Ten Minutes A Day
Keeps the insecurities away
I was given advice years ago that I have now shared with most of my friends and some strangers. The advice was to look at yourself in the mirror naked, for at least 10 minutes every day.
When I was first given that advice, I thought it was ridiculous. 10 minutes!!! That is an obscene amount of time, my showers don’t even last that long! And I have no interest in actively engaging with all my insecurities, thanks but no thanks.
I ignored the advice for a couple of months but often found myself thinking about it when I passed a mirror in a towel or saw my reflection while changing. Maybe I should try? What is the worse that could happen? I already hated certain parts of my body, I can’t hate them more.
So after weeks of deliberating, I embarked on this weird experiment. I would spend 10 minutes every day looking at my naked body. I didn’t keep a stopwatch handy, I figured that would make the time go by slower. I pretty much always have music playing, so I used that to guestimate how much time had passed.
About three songs worth equals 10 minutes. So after my shower, I would finish my routine naked in front of the mirror instead of my closest. I tried to play empowering and sexy songs (thank you Dua Lipa). I figured that might help ease the uncomfortableness in my head. Maybe I would catch their confidence from my speaker.
Certain parts of my routine were more challenging to watch. When I put lotion on my legs, I was intensely aware of my stomach rolls. I even instinctively sucked in for my audience of one. I didn’t like looking at my nipples, I felt they were looking back and I’ve never liked my nipples.
Once my three songs were up, I very quickly threw on clothes and felt a sigh of relief. Thank god that was over.
But I kept up with the routine, reluctantly.
I wasn’t experiencing the metamorphosis I was promised for the first couple of months of my experiment. I didn’t feel more confident and I didn’t enjoy the practice either. I wasn’t more comfortable being naked in front of other people. I still sucked in when I went down to lotion up my legs.
But just like any other routine, it is hard to see the results right away. When you start working out, resting abs don’t just appear after a week. You’ll feel tired for the first two weeks of waking up at a different time.
This practice of embracing my nakedness was no different.
I am not sure when I started to feel different about my post-shower routine. I wish I could give you a number, only 10 weeks of self-loathing before you start feeling something else. But I know my number wouldn’t be your number even if I did know it.
I can share the results though:
- I am much more comfortable with my naked body.
I no longer cringe when I encounter my naked reflection. Not to say there aren’t parts of my body I don’t like, but I am slowly learning to care less. My negative feelings are desensitized. I still don’t like my love handles and I still think my nipples are too large. But I also can look at my naked body and not immediately jump to hatred.
2. I am much more comfortable being naked in front of other people.
For the longest time, I would always feel more comfortable having sex with some type of covering on. Lingerie, a baggy shirt, a bra. Anything was better than nothing and in moments when I was completely bare, I would be very aware of all my self-declared impurities. Now I still prefer to wear a shirt if I am having sex after a larger dinner, but for the most part, I enjoy being completely naked. I am building up my confidence and I like sharing this newfound confidence with my lovers.
3. I notice changes in my body (the good and the bad).
I find that I am more keenly aware of the changes my body goes through. I know how my body should look at different points in my cycle. I notice when I put on weight and when I lose it. I am even aware of things like birthmarks and now I’m able to keep an eye on them in the event of any red flags. Overall, I know my body better and it is no longer foreign to me.
4. I like being naked.
After a while, being comfortable with my nakedness slowly transformed into being confident about my nakedness. I am naked a lot more now. I sleep naked and walk around my apartment naked. Sometimes I will even twerk in the mirror naked, I like watching how my body moves. I feel sexy and proud of my body. And when I am feeling a dip in my confidence, I make sure to stay naked.
I am not at my most confident right now, this is probably the most I have weighed in a while but I still spend 10 minutes a day looking at myself naked. I know it is in my best interest and even when I would like those 10 pounds to drop, it is still important to love myself (or at least to try to love myself). Being naked helps.
I know this is not a foolproof way to feel less insecure about your body, I still have insecurities despite the routine. But I do think it helps and I do think it is an important practice.
We shouldn’t be disgusted by our own nakedness. That applies even if you wish your body looked different. You can still want to eat fewer chips and go to the gym more but not cringe while looking at yourself.
It’s good to push ourselves out of our comfort zone. The uncomfortableness might be worth it. And at the very least, you can listen to some sexy, empowering music while you try.