This is how often women criticise themselves each day
A new Weight Watchers survey of 2,000 people discovered women criticise themselves on an average of eight times per day. Among the things women regularly worry about, the study found wanting to lose weight, being low-earners and a having lack of creative and organisational skills to be the top concerns.
Finding it difficult to take a compliment also ranked highly, with 89 per cent of respondents dishing out compliments to other women that they would never bestow on themselves. Negative thoughts about appearance and weight were the most apparent criticisms and made up almost three quarters of the most common put-downs.
Researchers found social media and the bombardment of perfect images to be a catalyst for the rise in a lack of self-confidence and personal critique.
Zoe Griffiths, Head of Public Health and Programme at Weight Watchers says modern cultural conditions have increased the intensity of unkindness amongst women.
"Today's hectic and visually-driven world has meant that we're seeing a rise in women being self-critical, from the way they look to the way they feel at work."
"Our research has shown that being unkind to ourselves has been an underlying theme for women for many years, but a set of very modern cultural conditions have increased the intensity of this unkindness which are hard to avoid," she said.
Areas a woman is most self-critical:
- Weight
- Appearance
- Career
- Finances
- Relationship
A woman's 20 most common criticisms of herself:
- You’re too fat/overweight.
- Your hair is a mess.
- Your belly looks big.
- You don’t do enough exercise.
- Feeling scruffy next to other women.
- Not earning enough money.
- You say you are having a "fat day."
- Not wearing certain items of clothing because you think you can’t pull it off.
- You wish you were as photogenic as other women on social media.
- You deflect compliments by saying something negative about yourself.
- You worry people are talking about you behind your back.
- Feeling underdressed.
- I’m not stylish enough.
- You don’t have sex with your partner enough.
- You aren’t as creative as other women.
- Your bum looks big.
- You aren’t as organized as other women.
- You don’t spend as much time with your friends as you should.
- You’re not wearing enough make-up.
- You aren’t attractive to your partner.
Did you know:
Did you know 42 per cent of women admitted to never complimenting themselves, while the remainder gave themselves a positive thought or 'pat on the back' just once a day.
Resolution:
It’s simple! There must be more positive and less negative. Psychologist Dr. Ray Angelini says all real and lasting success starts with building your character.
- Love yourself first
- Acknowledge who you are and how far you’ve come
- Outline how you can build on your own success
- High quality life = high quality you
- Compliment yourself, compliment others and embrace who you are because you’re one of a kind!
Related links:
The funniest things grandkids kids say
Top 10 life lessons kids learn from grandparents
15 unlikely friendships that will melt your heart