Those days when you are feeling low can make dressing up seem like an impossible task. Sometimes getting dressed is the first step to doing something you don't want to do in the first place.
So what do you do when leaving the house is a must?
Well, the strategy is to wear something that fits into your mood or lifts your spirits. Your favourite pants, your favourite colour, or those shoes that make you feel confident, are your first choice armour.
The big guns in your wardrobe might not be easy to ensemble into an outfit, but once you do, your entire mood or day might turn around.
Use these tips so you don't have to spend so much energy you might not have.
Begin with one item
Start by wearing one of your favourite clothes. It could be a sweater, socks, an old T-shirt, or shorts, it doesn't have to make sense. Once you do that, your brain will get into it and guide you to what you usually wear with that item. After that, a chain reaction will happen until you end up in an outfit you like.
Wear the outfit from the previous day
If it's clean and not many people saw it, reuse it and switch up one item or add a new item. The last thing you want to do when your energy is low is to think too much about what to put on. Well, yesterday's outfit is a ready-made formula that you can tweak a bit or not.
Go for comfort
Choose comfier clothes for dress-code venues and sweats, flats, and sneakers for non-specific dress-code places. If you are already struggling to put on clothes, uncomfortable items are likely to worsen your mood. It is unlikely that anyone will reprimand your choice of clothes, and you shouldn't be hard on yourself because feeling better is your priority at the moment.
Go for a popping colour
Pick out colourful clothes or accessories. Switch your silver accessory for gold, and pick out deep colour fabric and your quality pieces. Dopamine dressing will add a sunny blue sky to your grey day. Subconsciously it will make you feel better and get you compliments. Go for a simple but popping makeup look.
Takeaway
Dressing up in a low mood can be a way to support yourself emotionally. Focus on comfortable, fitting, available, popping and new items to help you throughout the day.