⋆｡˚ ⋆୨୧˚ Shoujo Girl Fall ˚୨୧⋆ ˚｡⋆
My motto for the summer was to embrace a Shoujo Girl summer. Now, going into fall, here are some tips I've included into my mindset and routine to embrace the colder season :)
Big thank you to @j3llybee12 , @foreveraozora , and @cuteyyd1a for inspiring me!
.ೃ࿔:･ Everything starts from within
Regardless of how you dress, do your makeup, act, a shoujo girl is a mindset shift.
You wake up early for school/work and it is still dark?
-> Take it slow; start your day under dim light, grateful for the peace in the darkness.
Got some time during lunch or after school?
-> Try taking the scenic route: discover a new square, say hi to a wandering cat, jot down a pretty scene in your notebook, find a building that captivates you, notice people’s interactions in a coffee shop, etc.
Let your hear go on an adventure, big or small, every day; by the end, each day will show you it's magic ༊*·˚
⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆ Each day, try to find something that would be your shoujo moment. Maybe it's a walk in the alley filled with yellows, reds and orange colours ; maybe it's bumping into an old friend, baking a new recipe!
.ೃ࿔:･ Unapologetically yourself
One of the things that comes to mind when thinking of a shoujo manga character is how authentic they are, with zero guilt about it.
Say, you like to dance, play a sport, or have an extracurricular you tend to enjoy. It is OKAY to toss aside the worries like "how unflattering" you look doing XYZ
No, you don't >:(
Release yourself from the shackles of overthinking, about your attire, movement, views or values. Of course, I am not calling you to be rude. I simply advise you not be so self-conscious that you drown in imagined expectations of others ... it serves you no good! And have the strength to stand your ground, show up as your true self in your surroundings.
⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆ Find a way to show up for yourself each day ... no excuses. Want to say no to that hangout and it is within your control? Do it. You haven't gone to your favorite hideaway in a while and need peace today? Go there or discover a new one! Does your body need rest?Binge watch an anime instead of forcing yourself to work when your brain cannot handle it anymore. Bring the hot choco ☕ This action can range form a one second decision to a few hours of break (bonus points for documenting it :))
A shoujo girl is not stagnant, and that’s why we find character growth so endearing as we vicariously live through while watching the main characters navigating girlhood.
When you learn how to appreciate the world, you slowly learn ways to appreciate yourself; in mind, body and soul.
.ೃ࿔:･ Intellectual Curiosity
Get curious, pick up a book you might not have considered, simply for the joy of learning something that tingles your brain. Go to that archery class... idk 🤷♀️
Little life anecdote: I’m nowhere near language arts in my educational or career pursuits, but I picked up a book called “Treasures of Chinese Phraseology,” a fun read. Then one day I chatted with an exchange student in my math class about the subjects he’d chosen for the semester. From different angles (me with Chinese phraseology, him with AI statistics), we had a lovely conversation about how limited AI can be in writing, often tripping over context, jargon, and slang. Yes, it can use big words, but it still hiccups against a real human. (Fight me about it 🫥)
And this is one of many anecdotes of my life where simple curiosity led me down a rabbit hole into a Wonderland of infighting conversations :)
Granted, I learn selfishly and not for others. Please do not learn to show off, but simply to understand further an idea, a field; and, in doing so, you slowly learn more about yourself: your thoughts and ways of being. That's shoujo girl coded af
⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆ It's all about trial and error babyyyy. Keep a running list of things you wish to do as they pop into your head. Pick one to three to try each week (highly encourage for it to be at least a little uncomfortable or new to you)
For example I really wanted to hug an old large tree this fall. Silly? Yes. Well, it was on my bucket list and I did it. Zero shame, zero regrets
☆*: .｡. o(≧▽≦)o .｡.:*☆
.ೃ࿔:･ Body Movement and Community
Now that school year has started it is time to join some sort of club/ community or group get your body moving and your social side flowing!
I think as we go into fall it is easy to start hibernating. I am not saying you should punish yourself for skipping a workout, but instead find new ways that can be equally motivating to move around. Be it getting your steps while picking apples at an orchard, going to a street market, doing yoga outdoors with friends... the list is infinite
A shoujo girl is always on the lookout for an adventure, be it by herself or with some friends
⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆ Build a movement and a social activity into your weekly routine. Been slacking on catching up with your long distance friends? How about messaging the chat to do a walk and talk where you all go outside and catch up on life? You've been struggling to do your cardio lately? How about just doing a 10 min yoga in the morning instead. Options are infinite
Even if you don’t judge a book by its cover, an on-brand look helps romanticize life and sustain motivation ~
While I personally love some ruffles, pastel colors and cute outfits on others, it, at times, isn't always my style. Hence, I encourage you to dress for how you want to show up in the world. Office casual? Sure thing. More into gothic aesthetic? Do your thing :) Learn what your personal uniform looks like.
For me, it is usually a fitted long sleeve or a light floral blouse with a flowy elegant skirt and bow clips.
You don't think you've yet discovered your uniform? Use this fall to rediscover your closet, what suits you, what makes you feel good. It’s about taking time to learn yourself not through hypothetical Pinterest boards and impulse purchases, but by mixing and matching what you already own, wearing it, then reflecting on how it made you feel!
⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆ Find your personal uniform! Each time you wear a newly created outfit, reflect whether you appreciate all the pieces together, separately, how they made you feel and what would make you want to wear it again? What do you default to?
.ೃ࿔:･ Skincare is Your Business Card
In this day and age, it is so tempting to purchase a millions of skincare and beauty products. Every other brand promises porcelain skin, curing your acne etc.
I want you to reflect what has worked for you in the past, financially, and time-wise. Stick to it! We are so used to chasing the next shiny thing forgetting that too many products can do more harm than good, especially without professional guidance.
If you are tempted to elevate your skincare, I highly encourage you to add one product at a time and give it a one to two month test period before introducing any new product (if it is a daily/ weekly use item). Also work with your schedule, not against it! I don't have time for daily serums and gua sha massages so I do not purchase items of that category hoping I will change my ways. My routine is simple: wash my face, use toner and a hydrating gel each morning; wash, toner, and hydrating gel at night. Nothing more, nothing less.
If you are lost where to start in terms of skincare here is how i slowly in a years worth of time found mine:
1. Cleanser
2. Cream
3. Toner
4. A targeted item for your main concern (hydration cream for dry skin, brightening serum, or acne gel)
5. Non daily items like clay, gel or sheet masks, scrubs
6. Specialty items like lip scrub, eye patches, under eye cream
With trial and error it may take you between six to sixteen months to figure out what works. Please do not rush it!
The Roman empire was not built in a day so neither will your clear skin. Ease into it and be patient
⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆ Stick to your skincare/ beauty routine if it works, honor your body with consistency, not constant experimentation. And if you have not figured it out yet, take it one step at a time and commit to what you can!
Romance is hard to experience when you’re running on empty. Nourishment is not just about calories, it’s about creating rituals of care for your body. A shoujo girl knows that what she consumes fuels both her inner world and her outer glow.
That doesn’t mean a rigid “perfect diet.” It can be as simple as:
◍ brewing a warm miso soup after a long day
◍ treating yourself to a fruit that reminds you of childhood
◍ or carrying a thermos of spiced tea to sip while walking through crisp autumn air
Food is memory, grounding, and energy. When you approach meals not with guilt, but with gratitude, you cultivate the same softness and attentiveness that makes shoujo heroines shine. Eat in a way that respects your needs and your rhythm...sometimes that’s a hearty stew, sometimes that’s cocoa and cookies with friends. Both can be shoujo-coded if they bring comfort and connection.
⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆ Try to honor your body each day with something that feels good to consume; whether nourishing, soothing, or joyful. Set an intention on three to five meals of your week and reflect how they make you feel.
At the end of the day, being a “Shoujo Girl” isn’t about matching some perfect template. It’s about choosing to see and create beauty in the small moments, to grow with curiosity, and to show up authentically in both your inner and outer life.
Let autumn be your story arc of transformation: the season where you experiment, rest, reconnect, and romanticize the ordinary. Just like in every manga, it’s the combination of tiny everyday panels that makes the whole story worth reading.
