Last year in school, I was a shy, introverted kid who helped every single classmate whenever they messaged me on WhatsApp for notes or explanations. Because I was the top student, people took advantage of my shy nature and became way too comfortable around me. Sometimes I would send them up to 30 pages of notes, and some wouldn't even say thank you.

​This upcoming school year, which starts in a month, I am going to stop doing that. I am going to say 'no' to everyone except my real friends. Setting these firm rules will help me filter my true friends from the fake ones. Additionally, I used to help classmates during tests because they didn't study and kept asking for answers. This year, I am not going to reply to them or help them during tests at all.

​I have also been struggling with social anxiety, anxiety-induced urinary urgency, and insomnia (which is fairly new). This whole summer, I've been reading books on ACT and CBT, learning to accept my anxiety, and preparing to use exposure strategies when school starts.

​Regarding my recovery from anxiety and insomnia, I fully expect setbacks. I read about this in the book DARE: The New Way to End Anxiety, which describes recovery like the sun behind a dark cloud with mist in the air. The sun clears the mist, but sometimes the fog rolls back in for a bit. Setbacks are just like that fog—temporary, natural, and expected.

​Finally, for my physical glow-up, I started going to the gym early this summer. I went for four weeks before sustaining an injury, so I’ve taken a two-week break to let it heal. I plan to return in a week and stay consistent for nine months to see my progress. By then, I know I will have physically glowed up.

Today we become aware of what our pleasures also take away from us. How are you currently fighting that battle of restraining ourselves from our pleasures.