Dear Bestie

I know I haven’t been posting much lately this break was a mix of up and a lotttt of down , i didn’t study the way I wanted to. I’ve been feeling a bit burnt out, and after reflecting this weekend, I realized I’m still recovering from last year’s burnout like junior year drained my ahh off omg . Still, 2025 has been my best year so far way better than 2024. I’ve achieved around 97% of my goals, and I’m proud of that. I hope you’re proud of your progress too, no matter how small. These past months were messy yk school drama, distractions, people draining my ENERGY OH MY GOD , but I stayed consistent with my 100 Productivity Challenge, especially with my habits and nutrition. Now that we’re deep into the school year (and since I’m in 12th grade), I keep hearing the same thing from people already in college "senior year goes by so fast" and it's true exams are already around the corner and the year is flying by . So whether you feel lost or behind, I just want to remind u : if you still care about your goals from January don’t lose hope this season isn’t over yet. Consider this the start of ur great lock in , a fresh chapter to reset and refocus !! good luck sweatheeaaart 🧁 .

1.be disciplined about your rest days.

I know people always say “u have to push yourself before the new year,grind non-stop,” and yes ofc effort matters. But before anything, you need structure, and that includes structured rest. Choose two days a week just for yourself for example, Wednesday and Sunday and treat them as sacred days of self-care . Pamper yourself by doing the things that make you feel calm and recharged : sleep well , reflect , write down what you want for your life , take care of your skin, do a face mask, read something that nourishes your mind, or simply go out. I personally recommend exploring new places a cozy café, a small bakery, a dessert shop you’ve never tried , go to a park, let yourself breathe and be happy. Because once u become disciplined about your rest, everything else like productivity, consistency, confidence starts to be less stressful.

2.pick things that will make you feel good about yourself before closing the year

look back at the year is there something you wanted to do but never started ? Something small or big that would make you proud if you finally did it . Pick 1-3 goals ! It could be working out, journaling, waking up early, doing ur skincare everyday or even just dedicating time to study consistently. The point isn’t to overhaul your life in a month, but to take these 2 or 3 goals or habits you’ve been putting off and start working on it. Do it smartly, in a way that’s sustainable. For example, if it’s working out, try one morning session. If it’s journaling, reflect once a day . This is about building momentum starting a habit now means you enter 2026 already making progress on the goals you set in January 2025 ! Focus on that one step , that small push is what makes all the difference. (You can add more if you want it all depends on you and your capacity to handle it)

3. work on ur flaws

I’ve done this many times this year, and it truly helps ! so Instead of only focusing on your "positive" affirmations, take time to face the parts of your life that you’re unhappy with. While everyone talks about “wishing big” or “locking in” before the new year which is great energy like at least ppl can think and say "yes I think I need to give myself a chance and change !" , by the way don’t just copy what others are doing let their motivation inspire you but make sure your goals are your own. If you feel stuck or miserable, grab a notebook and write your current reality exactly as it is don’t sugarcoat it and be honest “My room is always messy. I haven’t been consistent with workouts. I keep procrastinating. I’m not disciplined. I feel sad or disconnected.” Write it all down a full paragraph describing how things are right now. Then, look at each point and choose one to start working against. For example, if you wrote, “I skipped workouts for four months,” begin by moving just five minutes a day stretch, walk, do something small slowly increase it: 10 minutes, then 30. Over time, those small steps build real change by 15 day . The same goes for every habit or goal you’ve neglected. Once you clearly see your flaws, you’ll understand what’s holding you back and from there, you’ll know exactly how to move forward and fight against them.

4 . learn to do things without constant noise

Yeah a lot of u y'all will come to me after this , I know everyone says “romanticize your life and stimulation !! is a live saver” and sure that’s fine but not all the time . u can go out and buy a 40$ candle , sip your strawberry 23$ matcha, and make your desk look cute and buy 10 planners watch 40 reels about studying ... , I love that energy too. But some of you have turned stimulation and romanticizing into a full-time excuse for avoiding silence and that’s where you’re wrong. u reallllyyy don’t need a playlist to clean your room , u don’t need to blast music to get through a normal 20-minute workout u realllly can wear that outfit without asking for a fake opinion. Try doing these things without background noise no music, no scrolling , no opinion in your ear . Some of you might say, “These are just normal tasks, it’s fine to use noise for them.” But think about it if you can train yourself to do even the small, everyday tasks in silence and with focus, the bigger tasks will feel much easier. Your daily habits become practice for real discipline. It’ll feel weird at first but that’s exactly how you start building real focus ! People love to say, “Oh I need noise to stay motivated.” No ur brain don't u will create a fog in ur brain , u’re just addicted to stimulation cuz that constant need for sound is your brain begging for easy dopamine and It’s the reason you can’t stay focused for more than 10 minutes. You can still romanticize your life but learn to do it in silence too cuz not everyday is an easy day u need discipline . Not every moment has to be perfectly aesthetic sometimes discipline is the aesthetic sometimes the real “main character energy” is doing your work without needing music, validation, or motivation ! one cup of coffee and a countdown timer is enough girl . Because the real satisfaction the long-term dopamine, doesn’t come from starting in style or setting the “perfect vibe.” It comes from finishing what you’ve been avoiding that task you’ve been putting off : writing your notes, reviewing that lesson that’s where the real reward lies. Think about it like back in January, you set a goal u wanted to come home and study consistently but you didn’t for the whole last school year . Maybe you kept saying, “I need my matcha first, I need to light my candle, I need the perfect highlighter set.” And yes u did all of that… but you didn’t study for a straight 14 minutes u keep checking ur phone u keep daydreaming . That’s frustrating, and you feel that regret but don’t let it stop you. Now, with the new school year and this pre-2026 lock-in energy use that hope and that regret to fuel yourself. Sit at your desk. , open your lesson , start writing your notes. u don’t need music, you don’t need aesthetics, you don’t need distractions a cup of something and start ! One hour session at a time and the intention to finally make that progress cuz u feel bad and u want to change and make a progress in this goal .

That’s the difference between fake motivation and real growth. the feeling of accomplishment after completing the task that’s the dopamine that sticks it's the momentum that carries you forward into 2026 cuz the task will end anyway the workout will end anyway the study session will end anyway why not doing without distraction ?

5. be grateful

This is especially for those of you who set big goals in January : working out every day, journaling, studying, or whatever else you promised yourself. By October or November, it’s easy to feel sad when you see other people achieving their goals while you feel like you’ve done nothing. That first burst of January motivation may feel like it’s long gone, and you might think the year is already wasted.vBut yk you can always start again. You can end the year feeling proud, even if you’ve been off-track for months. It doesn’t mean pushing yourself to exhaustion I’m not saying you need to do everything at once. It’s about using that feeling of regret as fuel n let it remind you that you can take action. If you really commit to the next two months following these tips and specifically confronting your flaws you can close 2025 happily. You’ll feel at least 60% ready for 2026. You don’t need to wait for January to start building your dream ! and yes, it’s okay to feel that twinge of sadness when comparing yourself to others. That feeling is valid but shift your mindset: it’s your journey, your growth focus on what you can do now. Two months of intentional work now is far more powerful than waiting and regretting the last two, four, or twelve months u can be better the you from the last 10 months .

Today, I’m choosing to walk—not run, not hide, but walk—into my grief.

These feet were made for walking, and today, they walk with purpose. Not away from the pain. Not around the ache. But straight into it—with open arms and a heart that dares to stay soft.

Yes, I am walking into my grief with a positive attitude. Not because it’s easy, and not because the tears have dried up. But because I’ve learned that running from it only delays the inevitable. Grief doesn’t disappear. It waits. And when I face it, I get to experience the quiet gift it holds: proof that I have loved deeply.

It has been nearly eight months since I lost Scott. And let me tell you, I do not miss him any less than I did on day one. His name still echoes in my thoughts, still stirs something deep within me. There are days when just breathing feels like remembering him.

But today, I let grief walk beside me. I let the memories wash over me. I let the tears fall. I let my heart swell with the blessing of what once was.

Because this pain—this ache—is sacred. It reminds me that I had a great love. And not everyone gets to say that.

So I won’t curse the grief. I won’t silence the memories. I will walk through it. I will embrace it. I will honor it. And with every step, I will be reminded: these feet still move.

And that is a victory in itself.

— In loving memory of Scott. For all who walk this path: you are not alone. 💛

I turn 23 this year - here's some things I wish I could go back in time and tell my 15-16 year old self. 🤍

Whatever you do, please don't neglect yourself. Do not skip washing your face and brushing your teeth some mornings. I know there was some days where you'd rather stay in bed and not face the world, I get it. But you matter so much more than you think. You deserve to exist and experience all the joys this world has to offer. You deserve to feel energized and loved. So please take just a small moment to care for your body. It'll be your home for however long you're on this earth. It deserves to be cared for.

Make physical activity a habit. Even if it's just as simple as walking up and down your street, taking 10 minutes to do a few jumping jacks or light yoga, just make it a habit to move. You will feel so accomplished, energized and confident.

Girl, get that license! Just get it out the way, pleaseee. Not only will being able to drive open so many doors for you, but you won't have to stress about it in your twenties. You will feel so much more independent and just overall proud of yourself.

Add, don't subtract. Instead of trying to make drastic, super unrealistic changes to your diet and trying to cut everything off in one day, try adding more fruits and veggies to every plate. Or choosing the lower cal option of something you were really craving and use smaller plates/bowls. It's all about balance. But also, if you did have a "bad food day," don't beat yourself up like it was the end of the world. You can always try again.

And lastly, log tf out and turn that phone off. Social media was fun growing up, but it also became an unhealthy cycle of comparison. I'd pick myself apart over every little thing I saw on my feed, and it would wreck my mental health. I still struggle til this day, but I wish I could tell my younger self: those people weren’t perfect—so why was I making my whole identity chasing perfection? Your worth isn’t tied to your body, health, money, or where you live. Be your own best friend. I'd tell her to compare yourself only to who you were yesterday. To choose compassion over self-criticism.

- light multiple candles (non toxic/beeswax)

- put on calming frequency music (528 Hz)

- dry brush and gua sha with oil

- take an everything shower and use all your best products

- blowout your hair so it’s nice for days

- apply a super hydrating lotion

- make yourself a cup of chamomile tea

- write for 10-15 minutes in a beautiful journal

- browse pinterest for inspiration

- put your phone away for the night

- put on your favorite show and have your favorite snack

- red light therapy for 30 minutes

- magnesium spray