Why should I even get dressed right now?

I think all of us this year have felt at some point like it’s not worth it to get ready for the day. A lot of people experienced working at home for the first time or just being at home more in general… and so I think we all went through a slump of PJs-all-day, no makeup, hair in a bun, etc. But if we don’t break out of that eventually, it can do some serious damage to our motivation and life outlook. So I want to be your personal Edna Mode for a second and just say, "Pull yourself togetha!"

My 4 reasons why getting ready every day still matters:

It’s a mood lifter.

When you’re just in your home, dressing for your day can lift your mood and make you feel more prepared. It’s just like the psychology behind making your bed; it can be a small way you tell yourself that you’ve got this.

Instead of staying in PJs (or sweats, or any combination thereof), pick out a pair of pants that are still comfortable. Match it with a cute top and some shoes that elevate your knees while sitting down at a desk. You can skip the makeup if you like, but a bonus is to spritz on perfume. You’ll be aware that you got ready for the day and that you smell amazing.

This is the magic to making work-from-home work for you. A 2012 study called this "enclothed cognition," where clothing such as a lab coat can be connected to a new outlook such as feeling more intelligent. The study noted that wearing specific pieces of clothing can influence a person’s psychological well being.

Style is more noticeable than ever before.

For those wearing masks when you go out, you’ll be showing less of your facial expressions and your makeup. Your outfit will speak more toward your self expression than ever before. And while I’ve kept my distance, I feel more bonded with strangers and friends because clothing can be a conversation piece (albeit a muffled one).

Use this time to find your personal style.

If you're spending less time with coworkers or people you know, this can be a great season to find your personal style without feeling any judgment. You can figure out which styles of clothing work for you and find your personal self expression, or just figure out how clothing can fit your frame properly.

Take photos of yourself in the clothes you already own, and reassess what matches YOU while dressing for YOURSELF. If you feel comfortable enough in wearing something around your house, then you’ll hardly notice that you’re wearing it out in public.

BTW- I did this personally. I wanted to figure out my personal style, so I posted a photo of my outfit every day. Even if I would have kept those photos just for reference on my phone, it gave me self awareness and dedicated time to assess how I want to dress myself.

You might still see another human being.

IDK about you, but I hate being caught wearing my PJs past noon. Instead, part of why I get dressed is:

1. to keep my marriage hot! (I went there, folks)
2. to be that chic neighbor next door walking to the mailbox (it's the new catwalk)
3. to wave hi to the food delivery person (the hero of 2020)

These interactions still mean something, and getting dressed is a form of manners. As life gets more push-button-easy and we come in contact with fewer people, I hope that we don’t drift into apathy of just existing half asleep still wearing our sweats all day. What if instead we paid this attention to ourselves? How would that self respect ripple through our community and push into a healthier outlook?

My dream is this: fight the drift, squeeze every ounce of joy and fulfillment out of this life, and be ready for your day with a renewed sense of energy and confidence. And it all starts with getting ready in the morning.

xo, Bethany