Body Respect: Why It Matters and How to Achieve It

Attending to basic bodily needs is an important part of body respect.

Reviewed by Davia Sills

Key points

• Several mindful metaphors can be applied to caring for basic body functions.
• Increased focus on functioning rather than form is pivotal.
• Striving for moderation in behaviors can lead to increased well-being.

Gaps in some of the basic foundational body needs can actually be at the root of many difficulties or make some problems more problematic. Similar to how a tired or hungry toddler will be more grumpy or difficult to manage, adults, too, are affected in their mood, energy, and overall functioning when body basics are depleted. Many individuals routinely underestimate the impact of such basic-level needs.

The good news is that improving attention to the basics can sometimes diminish some of the physical or mental symptoms quite quickly. We may want to try to fix a conflict or bad habit, but if we are irritable or inattentive due to diminished consideration of our basic needs, then focusing first on the latter makes more sense. Just as working on a living room renovation wouldn’t make sense initially if a house had a crumbling foundation, humans, too, need bolstering at the basic level to firm up the foundation. There is much wisdom in more mindfully incorporating wellness essentials, which, in turn, can provide higher levels of resiliency and many benefits for functioning.

Sticks and Stones

We may have heard the chant, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me,” as children attempting to manage bullies. Although we may understand the attempted sentiment, it is actually not accurate that words can’t hurt. They do and can hurt—including if said to ourselves.

Striving for more body respect from ourselves is critical. If we are continually criticizing or disparaging ourselves, we are less likely to engage in taking good care of our bodies. The more we compassionately honor our bodies, the more we care for our bodies.

One essential way to work on this relates to focusing more on the function than the form; in other words, let’s strive to increase how our bodies are operating from the inside out rather than focusing on how they look.

Recharging the Battery

Sleep and rest is an undervalued intervention. We don’t expect our phones or computers to operate indefinitely without plugging them in periodically for a recharging session, yet many individuals expect themselves to be able to function effectively without proper sleep.

We all have times when sleep is difficult or interrupted, but chronic difficulty sleeping or repeated lapses in attending to adequate sleep hours can lead to a multitude of problems. There are numerous studies showing the way in which reduced sleep affects thinking, decision-making, driving, mood, and interpersonal functioning. Finding ways to regularly engage in and assertively protect sleep is critical.

Fill up the Gas Tank

We wouldn’t ask our cars to take a long road trip without filling up the gas tank, yet many individuals in our diet-obsessed world expect their bodies to be able to perform without the benefit of “filling up” on proper nutrients. Young children listen to their bodily cues, such as eating when they are hungry and stopping when they are full, no matter what their size or shape; however, somewhere in pre-teen years, these certainties shift, and doubt takes over.

Eating becomes more chaotic, confusing, and sometimes disordered. There is a focus on “clean eating” or “healthy eating,” but this often is code for more rigidity and avoidance of food.

Even individuals who do not have disordered eating can still struggle with habits that keep them from regularly getting the nutrition they need. This will lead to our “cars” malfunctioning or sputtering out by the side of the road. Many individuals are often surprised to find that eating more often rather than less often, allowing more types of foods rather than restricting foods, and increasing self-compassion for the body rather than continual regulation actually allows our engines to run more smoothly, effectively, and consistently.

More Vitamin N

More regular, varied eating episodes provide our bodies with more nutrients in general, including the many vitamins and minerals we need to function most effectively; however, there is often not much emphasis on adding in more Vitamin N (for nature). Numerous studies have shown the incredible benefits, physically and psychologically, of spending more time in nature, and this can be a body intervention that many individuals find highly beneficial.

The value of time in nature is indisputable, and some of the quantifiable benefits are fascinating. There are various theories on why this is so important. Some say that the positive relaxation effects of being outside relate primarily to the increased body movement, which is more likely to occur if an individual is outside; others suggest that bodies relax in more natural surroundings as this is the setting from which humans evolved.

Time in nature also tends to touch upon all of our senses, providing a recalibration of our senses with nature. The notions of slowing down and mindfulness are often also easier to do in nature, free of computers, chores, and other indoor distractions for at least a little while.

Like a Dog Shake

When dogs get up from a nap, there is often a full-body shaking experience followed by a good stretch. It is theorized that dogs do this for the purpose of shaking off grogginess, re-energizing the body, getting the blood moving again, and preparing the muscles for the next action. Humans, too, could benefit from more intentional moments of shaking it out, as this would reinvigorate the body and prepare for a transition to another activity.

Movement for humans could include shaking it out like the canines, but it might also come in the form of a walk around the neighborhood, dancing to a favorite song, or engaging in some stretches. Regular bouts of activity are highly recommended as another means of re-energizing the body and attending to basic bodily care.

The Goldilocks Principles

Most of us remember the Goldilocks and the Three Bears childhood story and how she was searching for “just right” in the porridge, chairs, and beds. Similarly, in so much of life, we are often needing to find the middle ground—with behaviors, actions, and also with the body basics. Too much or too little sleeping, eating, moving, socializing, working, or really any -ing verb can lead to problems.

The just-right principle applies to the notion of how closely we hold onto many things or even people in our lives, but it also applies quite aptly to body care practices. Let’s strive to go for the Gold(ilocks).