setting high standards is admirable,for perfectionists,there is a point where the
pursuit of perfectionism can become an obsession that sometimes leads to depression and psychological distress.Perfectionism is merely an illusion because if it were a reality then it actually wouldn’t be perfect; this is what makes it such an insane desire to achieve something that is not real.
@ JBBC, I just read your post on your blog (http://beyondbreastcancer.wordpress.com/2010/08/04/the-myth-of-perfection/) and loved it! I’ll be reminding myself of this often: “When setting goals make sure that they are based on your own personal wants and needs – not societal, family or friends’ expectations of you.”
And, wow, can I totally relate to this: “I was often afraid to try something new in case I didn’t do it perfectly, and when I did undertake a task, I worked so hard at it, that even if it was a fun task I could take all the joy out of it, in my quest for perfection.” This is sooo something I have to work on. I notice very often that I take all the fun out of my writing, even though I love to write. I just make it unappealing with all the pressure and inability to just relax and enjoy the process. Another great reminder!
Thanks so much for stopping by, and commenting!
Margarita, thanks so much for quoting my interview with Therese Borchard! That was a fun one.
I’m definitely struggling with weight and body-image issues…because I have too much of the former, it’s hard to know where my bodily concerns are valid (i.e., health and fitness) and where they start to bleed over into perfectionism. For me, what’s working right now (subject to change on any given day) is:
(1) awareness that there are no hard-and-fast lines around any of this–everything is in flux; and
(2) sneaking up on myself to do small things without making too much of a fuss about them. For example, if I had a food plan for today, I’d deviate from it and feel worse about myself and my body as a result. But I just had a glass of the fresh carrot juice that I bought yesterday…and simply enjoyed the taste.
I’m beginning to believe that for me, such micro-steps are going to be very important.
@ Michelle Russell, it’s my pleasure! I love your blog. It’s packed with valuable information.
Thanks for sharing what works for you! And I know I say this all the time, but you can be healthy at any size – as long as you’re engaging in healthy habits. And small steps are important because they build and build. Life is all about taking small steps every day. I think it’s wonderful that you took the time to enjoy the carrot juice. It’s important to enjoy what you’re eating. THe same goes for physical activity. Find something that nourishes you and that you genuinely enjoy. To me, intuitive eating, pleasurable physical activity and self-acceptance are the building blocks.
Thanks for stopping by!!
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