Clean Girl and That Girl

Effortless or Exhausting

Scroll through Instagram or YouTube shorts (or, let’s be real—Reels), and you’ll see her. Hair in a neat bun, moist and radiant skin glowing in natural light, iced coffee in one hand and a to-do list in the other. She’s the Clean Girl. Or sometimes, she’s That Girl—up at 5 a.m., working out in matching gym wear, sipping smoothies, always one step ahead in life.

These trends have slowly taken over our feeds and our minds. They’ve become a kind of modern-day blueprint for how we should live: minimal, put-together, soft-spoken, high-achieving, but in a peaceful, almost effortless way.

And honestly? It’s tempting. There’s something really appealing about watching someone glide through a perfect morning routine while you’re still in bed scrolling in a faded t-shirt. But the thing is not everyone can live like that. And more importantly, not everyone needs to.

A lot of young people who are juggling college pressure, family expectations, traffic, budget constraints, and noisy homes, these trends can feel more overwhelming than inspiring. So, the question is: Are this aesthetics actually helping our mental health or just adding one more thing to feel bad about?

The Psychological Pull: Why We Crave This Aesthetic

There’s a reason these trends hit different. They aren’t just about fashion or aesthetics—they tap into something deeper: our craving for control, peace, and self-worth in a world that constantly feels overwhelming.

In a culture where we're always chasing the next goal—be it college, a job, personal growth, or just staying sane, this aesthetics offer a kind of visual promise:

“If your life looks like this, maybe you’ll feel better too.”

It’s a soothing fantasy. Everything in place. Mornings that begin with yoga and journaling instead of notifications and chaos. No mess, no noise, no emotional clutter. Just soft light, slow living, and productivity without pressure.

For many youngsters dealing with family expectations, academic burnout, social comparison, and the daily juggle of doing everything right, this aesthetic becomes more than aspirational. It becomes something to chase, to recreate, even if it’s exhausting.

At its core, this trend thrives on the illusion of effortless stability. But let’s be honest there’s nothing effortless about maintaining routines, staying “disciplined,” looking perfect, and being emotionally available… all at once.

Still, we scroll and consume and try to match it. Because it gives us a feeling, however brief, of what we wish life felt like: Balanced. Soft. Safe. In control.

Real Life Is Not a Reel: Embracing Messy

Let’s say it out loud: waking up late is normal. Skipping journaling is normal. Having back-to-back chaotic days with zero “aesthetic” value? Also very normal.

The truth is, real life doesn’t always fit into a routine. It’s unpredictable, uneven, and often messy in ways you can’t filter out or edit. You can try all the tips, drink the smoothies, and still feel low. That doesn’t mean you’re failing, it just means you’re human.

In fact, constantly chasing this perfect, polished version of life can actually leave us more anxious. You start feeling guilty for resting. Lazy for not doing “enough.” Behind for not becoming your best self every morning at 6 a.m.

But here’s what we forget: imperfection isn’t the opposite of growth, it’s part of it. Healing is messy. Progress is slow. Some days you’ll feel on top of the world, and other days you’ll barely reply to texts. That’s okay.

The pressure to be put-together all the time is unrealistic. Especially where you're not just managing yourself but you're often navigating family dynamics, noise, expectations, and emotional labor that never makes it into a “morning routine” vlog.

So instead of chasing perfection, what if we just allowed ourselves to be real?

Maybe sometimes self-care means taking a nap instead of journaling.

Maybe progress means leaving something unfinished.

Maybe the version of you that looks “behind” is actually doing the hard work of just living life—quietly, imperfectly, and fully.

And maybe, that’s more powerful than anything trending on Reels.

So, Where Do We Go From Here?

It’s not wrong to want better routines. Or to find comfort in skincare, slow mornings, and journaling. Aesthetic trends only become harmful when they start deciding your worth or making you feel like you’re never enough unless you look or live a certain way.

The Clean Girl and That Girl trends aren’t bad. But they’re curated, filtered, and often out of reach for most real people living real lives—especially in a country where rest, space, and privacy are still privileges, not guarantees.

So maybe the goal isn’t to cancel these trends, but to stop chasing them blindly. To take what feels good—and leave what doesn’t. To romanticize your life as it is, not only when it’s camera-ready. To be okay with being that girl who’s figuring it out one imperfect, messy, beautiful day at a time.

Because honestly? You don’t need 5 a.m. workouts and fancy skincare to matter.

You already do.