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Hampton U | Wellness

My One Month Summer Reset: Building Strength, Confidence, and Balance Before Summer Starts

Jayona Monique Dorsey Student Contributor, Hampton University
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Hampton U chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

I’m not saying I’m trying to become Teyana Taylor in 30 days… but I am also not not saying that.

Realistically, this is less “extreme transformation montage” and more “getting my life together before summer starts so I don’t spiral in June.” A reset, if you will. A soft reboot. A “she’s back in her disciplined era” kind of situation.

And no, this isn’t a crash diet situation or a punishment era. I’m not interested in suffering for aesthetics. I just want to feel good in my body again without overthinking every choice I make.

Food first, chaos later

I’ve been trying to be more intentional with what I eat, not in a restrictive way, but in a “my body is talking and I should probably listen” kind of way. That means leaning into more whole foods, eating things that give me energy instead of sending me into a nap, and realizing I can’t keep surviving off Poppi’s and Olipop’s like they’re a core personality trait.

I’ve also been cutting back on dairy and overly sugary drinks, which is honestly a personal betrayal because I fully believed my adult self would be able to live on whatever I wanted with zero consequences. Turns out, my body has feedback now, and I’m being forced to respect it.

There was even a brief moment where I considered doing a three day juice reset, but I quickly came back to reality and realized I am not built for suffering unless there is at least emotional growth involved.

Movement, but make it realistic

The goal is consistency, not punishment.

I’m aiming for the gym about four times a week, mostly strength training with some cardio so I don’t forget I have lungs. I’m adding one run a week, one long walk for when I need to romanticize my life and pretend I’m in a reflective montage, and one pilates or yoga session so my body can actually recover instead of filing complaints.

Some weeks will look perfect. Other weeks will look like “I walked once and stretched in bed.” Both count. I’m learning not to abandon the whole plan just because it wasn’t perfect.

Mental reset, not just physical

A big part of this reset has nothing to do with my body and everything to do with my mind.

I’m getting back into journaling again, not the aesthetic kind where I write one poetic sentence and disappear for three weeks, but the honest kind where I actually process what I’m feeling. I’m also trying to finish the books I ordered during the semester and convinced myself I would “definitely start soon.” Spoiler: soon has arrived.

Keeping my space clean has also become part of this mental reset. Not in a perfectionist way, but in a “my environment affects my brain and I refuse to ignore that anymore” kind of way. I’m also prioritizing therapy again and focusing on actually regulating my nervous system instead of just pretending I’m fine until I crash.

It’s less about unlearning who I was and more about learning who I am becoming. There’s something grounding about realizing that growth isn’t loud or dramatic most of the time. It’s small, repetitive choices that slowly bring you back to yourself.

As Alice Walker once said, “The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.”

That’s the reminder in this season of reset. Not that I’m becoming someone new, but that I already have more agency over my habits, my mind, and my direction than I sometimes act like I do.

The real shift

What’s actually changing isn’t just my routine. It’s my mindset.

I’m not trying to “fix” myself or force a glow-up by a deadline. I’m trying to build habits that make me feel grounded instead of constantly catching up to myself. There’s a difference between pushing your body out of self-hate and taking care of it because you want to feel strong in it.

This reset is less about becoming a different person and more about becoming someone who doesn’t fall off every time life gets slightly inconvenient.

So no, this isn’t a “new me for summer” moment—it’s a reset, not a reinvention, just a return to myself.

It’s just me learning how to stay consistent without turning my life into a crash course in burnout, while also learning the woman I’m becoming.

Jayona Monique Dorsey

Hampton U '27

Jayona Monique Dorsey is a student journalist, cultural storyteller, and creative strategist studying Strategic Communications at Hampton University, with a concentration in Public Relations and a minor in Marketing. She previously served as PR & Marketing Co-Chair for Her Campus Hampton University chapter and as a Wellness Editorial Intern at Her Campus Media, and now contributes nationally as a writer for Her Campus.

Her writing lives at the intersection of personal storytelling, culture, and the conversations shaping Black life. As a journalist, Jayona writes across publications including Black Girls Tennis Club and Legacy History Pride, covering HBCU culture and athletics, fashion, identity, Black womanhood, media, and the people and stories that often exist beyond the mainstream spotlight. Her work is rooted in thoughtful storytelling—using individual experiences and cultural moments to explore larger questions about who we are, what we value, and how we see ourselves.

Whether she’s exploring cultural commentary, examining the relationship between Black women and fashion, reflecting on friendship and independence, or unpacking the cultural shifts of early adulthood, Jayona approaches her work with curiosity, honesty, and intention. Her voice is reflective and conversational, often writing from the perspective of a big sister still figuring things out herself.

Outside of journalism, Jayona is the founder of Pink Matter Media Studio, a creative media studio centered on storytelling, editorial work, and creative direction. Through both her journalism and creative practice, she is passionate about creating work that preserves culture, amplifies overlooked stories, and helps people make sense of the world around them.

Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, Jayona is building a career at the intersection of journalism, editorial storytelling, cultural commentary, and creative direction—telling stories that don’t just reflect the moment, but help define it.