Who’s “That Lady”? Should you’re on TikTok and Instagram, you will have probably seen some iteration of the stylish aesthetic, however if you happen to’re not acquainted, it’s best to know that “That Lady” is nobody particular person, however the embodiment of an aspirational social media pattern and life-style aesthetic.     

Traits of That Lady embrace a clear and sober life-style that entails waking up at 5 or 6AM to get in a exercise, meditate, journal, and devour a inexperienced juice, and loads of beautifully-curated productiveness vlogs with social media footage of the entire above. (Different variations drink sizzling water with lemon each morning, smoothie in hand and clay face masks on.) After all, at Fitbit, we’re the primary to level out that there’s nothing inherently mistaken with having a morning routine like this if it really works for you. It’s extremely motivating for a lot of. 

What could make this seemingly healthful pattern problematic is that it most frequently promotes this sort of life-style with no room for straying from the routine. Well being and wellness right now are about a lot greater than checking off actions like these, by rote, out of your to-do record. 

And if you happen to’re maintaining a healthy diet meals, getting sufficient Zzz’s, and understanding often, who’s to say that anybody side of your routine—like the flexibility to abide by an early morning wakeup name—is completely indicative of your state of non-public well-being, anyway?  

Plus, That Lady is usually portrayed by an individual of a sure race, class, and physique sort. She’s white, rich, and slender, what remains to be thought-about “conventionally enticing” in most wellness circles—for instance, in your weekly yoga class. It’s not very inclusive when you think about all of the several types of individuals who pursue well being and wellness—and who should really feel welcome in stated yoga class.

In our month-to-month content material sequence on the Fitbit weblog, Meet the Trailblazers, we try to place a highlight on the work of POC wellness and health creators who don’t match the standard mould, and who’re making waves of their communities so as to level out that we shouldn’t have to slot in to stated mould so as to pursue our personal sense of well-being in right now’s world. 

When requested if there’s a sure wellness pattern she’d put behind her, Les Alfred of Balanced Black Lady shared that she’d cast off “the concept wellness has a singular look or aesthetic. The journey to being nicely can feel and appear so many various methods, and tying a singular aesthetic to what it means to pursue wellness is exclusionary and limiting.” 

So how are you going to keep away from the pitfalls of this pattern? 

Keep in mind that wellness is subjective. The wellness trade of right now’s world is filled with unrealistic requirements, and the That Lady aesthetic is one other offshoot of that.

That stated, the pattern is interesting for a cause. (The TikTok hashtag alone at present has a whopping 7 billion views.) Many do certainly see That Lady’s life-style as aspirational and motivating. Should you’ve modified your individual life-style to include more healthy habits—whether or not it’s in a bodily sense, your psychological well being, or throughout the board—otherwise you merely need to, that’s undeniably inspiring. It makes it laborious to disclaim the siren name of turning into That Lady, and the mindset that you simply’ll be main a happier and extra fulfilling life due to it. 

However is it actual? Is it an on a regular basis follow? Or is “she” posting it as a part of a productiveness vlog sequence for a couple of weeks, after which returning to her regular routine, no matter that will entail? Social media shouldn’t be actual life, so we will’t all the time know what’s behind the display. However what we will remind ourselves is that this: What works for one particular person could not work for others, and vice versa. If it really works for you, that issues. But when it doesn’t, that’s OK too. 

Both manner, it’s vital to do not forget that reaching your “full potential” in terms of wellness will imply one thing totally different for everybody. There’s no laborious and quick rule that you simply want to develop into That Lady, and that if anybody side of her routine isn’t met, your individual potential for wellness received’t be, both. 

Relaxation is essential. Self-care additionally means one thing totally different to everybody, however most of us can agree that relaxation is an important a part of it. Doctor, researcher, and writer Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith shared in a well-known 2019 TEDx Speak that there are 7 several types of relaxation we’d like: bodily, psychological, sensory, inventive, emotional, social, and non secular. 

On the subject of bodily relaxation, if you happen to’re accustomed to Fitbit’s Day by day Readiness Rating you already know it may well assist break down why on some days, you get up prepared for a difficult exercise—and on others, you want extra time for restoration. Chances are you’ll not discover That Lady’s 5AM alarm as motivating on a relaxation day. 

It’s one factor to push via sensations of tiredness on occasion, however one other if we’re continually pushing ourselves to realize with out getting an enough quantity of relaxation, each within the bodily sense and throughout the remaining pillars. 

Doing so often is when the danger of burnout turns into a actuality, and most of us are already accustomed to simply how excessive ranges of stress and burnout have prolonged right now.  

Progress, not perfectionism. Once more, the journey of self-improvement is de facto an admirable one, however not solely that—for many individuals it’s a lifelong pursuit. With that in thoughts, it’s vital to do not forget that it’s not, or no less than shouldn’t be, about perfectionism. We are able to get so caught up in competitors with ourselves, in attempting to make ourselves higher than we have been yesterday, that we neglect to rejoice our wins. 

The concept right here is that it’s about progress, not perfection—you’re sufficient as you’re, even whereas pursuing who you need to be. And that stands, whether or not you are feeling motivated to develop into “That Lady” or not.