To be honest, I’m not interested in TikTok trends. The suggestion to drink bone broth seconds after waking up is enough to make me completely ignore the popular advice on TikTok. Besides, who has the energy to do a “9 to 5”? My day is already so full of work that I don’t even have time to work on these trends, much less film and edit a viral video about them.
For these reasons, I had long ago decided to ignore and scroll past these infamous TikTok trends, at least that was the case until I discovered the TikTok “Save the day” trend.
One day, I was scrolling through FYP and came across a trending video where a content creator talks about how she ‘saves the day.’ She says that if she’s been working all day, she’ll do one thing to ‘make the day her own,’ like calling her mom or trying a new recipe.
To me, it didn’t seem like an impossible challenge and it seemed like it would change my perspective on a boring weekday. Could saving the day actually be the key to finding work-life balance?
What does “savior” mean?
Saving is about doing one activity every day just for yourself. This helps you reclaim your day after completing the tedious and mundane tasks that come from work and other responsibilities. Trina Mertz started this challenge with her friends to make her day more meaningful after a long workday. The viral video has since evolved into a way for anyone to reclaim their day, whether they work in a corporate job, are a stay-at-home mom, or go to school.
Saving encourages people to carve out moments of personal peace and joy, turning an ordinary evening into a special, invigorating experience. Any activity is game here, as long as it helps you find joy or recharge after the busiest of days. Some examples: surfing, a hot girl walk, visiting old friends, trying new restaurants.
Incorporating simple yet meaningful rituals into your daily routine can help you reclaim time and bring a sense of calm and contentment into your life. Plus, it’s an opportunity to give yourself a well-deserved moment of stillness.
How I saved the day
Being the ultimate TikTok skeptic, I knew I had to do something to save the situation, so I did it during my busiest hours at work, Monday through Thursday, when I’d usually be rotting in bed after work, prompting me to change up my routine.
On Monday, I decided to start by leveling up my workout routine. I usually run to Taylor Swift’s album “Reputation,” but it’s become so routine that my running distance feels as repetitive as my workday. So I purposefully picked a workout class I could look forward to; one that would feel as fresh as the week ahead.
Meanwhile, I took my first group fitness class at a barre studio. Poetically speaking, it was hard work. During a mat pilates class, I overheard the girl next to me say, “You’re masochistic for taking this class.” My legs and abs agreed.
But the sense of happiness I felt after class was something I hadn’t felt in a long time. Maybe it had something to do with the sun setting as I walked outside the class, or the feeling of triumph for trying something new, or not being able to check my work email for an hour while I was in the studio. Whatever it was, I’d finished my first day saving the day and was even more excited.
After getting some exercise, I decided to take a break from work on Tuesday to keep my mind busy. Since a lot of my job involves reading and writing, I often don’t have enough free time to do so. So I took a book outside (The Rachel Affair by Caroline O’Donoghue, highly recommended) and read. I soaked up the sunshine and lost myself in the story.
Then I decided to try writing a little bit, just like I did as a kid. I pulled up a chair in my family’s computer lab, opened Word, and wrote an original story in 18-point font. I felt like I was connecting with my younger self. I felt the most in tune with my childhood since I was 11, and it felt great.
By Wednesday, I wanted to make time to do one more SNSD connection: call my childhood best friend, Sarah. Instead of mindlessly scrolling through Instagram or TikTok before bed, I called her number. There was no big news or big gossip about anyone back home. We just caught up, just like we did when we were younger, with no particular reason for being on the phone. By the end of our conversation, I found myself feeling fulfilled in a way that no amount of scrolling through social media feeds could ever recreate.
After figuratively feeding my soul, I decided to nourish myself with a home-cooked meal on Thursday. I wanted cacio e pepe and an Aperol Spritz. I mixed some champagne and Campari with orange slices and sipped it slowly while frying some bucatini in a skillet. I did this planned and uninterrupted, allowing me to focus fully.
My best friend, who knew about the experiment, texted me a photo of the finished product with the caption, “Three words: Saved!” She replied, “Three words: Save some for me, too.”
What I learned from a close call week
After saving a day during the work week, I discovered the magic of not getting consumed by work. Immersing myself in a hobby makes me feel truly like myself and incredibly energized. I found this feeling to be addictive and definitely worth continuing.
Since saving the day, I’ve come to appreciate the power of small, intentional behavioral changes to help me reclaim my time and shift the way I think about work-life balance. What started as a skeptical investigation of TikTok trends has evolved into a deeper appreciation for the importance of prioritizing moments of joy and self-care.
Unlike some of the baseless health tips and get-rich-quick schemes I scroll through online, I can honestly say that it’s worth a try to save the day. Maybe I’m a TikTok trend follower after all.
Morgan Sullivan is a Philadelphia-based freelance writer covering everything from health and relationships to fashion and beauty. Her work has also appeared in The Cut, Teen Vogue, Cosmopolitan, and more.
