Picture this: It’s 7 a.m., you made the mistake of taking an 8:30 a.m. class and you’ve spent the last three nights studying for an organic chem midterm that makes calculus seem as easy as 2 + 2 = 4. You’re running on an average of two to three hours of sleep per night and a couple of dozen coffee runs, and when your alarm goes off the next morning you hit the snooze button faster than the contestants on Family Feud hit the buzzer. 45 minutes later when you should have already been on your drive to class, you roll out of bed and reach for a pair of sweatpants and tennies. The shirt you slept in should be fine, right? And messy buns are all the rage right now! Yeah, we’ve all been there. But believe it or not, dressing up comes with a ton of advantages, and although there is zero judgment for showing up in your pajamas, putting a little more effort into your appearance can kickstart your day in the right direction.
- Waking Up Slowly
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When you give yourself an extra 15 minutes or so to actually take your time to get ready in the morning, it gives your mind and body more time to slowly and peacefully wake up, rather than a jolt of adrenaline when you realize you’re going to be late to class if you don’t get in your car in 0.8594 seconds. This increases your chances of actually staying awake and staying efficient throughout the day, and you can even multitask while having a cup of coffee and getting a little self-development in with a good podcast. (My personal favorites are “The Rise and Conquer” by Georgie Stevenson and “HoneySoleil” hosted by Siena Mirabella!)
- It Can Give You a Major Confidence Boost
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We all have that one outfit or pair of shoes that make us feel unstoppable, and when you’re trying to make it through midterm week we could all use a little bit of Blair Waldorf confidence. (Life tip: when in doubt…WWBWD? What would Blair Waldorf do?) Whether you need the confidence to do well on a test, ask your professor for help or talk to that cutie across the lecture hall, looking a tad more presentable will give you that extra boost of assurance to make you feel like you can accomplish anything.
- Increases in Motivation and Productivity
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We’ve all heard the saying that when you look good you feel good, and that’s the truth! I don’t know about you, but when I’m in sweats or a big comfy sleep shirt, all I wanna do is crawl right back into bed and dream about my life with Luke Hemmings a little more! Having a cute and comfy or business casual look going on will make you feel more motivated to switch into #bossbabe mode and cross everything off your to-do list. And trust me, I know you want to be comfy, but there’s a difference between athleisure and pajamas. Even a cute little set from Gymshark and some Nikes will go a lot further than sweats and slides.
- You Never Know When You’ll Meet Someone Important
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Although I’m sure your personality is lovely, if you run into a high profile business exec in the elevator on your way to class, I can guarantee you’re probably going to be judged on a little more than your ability to crack a joke that actually makes people laugh. Putting a little more effort into your appearance can set yourself up for beneficial interactions between you and your peers, professors and potential employers. We all know first impressions stick, so it’s best to try to present yourself in the best light. Having a cute put together outfit makes transitioning to an internship or night out that much easier!
- It’s Really Not that Hard
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All in all, dressing up really doesn’t require that much effort and it’s not going to get you an extra hour of sleep just by walking out of the house in your pajamas. Let’s do the math: a 5-minute makeup look + a 5-minute hairstyle + 5 minutes to put on an outfit and accessories (if you’ve picked them out the night before) = literally only 15 minutes all together!
Pro tip: many CEOs swear by having a “uniform” that is their go-to outfit whenever they’re in a rush. It’s usually something basic, yet polished, that they know they’ll look good in, and they know they have the pieces to put it together in their closet. (My go-to “uniform” is usually a white tee paired with black ripped skinny jeans and a denim jacket, black ankle boots, and some gold accessories. I always have this hanging together in my closet for emergencies, and it never fails me!)
Given the crazy amount of benefits you gain from putting a little more effort into your look, dressing up for class shouldn’t have to feel like a chore. Don’t let 15 minutes keep you from presenting your best self or living up to your immense amounts of potential. We should all take it upon ourselves to allow us to feel productive, confident, and stylish both in class and in your everday endeavors!