Get up! Get dressed! Get Going!
Growing up my father always said, “Get up, get dressed, and get going!” He did not believe in sleeping late or pajama days unless you were truly sick. This advice has stood me well over the years, keeping me focused and moving forward during life’s challenges and especially now during a Pandemic. It might not be popular but I would challenge you to get and out of your pajamas!
These days the distance from your bed to your work area is just down the hall. There’s not even a commute. We just roll out of bed and into our workspace in an endless work-from-home days or as my husband says “blursdays” . Another would be time saver these days the feeling that there is no reason to get dressed. Or go through the full-on grooming routine. Shaving, daily showers, – even make up is optional.
A few days of comfort were alright, but now it’s been six-months! You’ve been doing your assignments in your finest lounge-wear, and you never have to fully worry about looking 100% presentable. On a good day, you’re taking an above-the-waist approach with a button-down shirt, blazer, and hair products; every other day, though, you’re living in your pajamas from the couch.
At some point, a hazy, lackadaisical sensation passes over you. You complete the basic tasks for work or toggle between your full-time job and helping your kids with their homework. You don’t feel like moving or putting in anything more than a minimum amount of effort.
NOT DRESSING WELL DECREASES MOTIVATION
Truly though, the “Why bother?” attitude stems from a breakdown of routine. Alarm clocks are just a suggestion as long as you’re up to start working on an assignment, your couch doubles as both a desk and eating area, and on the subject of meals, you’re either grazing on whatever’s in the fridge or living off your weekend meal prep. In short, your once-structured life has no clear demarcations, turning into an extended blur of working and sleeping, with the occasional meal in between.
Getting dressed – and, when I say this, I don’t just mean changing out of your pajama bottoms into a pair of sweats – starts establishing some kind of routine, no matter how insignificant. Studies have shown that putting effort into your appearance directly correlates with your mental and emotional state.
It’s one reason not bathing and changing regularly are signs of depression. Living exclusively in lounge-wear – perhaps the same set you’ve worn for the past three days – is a major downer. Building momentum in a downward spiral, sapping your energy levels, and stealing your motivation.
Instead I would encourage you to put on an outfit you like – and one that makes you feel, and look pulled together – A study in Psychology Today said this even releases neurotransmitters like dopamine, endorphins, and serotonin, improving your mental state.
DOPAMINE DRESSING
A few years ago, an article in The Guardian dubbed this effect ‘dopamine dressing‘: clothing that makes you look good also makes you feel good.
Hanging around in sweats or pajamas ultimately sabotages your day. Mentally, you’re stuck in that ‘just getting up’ state where you need your coffee to get going. Only, three cups later, you’re still in the same place and haven’t made a dent in your workload.
Beyond the enclothed cognition research, a 2012 study found that poorly fitting clothes negatively impact your mental and psychological state. Researchers examined the effects of jeans on women who were already feeling a bit depressed. They grabbed the jeans because they’re relatively low-maintenance, but more than half of all subjects put on a baggy shirt and over 60% avoided their favorite clothing. Ultimately, the cycle perpetuates itself.
IT CREATES A SENSE OF ROUTINE AND NORMALCY
Being stuck in a rut in dumpy clothes only suck away your motivation. Getting dressed up like you’re about to start your day acts as a catalyst for a more productive rhythm – one where you set your alarm, take a shower, put on your clean shirt and slacks, and make a decent breakfast in your kitchen.
Whatever your pre-coronavirus routine was, attempt to stick as closely to it as possible: That means preparing your food in advance, rather than just grazing from the fridge; exercising in the living room or jogging around the block when the streets look relatively empty; and scheduling your work and other activities in certain segments, often with interspersed breaks for standing up and moving. Your clothes, big picture, are the start of feeling like a functional, involved member of society
CLOTHES ARE A FORM OF SELF-CARE
Although some excuse self-care as another reason to buy STUFF, at its core self care is the wellness concept is making yourself feel good by – surprise – doing nice things for yourself. There is no reason to ignore your wardrobe, whether it’s intentionally minimal or filled with the latest trends.
So this is another instance of my father’s wisdom bearing out the test of time. So tomorrow, get up, get dressed and get going!