By Josie Gudgeon
As the UK continues it’s lockdown and we are isolated to our own homes, it’s easy to start spending the entire day in your pyjamas. But, unless you’re feeling sick, it’s worth it to put some clothes on.
The way we dress has a correlation with our emotional state. If we’re looking a bit bedraggled, in the same outfit we’ve worn for the last few days, that has an impact on how we feel in general. We’re currently in a time where we may feel isolated and less connected. It could become really easy to not have the motivation to get out of our pyjamas or just simply not feel it’s necessary due to being in the comfort of our home.
However, staying in your pyjamas day after day sets your mood. Psychotherapists believe that putting on clothes is an important part of mental hygiene, especially in times such as these. When we take time in the morning to shower and put on clean clothes we tend to feel more put-together, confident, and ready to take on the day. It is believed that not getting dressed can also lead you to eat poorly, reduced positivity and engagement in life.
Tips for encouraging yourself to get dressed
If you’re having trouble changing out of your pyjamas, it helps to set a routine, like creating a daily schedule on how you’ll spend your time. It is important to try and keep your schedule as similar to usual as possible. Set your alarm and wake up at the same time every day (obviously excluding weekends.) With many of us working from home, a schedule will allow differentiation between ‘home life’ and ‘work life.’
Maybe your day now consists of walking your dog or home-schooling your kids, it’s important to wear something that you feel good in. You should try to wear something that reflects the job in hand, whether you are relaxing, working and exercising. These may all be happening in the same space. However, each of these activities requires a specific outfit. It may be an idea to try to put on sportswear when excising, more formal clothes when working and so on. This way your mind will switch between the roles and you may find you will be more motivated when carrying out activities.
It is believed that when we get dressed in the morning our brain releases natural chemicals which boost our mental state, these consist of dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and endorphins, sparking a sense of purpose which is essential during this tough time.
Your home. Your Clothes. Mix it up!
Also, this is the perfect opportunity to have some fun with your style. As you are not leaving the house no one is going to see you, so try out new outfits, maybe things you wouldn’t normally wear, be bold. There are no rules, especially in the confines of your home, so make it fun for yourself. A great way to stimulate ourselves using our clothing is to add colour if our outfit is looking more vibrant then inter, we will feel more vibrant and positive. We rarely take into account how our clothing and colour can influence our state of mind.
During this time try to remember to take time out for yourself. During this time, you should try to allow for at least fifteen to twenty minutes of time for self-care, whether that’s with a face mask, a manicure, doing your hair, shaving… just take some time to focus on yourself!
As you may know, we can use many things to set a mood. For example, music, lighting, candles. Similarly, getting ready for the day has the same effect, it prepares you to tackle the day and puts you in a productive mood. So, let’s use this time in our homes and get dressed into the person you want to be perceived as. Be bold with your fashion. Try new things and set your mood for the day.