Vanessa Hudgens in Bikini Starts the Weekend Right
![Universal,City,,Ca, ,May,31,,2009:,Actress,Vanessa,Hudgens](https://celebwell.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/08/vanessa-hudgens-shutterstock-2.jpg?quality=82&strip=1&w=640&crop=0%2C0%2C640px%2C360px)
Of course no Instagram reflects real life, but Vanessa Hudgens sure does convincingly look like she knows how to have fun. In her latest post, she's sneaking away with a stereo speaker (which seems to be playing a sitar song) on a grassy lawn, as a friend laughs. The caption? "Don't mind me." How does Hudgens keep it so light? A healthy mental outlook. Read on to see 5 ways Vanessa Hudgens stays in shape—mentally—and the photos that prove she knows how to keep it relaxed—and to get beach-ready yourself, don't miss these essential 30 Best-Ever Celebrity Bikini Photos!
She Speaks Her Mind
"I remember waking up at 27 and that was the first moment where I was like, 'Oh. I am not a kid. I'm not a teenager. I'm an adult and I have responsibilities.' I felt like I had no idea who I was or what I wanted or what I was going after," she told People a few years ago. The upshot? "I'm very grateful for it because then it forced me to reassess who I am and what I believe in, therefore giving me just a better understanding of myself." Now that she's older, "it's so nice feeling free to just speak your mind."
She Shuts Down Negative Self Talk
![](https://celebwell.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/08/vanessa-hudgens-shutterstock-6.jpg?quality=82&strip=all&w=640)
If Vanessa ever has negative self-talk, "I tell myself that it's a valid thought, but it's not one that's going to help me in any way, so I change the conversation that I'm having within myself and have faith that it's going to be OK."
She Knows There's a Mind/Body Connection
![](https://celebwell.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/08/vanessa-hudgens-shutterstock-1.jpg?quality=82&strip=all&w=640)
"Drink a lot of water, and also to take care of your mind. I think a lot of people get really stuck on trying to fix their bodies to be a certain way, but if your mental health isn't at a place where you can love yourself, the whole thing's pointless," she told the Cut.
She Creates Her Own Space
![](https://celebwell.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/08/vanessa-hudgens-shutterstock-3.jpg?quality=82&strip=all&w=640)
At a concert like Coachella, Hudgens says "I love having space and it's hard when you're crammed in with a bunch of people, so I like putting out a tapestry and then setting all my stuff down," she said. "You can claim your space and then can actually have room to dance, which is nice." Think of it as a metaphor.
She Works Hard But Values Family the Most
![](https://celebwell.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/08/vanessa-hudgens-shutterstock-4.jpg?quality=82&strip=all&w=640)
"I mean, I'm tired for sure. I take good care of myself. I know the things that matter the most – I do love my job, but my job isn't everything. My family is – my partner and my friends are the things that keep me grounded," she told People.