Ah, winter. The festivities are over, and you are thrown into a post-sparkle world. Slap a global pandemic on top and Blue Monday could span the whole year.

Social media may cause low self esteem issues, especially in the winter months

Time spent online, and especially on social media, has grown significantly during lockdown.

‘GWI finds that increased usage has been most pronounced among the younger age groups – 58% of 16-24 year-olds are spending more time on social’,

And I, too, can be accused of scrolling for hours. You know the routine: wake up, roll over, open Instagram instead of getting out of bed. Your sleep schedule gave you a wave when it left and at this point, you’re pretty sure you are Bill Murray (that was a Groundhog Day reference, add it to your lockdown watchlist). The frankly offensive light from your screen blinds you as your eyes water from where your phone had fallen on your nose mere seconds ago. You squint and read the little digital lettering; it’s another diet advertisement, the third in a row.

The reaction produced by this square of judgement could be a groan or perhaps a knot in your stomach to only add to the anxiety you already feel. You retreat under the duvet again.

This is why I’m writing this article. These advertisements are not for your benefit.

‘The diet industry in the US is worth $72 billion.’

Combine that with the platform of Instagram, where realism is a fantasy, and it’s a recipe devoid of taste. After the holidays is a dark time for a lot of people and lockdown has impacted mental health in a devastating way. At a time when the world has lost control, we need something to cling onto. Here, suck on an appetite suppressing lollipop (yes, those actually exist).

Instead of scrutinising and avoiding our bodies, may I make a suggestion? We could spend this time getting to know ourselves. While the diet industry uses Instagram ads and the dreaded algorithm effectively to reach its main target, cisgender women, I would rather address everyone. I am by no means a small person: I’m almost six foot and my bones run quite big for your average girl. My body possesses all the things that are seen as “undesirable” in this social media age. But I have never seen them as ugly and I have never not wanted them.

Finding happiness in yourself is so important

I, like many others, struggle with my mental health, more so now than ever before. For me, being in tune with my body has helped me tackle and keep my anxiety at bay. Feeling different surfaces and textures helps to ground me and keep me present when an attack is coming. You know that bit of squishiness you only look at? It’s so soft. Give it a little squeeze. It will calm you down.

Loving the skin you’re in may be incredibly cliche, but getting comfortable with your own body is incredibly important. During lockdown there has been an emphasis put on self care. I learned to paint in the last lockdown and generally devoted more time to creative things. We all have way more time on our hands these days, and assignments still need to be completed and online classes need to be attended but we also need to make time for ourselves. Whatever makes you happy, do it! Devote time to yourself. Switch off, and if you like switch on. Good vibes only. Explore your own body and spend time with yourself; spend more time naked (just don’t give the family or roommates a shock). Stick those headphones on and dance at 4am when everyone’s asleep. Dance in the kitchen, boogie in the shower! You’ll wiggle, you’ll jiggle, and you’ll feel incredible.

Being essentially locked in our own homes or accommodation can make us feel like we’re trapped, each new day a countdown to when the zombies eventually take over. But there can be moments of fun in this gloomy time. Lockdown has forced us to live with ourselves and maybe now is the perfect time to discover how wonderful we all are, whatever way we look. So, the next time you are scrolling and see that little square, roll your eyes and scroll on past.

To misquote Juno Birch, the fabulous Manchester drag queen, “you should piss yourself laughing at least once a day”.

Here, here *raises glass*.

Hannah McCormack is an aspiring screenwriter and English with Media student at Ulster University Coleraine.

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