This past summer TikTok exploded with the idea of being “that girl.” This girl wakes up early and works out right away. She journals and she has her mental health perfectly situated. She does a cute face mask to relax after a busy morning of keeping healthy. Then, she puts together a healthy and aesthetic breakfast, usually a smoothie and avocado toast. She’s not perfect though, and she is not a perfect guide to living.
The first issue with “that girl” is she doesn’t fit everyone’s lifestyle. For some people, waking up and going to the gym just works, but in order to even make it to the gym, people need fuel. Whether it be a protein bar or a simple smoothie, food in your system is essential for a good workout. “That girl” won’t be able to make the most of her workout with just a glass of artsy lemon water.
“That girl” journals each morning to refresh and reset her brain. Journaling is great practice for making mental health more manageable, but not everyone can simply journal and be happy. The more we see these idealized lifestyles, the more we feel like we are not enough. Sometimes just journaling really is not enough for someone’s mental health to improve. And that’s okay.
Breakfast: the most important meal of the day. As a college student, I miss the days when I could make avocado toast and smoothies in the morning. Yet, even those with kitchens cannot always make these healthy meals. Food, especially the healthy, organic foods “that girl” thrives off of, is not cheap. Assuming everyone can afford to eat the same foods is risky, and can make people who can not afford this “healthier” lifestyle feel guilty or unworthy. The food you use to nourish your body is the food you can access, and your body deserves whatever that is.
The worst part of “that girl,” and these idealized health trends, is that they often don’t even look like half of their audience. When I see “that girl,” I don’t see someone whose first task of the day is to take their medicines and put on their hearing aids. I see someone perfect and without flaws, but my medicine and hearing aids are not my flaws.
“That girl” isn’t me, and I don’t want to be “that girl.”
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