I am a fan of aesthetic colours, moods and lifestyles. And the THAT GIRL trend has left a very special impact on my aesthetically spoiled palette. I wake up early (but not at 4 am as I did two years ago), between 05:30-05:45 and make myself hot water. I used to have coffee as my first drink, but because I meditate, I decided to let the beloved coffee wait – my association with coffee is to plan and work on my computer. They are practically inseparable. Therefore, I wake up early, drink my hot water, and do some reflection before meditating for 20 minutes. To be fair, this morning routine is pretty easy compared to those I’ve been doing a while ago. They’ve included waking up at 04 am, oil pulling, meditating, chanting, doing yoga and then getting ready to journal before walking the dogs. I confess, it’s been pretty rigid back then and my new routine seems super reasonable and more manageable.
Why That Girls Focus on Their Morning Routines
The morning routines are always super important for THAT GIRL YouTubers and it is often the very focus of the videos and content they create. They often have tea or a matcha latte (yummy!) in the morning, they always journal and stretch or do yoga.
The focus is on the morning rituals because the morning is like a blank page that can be filled. It is oftentimes the mornings that lay the rhythm for anything that is about to come. Personally, I always realize this when I sleep in (which means waking up at 07). I feel as if I am just chasing after the tasks instead of being the master of them. Things easily become a hassle and I do not feel relaxed. Mornings are truly magical (although a beautiful evening routine is just as important, more about that later). There have been tons of books written about the beauty of the morning; The 5 am miracle, miracle morning and many more. Most of them suggest waking up at 5 am, why exactly that time is unclear.
What Ayurveda Says about Morning Routines
Ayurveda believes the time around 4 am is the best to wake up, as it is the mornings when spiritual portals are open, energy is high and people are more productive. The thought process of Ayurveda is to be in tune with the sun and do spiritual practices slightly before sunrise. The early time is called ‘Brahmamuhurta’, which means the time of Brahma, or; Time of Divinity. From my own experience, I agree that the earliest mornings gave me an incredibly spiritual vibe. Of course, 04 am may be tough, especially when the sleeping times are after 11 pm. So depending upon one’s lifestyle, 04 am is for the tough cookies. But those who want to reap the benefits of increased productivity may still want to consider waking up early to stay ahead of the day.
Yoga, Mindfulness, Meditation and Journaling
‘That Girls’ are always doing yoga and you will probably find them journaling. Why is that?
- Exercise in general is extremely good for the body, the mind, wellness and mental health. When we think of exercise, we often think of how it influences our body and our shape – but it goes way beyond that. Exercise changes our brain function, it may reverse signs of ageing, and keeps us healthy, strong and resilient. It has numerous benefits that I could not even sufficiently credit in a 10-page paper. Exercising is the single best thing one can do for improved mental health and well-being. Different workouts have different effects on the body, and yogahas been shown to reduce stress levels and feelings of anxiety while at the same time increasing resilience and mindfulness – beyond the mat.
- Journaling – Journaling increases self-awareness and self-reflection. Especially when we’re in a state of change it helps to declutter our minds and find clarity within our thoughts. Meditation helps to reduce the noise within our mind, and journaling will guide us even further to become crystal clear on where we are and where we want to be. There are different methods to journal – from brain dumps, which include just dumping anything on paper that goes on in our mind (which often does not even make sense), up to daily journal prompts (I prefer this and choose my prompts for the day the evening before). Journals can be used to deal with difficult emotions, keep track of goals and processes, or as a fun way of self-discovery.
Journal Prompts
Want to start a journaling routine? I love these prompts:
- What values are the most important to you (in your career, personal life, and/or relationships)?
- What do you appreciate most about yourself?
- What challenges have you recently overcome? How did you do that? What did you feel?
- What difficulties do you currently face?
- Which emotions do you find hard to accept (sadness, grief, guilt,…)?
- What aspects of your life are you most grateful for?
- List 10 things that inspire you
- List 10 Things that motivate you
- List 10 things you love about yourself
- How do you make time for yourself each day?
- What are your boundaries? Do you feel safe expressing them?
- What brings you the most joy in life?
- What 3 things could you do today to feel your very best?
The That Girl Evening Routine
Although the evening routines are not the most portrayed topic when it comes to That Girl routines, they are also important to end the day on a good note. Drinking a camomille tea, reading a book and planning the day ahead, doing some gentle yin yoga or giving yourself a nourishing massage/bath/warm shower will make you cuddle up in bed feeling accomplished and calm.
Make it your own
The most important about routines is that we honour them and create little rituals out of them. From mindfully drinking tea up to a rigidly planned morning routine that lasts for 4 hours – it does not matter how long the routine is, it does not really matter when the routine starts or what we do. All that matters is that we put our love into it and make it ours. Don’t like getting up early? Then don’t. Have a good and long rest and get ready whenever it suits YOUR schedule. Don’t want to spend two hours in your morning? Great! Have a sip of coffee, close your eyes for two minutes and cherish this moment you dedicate to yourself. That is self-love, self-care and mindfulness, all in just two minutes.
‘That Girl’ routines can serve as an inspiration – but it is on you, if, and to what extent, you want to integrate these routines to give yourself the love you deserve (and improve your productivity and flexibility, if that’s your aim).
