Looking to get a beach body this summer? Look no more, you’ve come to the right place! In five simple steps, I can teach you how to sculpt yourself into the hottie of your dreams!

Step 1: Put on a swimsuit

Step 2: Tell your body it’s wonderful

Step 3: Gather your sunnies, UV protection, and a book to read

Step 4: Go to the beach

Step 5: You have a beach body!!! Woohoo!

In all seriousness, I would like to acknowledge that this type of exercise is something you should be doing all of the time. Mental exercises can be just as important (or more!) when preparing to kick it on the beaches this summer! Regardless of your gender, sexuality, weight, height, perceived self-attractiveness, etc., you already have a beautiful body!

You are unique and should be able to wear whatever you want to the beach, depending on your comfortability. Hell, you don’t even have to go to the beach, but I’m here to tell you that you are worthy and beautiful and your body is great!

While I don’t want to come across as another one of those #BodyPositivity writers, I also want to emphasize that summer can be a difficult time for many people.

According to NEDA, approximately 30 million Americans have had an eating disorder at some time in their life. Other national surveys estimate that about 1 in 50 people suffer from body dysmorphic disorder. These stats don’t even cover other mental health issues including anxiety and depression, which can have detrimental effects on someone’s self-esteem and confidence in a swimsuit.

So to all those photoshopped magazines, workout articles, Instagram models, and other social media forms that portray the perfect body type, please screw off.

There is no right way to have a body and there is no such thing as having a bikini body.

When we as consumers and especially young women buy into these ideas, we further fuel large beauty corporations and contribute to making a more materialistic based society. As another woman, please don’t tell others that they need to “lose weight” or “eat less” or “wear a little more make-up."

We need to be empowering each other and supporting our strengths of character and personality over appearance.

Rather than wasting your time on trying to achieve perfection this summer, try to remember that we all have flaws.

Practice everything in moderation. Move your body in ways that energize you and make you happy. Eat salad because you want to, not because you force yourself to. Wear that sexy bikini or speedo or whatever the heck you want, because babe, you are one hottie with a rockin’ beach body.