We all aspired to TikTok’s “That Girl” trend (the embodiment of a woman who effortlessly balances wellness, productivity, and an aesthetic, high-end lifestyle) back in 2021, but it never really went away. “That Girl” may still wake up early, make her bed first thing, drink something green before 10 a.m., and round out her morning with a Pilates class. But the “That Girl” of 2026 isn’t defined by a one-size-fits-all wellness archetype. She’s not following a wellness routine because an influencer told her to; she’s choosing practices—whether that’s breathwork, movement, or slow mornings—because they genuinely make her feel good.
Today’s That Girl strives for consistency rather than perfection. In 2026, we know better than to fall for any extreme transformations or hyper-disciplined wellness trends that usually only lead to frustration and burn out.
Doing things that look after yourself is what really makes you That Girl—not checking the boxes of a specific aesthetic, routine, or trend. She embodies living her best life in a way that feels personal, restorative, and sustainable. And your most energized, confident, and cared-for self will probably look a little different from your best friend’s, sister’s, or coworker’s. So if your goal is to become That Girl this summer (but with own unique spin!), keep reading for the micro-habits that will get you there. Hint: They’re much smaller—and a lot more attainable—than you think.
“Doing things that look after yourself is what really makes you That Girl—not checking the boxes of a specific aesthetic, routine, or trend.”
5 Micro-Habits That Will Turn You Into “That Girl”
1. Romanticize the first hour of your morning
What you do after your feet touch the floor sets the tone for the rest of your day. That doesn’t have to mean waking up to the sound of your alarm at 5 a.m. for a run or an hour-long meditation (unless that serves you). Think of it more as a wake-up call with intention.
Before you reach for your phone, get grounded. Because when the very first thing you do is sift through emails or get sucked into TikToks, you start off giving your attention to everyone else’s life but your own. Ease into the day with a few minutes of morning sunlight outside. Open the windows and let fresh air in. Upgrade your matcha latte ritual with some reflection or gratitude. Or it might be a quick declutter of your desk, a five-minute brain dump, a short stretch to a soothing playlist, or a protein-packed breakfast that will level out your blood sugar.
But some mornings, That Girl energy could simply look like savoring your coffee in the quiet before everything else—emails, texts, social media—demands your attention. When you move through your morning thoughtfully, everything that follows tends to feel a little more intentional, too.
Listen: Summer Glow-Up Series: How to Transform Your Morning Routine (And How It’ll Change Your Life)
2. Keep small promises to yourself
Maybe it’s going to bed when you said you would instead of letting another Netflix binge turn into midnight, or drinking a glass of water before you reach for your morning coffee. Maybe it’s taking a walk after work before you bed rot into a doomscroll, or making yourself a nourishing dinner rather than resorting to Postmates (again). Every time you keep a promise to yourself, you strengthen self-trust. It’s the follow-through that tells you you can count on yourself; it’s what gets you further. And while we can’t always rely on motivation to do things consistently, even when we know that it’s good for us, self-trust is what keeps you going.
If you need an extra nudge, shift from focusing on what you want to get out of your promise (“I want to be healthier”) to focusing on your future self (“What would she do?” She takes care of herself, even in small ways). When you keep showing up for yourself—no matter how small the commitments—those choices start to add up and form a life that aligns with That Girl, AKA your best self.
3. Make your environment work for you
According to James Clear (the expert in habits and continuous improvement who brought us Atomic Habits), the environment you surround yourself with determines the behaviors you default to. In other words, your surroundings are either propelling you toward That Girl status or holding you back from it. If your phone is within arm’s reach when you wake up, you’ll likely start your morning scrolling. If your pantry is stocked with junk food but your fridge is empty, chances are convenience will win. When you shut your laptop for the day and you don’t have any clean workout clothes, it doesn’t take much to talk yourself out of a workout. That Girl doesn’t depend solely on willpower; she sets herself up for success ahead of time.
“To make good habits easier, reduce the number of steps to do them,” Clear said. “To make bad habits harder, increase the number of steps between you and the habit.” Translation: Make the habits you want to stick with the path of least resistance. Prep produce as soon as you get home from the grocery store so nutrient-dense options are the easiest for you to grab. Charge your phone somewhere out of sight to prevent mindless scrolling, and lay out your workout clothes the night before where you’re sure to see them. It’s one less hurdle between you and the version of yourself you’re trying to become.
4. Move your body because you love it, not because you hate it
That Girl works out as a celebration of what her body can do, not to cancel out something she’s eaten or as a means to “earn” rest. She’s no longer going through the motions of exercises she dreads because they burn the most calories, promise a certain body type, or happen to be what everyone else is doing. Instead, she chooses movement that makes her feel strong, energized, clear-headed, and more in tune with herself.
That could look like daily walks, exercise snacking throughout the day, strength training a few times per week, or a mix of all three. The point isn’t to push yourself to the limit every workout. That Girl listens to her body and knows that fitness doesn’t come from a place of guilt. She approaches movement as something that supports her in her growth, lifting her mood, releasing stress, building confidence, and helping her sleep better—all so she can feel good in her body as it is right now. When exercise isn’t treated as punishment, showing up again and again is a no-brainer.
Listen: Hot Girl Summer: How To (Finally) Love Your Body
5. Live your life more than you consume content about it
There’s so much content out there telling you how to optimize your life. Want to eat more protein? Balance your hormones? Create the perfect morning routine? There’s a TikTok, step-by-step guide, and Amazon recommendation for every wellness dilemma. Somewhere around the original That Girl era, self-improvement stopped being something we actually do and started becoming something we only endlessly consume.
But present-day That Girl is done watching other people make moves while she quietly sits back. As opposed to going down another rabbit hole about the “best” routine, supplement stack, workout split, or productivity hack, she takes action. She picks one area of her life she wants to better and commits to practicing it—without overthinking every detail. Perhaps it’s finally contributing to your 401(k), cooking one more dinner at home during the week, or swapping “how to get your steps in” videos at your desk for an actual walk on your lunch breaks.
Because growth usually happens subtly—in the small, repeated habits, imperfect choices, and willingness to do things before you feel fully ready. So set aside 10 minutes to take one small action: setting up an automatic transfer to your 401(k), grocery shopping with a list, or blocking off 20 minutes in your work calendar to move your body. That’s where That Girl is built—not in the scrolling, but in the doing.
The “That Girl” Daily Non-Negotiables Checklist
Katherine Chang, Wellness Staff Writer
Katherine Chang is The Everygirl’s Wellness Staff Writer with over five years of experience in the health and wellness space. She navigates the latest wellness topics and trends through expert interviews and studies, and she’s always first in line to try them firsthand.
