“What we see and hear repeatedly really matters. We
can’t always control what we’re exposed to in real life,
but we can design an online wallpaper,” says Natasha
Devon MBE, an activist and author of A Beginner’s
Guide to Being Mental: An A-Z. “Go through your feeds
and mute, block or unfollow anyone who is posting
content which makes you feel anxious and insecure.
Seek out positive role models to ensure your feed
is both diverse and celebratory. My recommended
follows are @NerdAboutTown @BodyPosiPanda
@FelicityHarward @JSkyChat and
@TheOneArmedWonder.”
Lottie Storey recommends this
great trick: “The classic test is
to cover up the caption and if the
image makes you feel inadequate,
unfollow. Visuals are so powerful.”
Natasha also challenges us to focus
less on our bodies. “We’re most often
praised for how we look or what we have. We’re
told we’ve lost weight, we look young or have
great shoes, so is it any wonder our subconscious
brain absorbs the message that these are what’s
important? It feels a bit weird at first, but after a while,
praising each other for the qualities which really
matter – humour, bravery, kindness and integrity –
becomes second nature. By complimenting each
other on the qualities that really matter, we provide
a counter-narrative in a world which is designed
to persuade us we are ‘flawed’ and need to
consume in order to ‘fix’ ourselves.”
Curate your feed
Design an online wallpaper that brings
you strength and joy not stressKatie Antoniou is
a British writer living
in California. She has
narcolepsy, a husband,
a daughter and an
extensive collection
of Blue Willow china
scored from
thrift stores.body image