Experiment 6
How To Appear as if You're Not Trying

**Disclaimer: From what I have gathered from the culture I am surrounded by, the term 'trying' is in reference to trying to shed yourself in a certain light. My guide is how to show people how to appear as if they are not trying hard to portray themselves a certain way, when they are actually completely contradicting themselves by attempting to make it look like they are not 'trying.' I'm hoping this makes sense, I'm going for a bit of irony here. :)

First, re-evaluate where you shop. Ditch the statement necklaces bought at the mall, instead opt for a retro piece of jewelry you found on Etsy.com. Scour thrift shops for vintage skirts to wear paired with your American Apparel crop top. Generally you would want to steer clear of name-brands, but American Apparel’s clothing is plain enough to be an exception to the rule. You can also shop at places like Urban Outfitters and PacSun but be very cautious--there are clothes in both of these stores that give off the impression that you are trying to make yourself look a certain way. Some will go so far as to boycott these sorts of stores; I’ve come to learn that when these people say the prices are too steep, they really mean that the trendy aspect is much too high for their liking.
Liking too obscure of bands is trying too hard, while liking what is on the radio is succumbing to modern society; another fish in the stream some may scornfully say. Liking a wide variety of music from all different types of genres is always a safe bet. You can never go wrong with a combination of old Fall Out Boy, Dion & The Belmonts, The Replacements, and 90’s Dr. Dre.
Not keeping up with your physical appearance can look as if you’re trying too hard to achieve a look similar to that of a hippie. Trying too hard is too obvious a sign of excessively caring about your appearance. Meet in the middle: put on minimal makeup, but enough to brighten your features. As quoted from Say Anything, “I spend hours in front of the mirror, making my hair elegantly disheveled.” That should be your mantra in regards to the appearance of your hair, and if you do curl or straighten it, make it look as if you barely spent any time on it at all.
Social media is treacherous, balancing between trying and not trying is an acquired skill. You don’t want to never update your accounts, or you could portray yourself as boring. Posting should work out well for you, as long as you follow simple etiquette. The key is your ability to be witty; showing too much of your personal life or bragging about activities you have partook in throws off everything you are striving for. Incorporate humor into your relatability aspect, and you’ll be golden. Consider investing time into researching which white borders app you should download to further enhance your Instagram photos. However, avoid picture collages--they are most definitely a sign of conformity.
You should have political opinions, so as not to appear ignorant. That being said, if political discussions get too heated, be sure not to get fired up. It’s crucial to portray a ‘go with the flow’ attitude at all times. If someone disagrees with your opinion, simply reply with “Oh yeah, I don’t know, it’s whatever.”