#4 The Power of Dressing ALL THE WAY

I'm a big believer in getting dressed every day. And when I say getting dressed, I mean the whole getting ready routine:

• Clothes
• Shoes
• Hair
• Makeup (if you wear it)

I call this: Dressing All the Way

Taking time to get ready — shower, get dressed in an outfit I like, and do my hair and makeup — is probably the greatest predictor of my mood, productivity, and satisfaction with my day.

So, WHY do I always resist getting dressed ALL THE WAY?

Do you struggle with this too?

We tell ourselves it's just because it takes too long, it's too hard, it doesn't matter, it's not worth it. 

I actually think it's a little bit deeper than this.

I've noticed that women (especially moms) seem to struggle with taking the time to get ready every day in a way that men don't. We tend to see many of our personal care activities as luxuries or nice-to-have's. 

But hello!!! We're talking about getting dressed. Unless you live in a nudist colony, you have wear clothes everyday. And for me, getting dressed ALL THE WAY helps me do more, be more, and enjoy my life more. I think it's OKAY to use clothing/grooming/makeup/style/etc as a tool to help you live your best life.

Dress the way you want to feel.

Ever heard that before?

When you get dressed ALL THE WAY, you send a message to your brain that you are important, that what you have to do and say and think matters, even if it's just TO YOU.

So here's the last style invitation.

For the next 5 days, I want you to do the following:

Step 1: Before you get dressed, I want you to identify how you want to feel that day and look for clothes that will help you feel that way. 

Step 2: Get dressed in your Outfit Sweet Spot (this is simply an outfit that matches your aesthetic vocabulary, makes you feel fabulous, AND one you can wear all day long without wanting to change—if you need more help, review the previous post here).

Step 3: Do it all the way. Don't just wear a shirt and shorts. Put on shoes, spray perfume, do your hair, etc. If you notice resistance to this, tell yourself, "I'm important and valuable and worthy of this level of care."

If you want, you can even time yourself getting dressed so you see that it's not taking as long as you think.

This simple practice will help you look better and feel better, every single day!

Until next time,

Rebecca