I Tried the “Save the Day” Trend to Make Me Feel Something Again

I’ll be the first to admit I’m not into TikTok trends. The mere suggestion of taking a shot of bone broth seconds after waking up is enough for me to swear off popular TikTok advice entirely. Plus, who has the energy to do a “5-9 before 9-5?” My day is already filled with so many work assignments that I wouldn’t even have the time to do these trends, let alone shoot and edit a viral video about them.

For these reasons, I decided a long time ago to ignore and scroll past these infamous TikTok trends. That was, at least, until I learned about the “save the day” trend on TikTok.

One day while scrolling through my FYP, I saw this viral video of a content creator talking about how she “saves the day.” She said that if she spends the whole day working, she does one thing that “reclaims the day as her own” — like calling her mom or trying a new recipe.

For me, it didn’t feel impossible to try, plus it seemed like it could reshape my outlook on dull week days. Could saving the day be the key to actually finding a work-life balance?

Saving the day is committing to do one activity, every day, solely for yourself. It’s a way to help you reclaim the day after finishing dull, boring tasks that may have come from work or other responsibilities. Trina Merz started this challenge with friends to make their days more rewarding after long work hours. The viral video has since evolved into a way for anyone to take back their day, whether working a corporate job, being a stay-at-home parent, or attending school.

Saving the day encourages people to carve out moments of personal peace and joy, turning ordinary evenings into special, restorative experiences. Any activity is game here, as long as it allows you to find joy or rejuvenate after even the busiest days. Some examples: surfing, going on a hot girl walk, visiting an old friend, and trying a new restaurant.

Incorporating simple yet meaningful rituals into daily routines can reclaim your time and bring a sense of calm and satisfaction to your daily life. Plus, it’s a chance to treat yourself to a well-deserved moment of tranquility.

As the ultimate TikTok skeptic, I knew I had to try saving the day, so I did during the busiest time of my work week: Monday through Thursday. After work on these days, I usually find myself bed rotting, but I felt influenced to change my routine.