“That girl” is the hottest trending topic lately, and I get why. She’s the quintessential glow up girl. As such, I thought I’d share my latest habits on leveling up so that it may hopefully inspire others as well.

Starting with the Scorpio Full Moon from 15/05/2022, I decided to challenge myself every day with new habits and routines that propell me in the direction of my goals, but also improve my wellbeing and mental health (because we’re all about the holistic glow up here, ladies).

1. Matcha latte

I started drinking matcha daily, along with lemon water.

Currently, I already drink black tea for the energy kick every morning instead of coffee (and green tea throughout the day), along with a glass of water. But after getting my curiosity piqued by that girl reels on IG, I finally tried matcha latte and honestly I fell in love with it. I don’t resonate with running with the crowd for trends, but matcha is a good one. It has amazing benefits for your health, tastes great, and it’s also green!

2. Eating daily greens

Adding a big, nutritious salad to my lunch every day. Packed with goodies and topped with my favorite dressing: tahini + lemon. If you haven’t tried this combo, and want to incorporate more salads into your diet, you should definitely give it a taste.

3. Going to the gym with a trainer

Hiring a personal trainer and going to the gym 2-3 times a week has been a longtime aspiration of mine.

I have wanted to make going to the gym part of my lifestyle for a few years now, but after several failed attempts, I realized it had to be my way in order to be sustainable long term. I have high standards and expect quality for any service I go for, and as such have not been satisfied with the trainers I’ve worked with in the past (I can write a separate post on that if anyone is interested). Even so, I refused to give up!

I kept switching trainers until I finally found the perfect one for me, and I’m so happy I did. I know myself well enough that I do need a mentor to guide me. Worrying about researching posture, anatomy, movements, what to eat or how to formulate my workout plan, was not the way to go for me. I prefer an expert to do it for me, and all I have to do is show up and get the exercises done, so I can spend the rest of my time & energy on my other goals. Besides, having a mentor waiting for you at the gym, who motivates and uplifts you, makes a huge difference in creating consistency & good habits when you’re right at the beginning!

4. Jogging, long walks

Another thing “that girl” videos on social media show consistently is working out. Whether it’s doing pilates in a cute pink set, or running on the treadmill, exercise is a staple of the “that girl” aesthetic.

As such, I started doing cardio (jogging, jump rope, long walks) at least once a week. I have found that cardio, particularly jogging, does wonders for my body and my mental health. It boosts mental clarity, alleviates anxiety, clears my head. That boost of endorphins is better than anything you can do in the four walls of the house! There’s only so much you can journal, blog or paint your way out of negative thought patterns.

I’m a nocturnal animal, so I knew that integrating jogging into my routine would not be sustainable long-term if I forced myself to do it in the morning. (Scheduling it for the evening when I don’t need to slather myself in SPF50 is also an appreciated perk.)

I’ve also been making it a focus to add yoga and stretching into my routine.Ddaily if possible, but especially after strenuous workouts.

5. Leveling up my skincare

The first visual everyone associates on Instagram with “that girl” is… skincare, skincare, skincare.

I improved my skincare by using sunscreen, Vitamin C serum and retinol in my skincare regimen consistently. Vitamin C is a new one, but I’m enjoying La Roche Posay’s Vit C10 serum so far. I saw it recommended by every dermatologist on Youtube, and frankly it’s a good purchase.

6. More homemade food

Less takeout, more homemade food. Cooking is not my favorite pastime, but I love wholesome, home-cooked food made with love. It does have a different energy than when you just order in. I’ve been enjoying baking bread, looking up vegan recipes and just creating meals from scratch.

7. Rescheduling negative thoughts

Any negative thoughts after 9 PM I postpone until next day. I see no use stressing over things you can’t do anything about, and which may be caused simply by fatigue. All you need is some chamomille tea, a hot shower, and a good night sleep.

Tackle tomorrow’s worries tomorrow, and enjoy tonight’s peace of mind.

8. Read more books

Less mindless scrolling, more reading books. For this reason, I uninstalled most social media apps from my phone. I was actually annoyed by how much time I wasted doing nothing. It’s addictive to get a shot of endorphins every 10 min, but it’s not normal or conducive to health (physical or otherwise). It only leaves you feeling mentally drained.

I’m all about mindfulness and choosing daily routines that improve my wellbeing instead of the opposite. This time is better spent reading, journaling, drawing or other activities that are more therapeutic and inspiring.