Why I stopped reading Women's magazines?
There was a time when I was reading lot of Women's magazines, I followed multiple fashion blogs too, I watched bunch of chick-flicks and so on. At some point I noticed that this wasn't healthy for my mind and self-esteem. Even if I didn't realise it I was comparing my life and myself to these idealistic pictures. And man there is lot of imagery in magazines, blogs and movies. So many expensive handbags, IT-girls, skinny models, picture perfect homes, happy marriages, city lunches, champagne tastings and what not. None of that had any touch base to so called real life. It was a dream that was being sold to me in one or another format.
According to magazines:
You can spend you whole life chasing after all of these perfect moments. Setting up your 6 Euro Soy milk latte to perfect angle for you Instagram photo and buy once a month new bed sheets and decorative pillows, just to make sure your bed isn't out of fashion, you make latest trendy dishes and wrap yourself to Christmas lights to make sure you get just the right vibe for your selfie.
None of that actually matters also why would people care what you eat or do?
It can and should be enjoyable and it can offer nice ideas and happiness to you and others but it shouldn't be your whole life or something you are constantly chasing after and trying to achieve. I have got so much nice cooking ideas from Instagram and help for doing my eye make-up from YouTube but it's not something I spend all of my days doing. There are other things I am interested too.
Your life is happening while you are too busy organizing your perfect walk-in closet and planning which destination you should travel next to get the best blog posts. Did you even notice sun is shining today?
It was so easy to see latest trends in blogs. When something was given for free for bloggers or became a hit then it suddenly was sold out and people wanted to get the same things from coffee machines to bags to trips to rugs.
It wasn't even always because people liked it but because they had to have it since some famous stylist or blogger said this is what you need right now. It makes you basically a sheep to follow someone elses likes and ideas, of course you can look what you like, consider buying it and then make your decision. But do you really need new summer shoes and throw pillows and fancy trips every year? Do you need to wait in line to the latest deli and follow every trend?
Do you ENJOY it? Is it FUN? Is it something you WANT to do?
Or are just doing it because you want to FIT in?
Is that the life you want to live? Or are you just doing it because so is everyone else too? Do you actually have mind of yourself? Do you know what you like? Do you know what is your style? When do you feel good in your body? Or are just doing what is being told for you to do?
There are so many mixed messages in magazine:
Magazines are expensive and promoting shopping as a hobby. Do you really need to know what are the most popular sneakers right now? Or would you rather read about World politics and things that actually matter?
They promote unhealthy beauty and body standards and unhealthy ways to achieve both. There can be articles of plastic surgery but now stories of serious risks involved. I read very little advice on how to advance your career and be positive and happy without shopping and diets. I remember reading though how to win a man of your dreams and be better than others. There is lot of contradictions.
I like travelling, shoes, clothes and make-up. There is no harm or shame in that. But I have found myself much happier after I stopped reading magazines and following blogs. I found myself, my own style, I bought only things I need and like; not something I was told to buy. I even forgot that I "need" new sneakers since I was so "out of fashion" that I didn't realise my old ones were not fashionable anymore.
I don't feel myself any less woman, lady-like, girly, stylish, beautiful or whatever. I actually feel much better, prettier and healthier now. I stopped trying to "lose that extra five kilos" and obsessing over latest trends. I feel content.
According to magazines:
- You always need to lose weight for summer (like why?)
- Change your wardrobe at least twice a year (because trends change, right?)
- Follow latest decor trends (how embarrassing it would be to have guests visiting your home and you had last season curtains)
- Have long hair (because almost always the hair-do instructions are for long hair)
- Have perfect butt (because of reasons)
You can spend you whole life chasing after all of these perfect moments. Setting up your 6 Euro Soy milk latte to perfect angle for you Instagram photo and buy once a month new bed sheets and decorative pillows, just to make sure your bed isn't out of fashion, you make latest trendy dishes and wrap yourself to Christmas lights to make sure you get just the right vibe for your selfie.
None of that actually matters also why would people care what you eat or do?
It can and should be enjoyable and it can offer nice ideas and happiness to you and others but it shouldn't be your whole life or something you are constantly chasing after and trying to achieve. I have got so much nice cooking ideas from Instagram and help for doing my eye make-up from YouTube but it's not something I spend all of my days doing. There are other things I am interested too.
Your life is happening while you are too busy organizing your perfect walk-in closet and planning which destination you should travel next to get the best blog posts. Did you even notice sun is shining today?
It was so easy to see latest trends in blogs. When something was given for free for bloggers or became a hit then it suddenly was sold out and people wanted to get the same things from coffee machines to bags to trips to rugs.
It wasn't even always because people liked it but because they had to have it since some famous stylist or blogger said this is what you need right now. It makes you basically a sheep to follow someone elses likes and ideas, of course you can look what you like, consider buying it and then make your decision. But do you really need new summer shoes and throw pillows and fancy trips every year? Do you need to wait in line to the latest deli and follow every trend?
Do you ENJOY it? Is it FUN? Is it something you WANT to do?
Or are just doing it because you want to FIT in?
Is that the life you want to live? Or are you just doing it because so is everyone else too? Do you actually have mind of yourself? Do you know what you like? Do you know what is your style? When do you feel good in your body? Or are just doing what is being told for you to do?
There are so many mixed messages in magazine:
- Love yourself at any weight but here are 10 tips for perfect abs.
- You don't need to lose weight to be happy but here is latest fashionista diet for you to follow.
- You can be independent and happy without a man but here are best tips to keep a man of your dreams.
- He doesn't love you? No problem! 10 tips to make sure he does now. Also a story of woman who stopped chasing after men who don't want her.
Magazines are expensive and promoting shopping as a hobby. Do you really need to know what are the most popular sneakers right now? Or would you rather read about World politics and things that actually matter?
They promote unhealthy beauty and body standards and unhealthy ways to achieve both. There can be articles of plastic surgery but now stories of serious risks involved. I read very little advice on how to advance your career and be positive and happy without shopping and diets. I remember reading though how to win a man of your dreams and be better than others. There is lot of contradictions.
I like travelling, shoes, clothes and make-up. There is no harm or shame in that. But I have found myself much happier after I stopped reading magazines and following blogs. I found myself, my own style, I bought only things I need and like; not something I was told to buy. I even forgot that I "need" new sneakers since I was so "out of fashion" that I didn't realise my old ones were not fashionable anymore.
I don't feel myself any less woman, lady-like, girly, stylish, beautiful or whatever. I actually feel much better, prettier and healthier now. I stopped trying to "lose that extra five kilos" and obsessing over latest trends. I feel content.
Comments
Post a Comment