How to Increase Your Body Confidence during Sex and Feel Great Naked

Reviewed by Alice Child, Somatic Sexologist 

Somatic Sexologist Alice Child explains why a healthy body image is so important for a happy sex life, and gives some of her top tips for feeling more comfortable in your skin during sex.

This guide contains general advice only. If you need more tailored support, please book in a session.

When we see and feel what our body is capable of, the more we start to value and appreciate it, not just for how it looks, but for what it can do.

In a world full of unrealistic beauty standards, learning to love and appreciate your body isn’t always easy, it can feel like an uphill battle some days. But your body isn’t just something to be looked at. It’s how you move through the world, feel pleasure, connect with others, and experience everything life has to offer.

Body confidence is one of the biggest erotic brakes, something that holds people back from feeling truly present, connected to their bodies, both inside and outside the bedroom.

Confidence isn’t just about how you look, it’s about how you feel in your body.

How to feel great naked and increase your body confidence during sex?

Here are some tips to help you connect to your body and show it love:

Be Kind to Yourself

Body confidence is a lifelong journey and it's not linear. Our bodies are always changing, and so are our feelings about them. Some days you might wake up feeling great, completely at ease in your skin, and other days it might feel like you’re back at square one, even if nothing about your body has changed. That’s normal!

Be gentle with yourself. There are many reasons why it can feel hard to love the way we look during intimacy and most of them have nothing to do with our actual bodies. Shame, upbringing, the limited representations of beauty and sexiness in social media, porn, and movies all shape our beliefs. It's no wonder so many people struggle with body confidence during sex.

Our body confidence can take a big hit when we’re feeling tired, stressed, or struggling with low self-esteem. Undoing these ingrained ideas takes time, patience, and self-compassion. It’s absolutely worth the effort!

Get Naked Alone

A powerful way to build body confidence is to start spending more time naked when you’re alone. The more comfortable you become with your own body in a relaxed, non-judgmental setting, the more natural it’ll start to feel. Try sleeping naked, brushing your teeth naked, or walking from the bathroom to the bedroom naked!

These small acts can help you feel more at home in your body and less caught up in self-criticism. You might also want to try getting curious by taking a look at your genitals in the mirror, reminding yourself that it’s beautiful, normal, and perfect just the way it is. You could even take some photos or nudes just for yourself (or share them with lovers/partners for a little confidence boost!). If you’re feeling bold, skinny dipping at a nude beach or going to a life drawing class (on either side of the easel!) can be a fun way to push your comfort zone.

Move Your Body

Moving your body in ways that make you feel good is another powerful way to boost body confidence. Whether it’s dancing, swimming in the ocean, or taking a long walk with your favourite playlist, the aim isn’t to change how your body looks, it’s to start appreciating everything it can do. When we move, our brains release feel-good chemicals, our breath deepens, and our blood circulation improves. This leads to better mental health, physical wellbeing, and helps you feel more relaxed and confident in your own skin.

Plus, exercise helps lower stress hormones and can even give your sex drive a boost. Pelvic movement helps build arousal and increase blood flow, while dance and other forms of movement are some of the best ways to connect with your body, turn yourself on, and boost your sexual confidence.

When we see and feel what our body is capable of, the more we start to value and appreciate it, not just for how it looks, but for what it can do.

Stop Comparing Yourself

Stop comparing yourself to others, especially to what you see on social media and in movies. Most of what’s out there is edited, filtered, and posed. It doesn’t reflect the full range of real bodies. Instead, try to fill your feed and your life with more authentic, body positive content. Follow people who celebrate all kinds of shapes, sizes, and features.

A fun way to boost your body confidence is playing my Pillow Play game Strip Roulette - a playful, sexy stripping game full of teasing and anticipation. It’s a light hearted way to explore undressing with more confidence, and connection.

See Diverse Nude Bodies

Spending time in spaces where you see real, diverse bodies can do wonders for your confidence. When you are feeling more comfortable, consider getting naked in safe, body positive environments, or simply be around others who are.

Visit places that celebrate the full diversity of human bodies, like a nude beach, a life drawing class, or a sex party or workshop. The more bodies you see, the more you realise how normal and beautiful yours is, just as it is!

Prioritise Pleasure

Prioritise your pleasure in whatever way that means for you. Turning yourself on doesn’t just have to be limited to sex or masturbation. Those are great too, but pleasure can be found in the everyday moments that help you feel present, relaxed, and connected to your body. It can be as simple as taking a long bath, enjoying a mindful meal, or soaking up some sunshine.

One way to treat yourself is with a soothing massage. Whether you’re sharing a sensual massage with a partner or treating yourself to some self-care, Slide & Melt, my body safe massage oil and candle, makes it easy to unwind. It helps you slow down, relax your body, stay present, and fully engage your senses.

When you make pleasure a regular part of your routine, these small acts of self care release feel-good chemicals that help build a more positive, loving relationship with your body.

Practice Mirror Work and Affirmations

Try doing some mirror work and playing with affirmations. It might feel awkward at first, but when spoken out loud in front of the mirror or silently in your head, you can slowly start to re-write your negative beliefs you hold about yourself. Instead of focusing on what you don't like about your body, try looking at the parts you do like or are grateful for. Next time you catch your reflection, pause and check in. What negative self-talk do you say to yourself? Whose voice is that? Where did those thoughts come from? And most importantly, what words does your body need to hear instead?

Over time, affirmations can help rewire the way you speak to and see yourself. You can even spice it up—saying affirmations at the peak of orgasm (don’t knock it till you try it!).

Some ideas to get you started:

• I am perfect & complete the way I am

• I am unique

• I am enough

• My body deserves pleasure

• I love all the things my body can do

• This body is mine & I am home here

• I will listen to my body today

• I love my body just as it is

• My body is a blessing

• I am worthy of love & pleasure

• I choose to be kind to my body today

If you want extra support in creating affirmations and practices that feel right for you, book in a session with me.

Best,

Alice x

Alice Child - Somatic Sexologist, Sex Therapy & Sex Counsellor - helps people achieve happier and healthier sex lives through 1:1 sex coaching, couples sex counselling, hens parties, and workshops. Book a session here.