Summer is a time to have fun, to go out, enjoy the sun, and hang with friends, but it’s also a time that comes with a lot of pressure online to look a certain way. Common phrases like “hot girl summer” and “bikini body” might seem innocent, but they can but they can weigh heavily on women
Feeling your healthiest is a form of self-love, but the best kind of summer is one where you feel confident and comfortable in your own skin. Let’s talk about how to have a healthy girl’s summer without letting the pressure to be perfect take away from what summer is really about—having fun.
Why Summer Triggers Body Image Issues for Women
Summer is many people’s favorite season! It means pool time, vacation, and spending time outdoors. But for many women, it can also be emotionally triggering. As temperatures rise, so does the pressure to show more skin and meet unrealistic body expectations.
Here are a few eye-opening facts:
- 51% of Gen Z women and 42% of millennials feel pressure to change how they look before going on vacation. (Forbes Magazine)
- 42% of women say they feel pressure to get fit or lose weight for summer, compared to 31% of men. (Forbes Magazine)
- Phrases like “summer body” are linked to eating disorders, anxiety, and poor sleep for many women. (Very Well Health)
Aspiring toward a healthier you is not wrong. But the idea of a “summer body” has created pressure where there should be peace. The truth is there’s no perfect summer body. Working out is great, but giving your body what it needs is the most important thing you can do.
Top Summer Health Tips for Women
Your body doesn’t need perfection this summer. It needs nourishment, movement, sunlight, and most of all, kindness. Here’s what to prioritize instead:
Hydration and Nutrients
Diet culture can be very toxic. Don’t fall for it and limit your food intake. What your body needs this summer is nutrient rich foods. If your goal is to get healthy, it starts with fueling yourself with what makes you feel good. Focus on whole foods, fruits, vegetables, and protein. But also, summer is about joy! If you grab late-night ice-cream or share a greasy slice of pizza with friends, that’s okay too. Health is about balance.
Movement That Feels Good
Moving your body is great for your physical and mental health. But trying to cram months’ worth of workouts into a few weeks before summer won’t serve you. Instead, pick something sustainable, like walking, swimming, or stretching. Do it because it helps you feel strong and clear-headed, not because you’re trying to shrink yourself.
Safe Sunshine
Sunshine helps your body make vitamin D, which supports your immune system, mood, and hormone health. Just 10–20 minutes of sunlight a day (especially in the morning) can boost serotonin, regulate your sleep-wake cycle, and improve your energy.
Gratitude Over Comparison
This summer, instead of comparing your body to friends, celebrities, or influencers online, try approaching your body with gratitude. Be thankful for everything it allows you to do.
If you’re on a health journey, give yourself grace. Fitness is a year-round process—not something you can force in a month. Your health matters every season.
Do it for you, not for anyone else. Be confident in the body you have today. And remember, if you put on a bikini, that is a bikini body.
Looking for more support in your health journey?
Need Support This Summer? Explore more women’s health resources at foreverywoman.org/blog — where confidence, balance, and whole-woman care are available 24/7.
You deserve care that lasts all year long.
