This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at LMU chapter.

After countless hours scrolling through motivational TikToks about how to live your life to the fullest, we did some more research about how exactly we can apply these tips to our lives. A lot of time it’s difficult to believe influencers’, whose advice can be hard to apply to our ‘regular people lives’ – as we see ourselves at different starting points. This is valid thinking, given that we are all unique individuals with different backgrounds, passions, experiences, etc. However, we’ve compiled a list of simple, but incredibly effective must-have mindsets and actions that can benefit anyone. And we really mean anyone.

Let’s not underestimate the mind-body connection. If we are gonna be living our best lives in the real world, it all stems from our minds and our intentions. Remember though, we can’t forget the body and all the amazing things it can do for us, as well as what we can do for it.

HYDRATE

We need water to survive, but so many people think it’s cute or quirky to barely drink any water and to just survive on iced coffee or Dr. Pepper. Absolutely not. Unacceptable. Your first step is to frequently hydrate your body with some cool, clean, crisp water. There are so many benefits to drinking water from maintaining body functions to skincare to boosting your energy. I apologize for yelling but…DRINK THAT WATER!

MEDITATE

Meditation comes in so many forms. From sitting down and actively turning on a guided meditation from youtube to just embracing a moment of stillness, there are so many ways we can actively meditate to help transcend into an elite mental state. Guided meditation is one of the best ways to connect with ourselves on a spiritual level because someone is leading you through the process and guiding your breath and visualizations. Youtube offers many free meditation videos recorded by a variety of gurus with different voices, music, and goals of the meditation (i.e. stress relief, manifestation, chakra alignment, etc.).

Other meditation activities include just sitting outside and listening to the sounds of nature. This activity falls under the umbrella of mindfulness meditation. Mindfulness encourages you to be still and closely tune into all the sensations around you and the thoughts that cross your mind. You allow all this energy to flow through and around you without any judgment and just focus on being present in that moment.

Journaling is another great form of meditation since you are actively putting thought to pen to paper. While actively focusing on your breath and sitting in a calm environment, you have the opportunity to connect with yourself and reflect on your life and choices. From there, you can write where you are and how you would like to grow that day, week, month, etc. It’s a great exercise for centering yourself and creating a path.

MOVE

Get your blood flowing by moving every day. This doesn’t mean you have to do an hour-long workout every day, which is extremely beneficial but not necessary. If you find yourself lying in bed for hours, get up and walk around your house, up and down some stairs, walk outside for some fresh air, maybe even have a dance party in your room to some throwbacks! Speaking of dancing, practice fire dance moves in the mirror so when the pandemic is over, you can rock out with your besties and get those endorphins up! Our bodies are amazing and can do so much. Take care of your body and give it the movement and stretching it needs to thrive and it will reward you with a clear and positive mind.

I AM SUNSHINE. I AM LIGHT.

Such a small tip, but getting some sunlight every day or if it’s cloudy, just stepping outside of your home can do wonders for your wellbeing. Put on your sunscreen and look up at the sky, close your eyes, and just let your skin feel the sun’s warmth and soak up all that Vitamin D. Take some deep breaths, center yourself, and really visualize that warm feeling as a big ball of light that takes over your body. Every time I do this, the weight on my shoulders lifts and I feel happy and free.

DISCOVER

Learn as much as you can about the world. Start off by making a list of things that make you geek out, get your heart racing in the best way, even stumble over your words because you just can’t get the words out fast enough. Then make a separate list of your curiosities. Write down questions/concepts you may not know much about yet, but want to explore more. Maybe you really want to start your own business but don’t know where to start. That’s great! Write it down. After you’ve made your lists, start learning as much as you can through books, podcasts, documentaries, lesson series, mentors, etc. There is nothing more attractive and powerful than a woman with a mind. We want to share interesting insights with those around us, but we always want to make sure that what we say is backed up by credible sources so we don’t spread misinformation. In turn, this practice will then build up your own credibility (on the topics from your list that you’ve actively educated yourself about) and people will trust your opinions and insights because they know you’ve done your research.

MY WORLD

What is your ideal world? Who is someone you admire? Who is the person you want to be? Before becoming the main character, you first have to build your character. Are you funny? Are you kind? Are you adventurous? Do you want to be those things and if so, how will you acquire these qualities? Will you make it a goal to try something new every day? Regardless of who your ideal self is, what we are not going to do is take opinions and criticism from people who we wouldn’t go to for advice. (Although, it is important to note to be mindful of others’ feelings and modify our behaviors if they yielded adverse effects on a person or larger group of people). This is your life, your movie, and your happiness. As you work on yourself and your character, you will realize what makes you excited, angry, sad, etc., and will be able to establish boundaries for yourself. You will become secure in who you are as a person and that energy will radiate to those around you because they know they can’t tamper with your values. If your personalities or vibes just don’t mesh well, that’s no problem, you’ll just move on. No need to dwell and plague your mind with doubts about yourself. You are living in your world and if someone doesn’t add value to it, you don’t have to stress yourself over them. Let them go and keep on thriving.

I LOVE ME. I VALUE ME.

This the most important mantra you must repeat to yourself every single day. People often say, “oh, you just need to be more confident”, but how do we just go about that if we have been stuck in a cycle of doubt and anxiety? It’s hard. Some days are harder than others. You might feel like you’re lying to yourself. But put those thoughts aside because the more you whole-heartedly say “I love me. I value me”, the more you believe it. You love who you are, down to the tiniest imperfection. You love and appreciate your life and everything you have to offer. You value your time. You value your intelligence. You value your time. Soon enough, you will have internalized these words. Your character, your posture, your speech, your whole person will reflect your elevated self-esteem and inspiring self-love.

Your confidence is a product of how you nourish your mind and body. When you apply these golden nuggets to your life, you will find people will be drawn to your captivating energy. They will recognize the power that you’ve accessed and just how electric you really are. And the best part, their approval won’t matter to you because you’re content just doing your thing. You’re living your best life regardless of what anyone else thinks. You are a happy, hydrated hottie. You are the main character.

It’s 2021, beautiful queens. Take control of your life and embrace your majesty.

Be the Main Character and Live Your Best Life