It may seem pretty trivial to talk about clothes during such a tense time in all of our lives. For most of us, what we wear each day doesn’t carry as much weight as it used to, and rightfully so. Since we’re cooped up in our homes, it’s tempting to throw on the same pair of sweatpants every day of the week and put appearances on the back burner.
With the current state of this pandemic, it is easy for me to slip into pockets of despondency throughout the day and curl back into my bed instead of engaging in more healthful behavior. That’s why now is a more important time than ever for me to search for sources of motivation in any form I can. For me, a great deal of this motivation can come from my clothing.
For years, clothes have been a source of excitement and comfort for me. On exam days, days when I have to deal with unfavorable professors, or days where I wake up in an icky mood, putting on a cute outfit that makes me feel confident is often the only thing that can propel me into a day of positivity and productivity. Even with our world transitioning to social distancing, clothes still play a huge role in my life. While I may not be wearing a full face of make-up or my tightest skinny jeans these days, I still make a conscious effort to make myself feel presentable each morning. For me, this means throwing on my wide-legged green corduroy trousers or favorite relaxed black jeans, with a chill graphic T-shirt or oversized sweater over top. To make myself feel a little more dressed up, I’ll accessorize with some dangly gold earrings or some hair accessories. And if I am feeling extra flashy, I might even put a touch of blush on my cheeks. And just like that, the amount of motivation I have to tackle the day is instantly boosted.
Of course, it’s unrealistic to expect everyone to have the same outlook on fashion as me, especially when there are more pressing things to be concerned with at the moment. But I think we all have interests, items, and pastimes that can be transformed into joyful aspects of our daily routines during this period of uncertainty and commotion. It could be cooking your favorite breakfast every morning, setting aside some time to play your favorite video game, or following a yoga class online. Search for the small parts of your day that bring you satisfaction and transform them into a vessel of encouragement and motivation.