The Big Sis Recharge - Dressing Up

The first thing to go when I’m overwhelmed? Getting dressed up!

Skipping my skincare routine, going without makeup, not trying new hairstyles (and if you know me, you know I have to switch up my hair). Sometimes it’s staying in sweats all day, especially as a wfh girlie.

But any time I put more effort into my appearance, even if it’s just to sit at home, I feel more eager to get things done and enjoy the day. It’s like signalling to my brain, “we mean business.”

There’s research behind this. It’s called “enclothed cognition”: Adam & Galinsky (2012) found that people wearing a lab coat described as a doctor’s coat paid closer attention than people wearing the same coat described as a painter’s. What we wear can change how we think and perform.

What we define as “dressed up” is completely subjective, and this is not just another post telling you to spend more on maintenance and upkeep. I usually do my own beauty treatments, but there are a select few I see as a monthly ritual to pour back into me.

I especially encourage making an effort on the days you don’t feel like yourself or have low energy but have goals to work towards or a to-do list to complete. It doesn’t have to be reserved for a wedding or party. Get dressed up to run errands like grocery shopping or picking something up at the pharmacy. I also see it as a way to invite creativity and refresh your perspective.

Have you tried dressing up on a day you weren’t feeling your greatest?

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Source: Adam, H., & Galinsky, A. D. (2012). Enclothed cognition. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 48(4), 918–925. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2012.02.008

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