In the weeks leading up to finals, it’s easy to feel like survival mode is the only mode: messy buns, oversized hoodies, and grabbing whatever random junk food is closest to the door. After all, who has time to care about looking put-together when you’re swimming in deadlines and work? But a growing trend both online and in research suggests that how you present yourself each day may actually influence how you perform. In other words, romanticizing your life and dressing up for class might actually help you pass your finals.
Across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, the “romanticize your life” trend has exploded. Influencers and students film aesthetic study sessions, pour coffee into pretty mugs before morning classes, and put on thoughtfully chosen outfits even when they’re just headed to the library. The idea is simple: treat your everyday life with the same energy you’d give your dream life.
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTrLy3bqa
This trend isn’t about perfection; it’s about presence and purpose. It’s about turning your walk across campus into a “main character” moment, lighting a candle during your study session, or choosing an outfit that makes you feel more like the best version of yourself instead of the exhausted student version. The trend resonates deeply with students in part because it offers something college schedules rarely do: permission to find joy, beauty, and intentionality in everyday life.Â
For many, romanticizing life becomes a motivational tool. When the everyday feels purposeful and beautiful, it’s easier to show up on time with energy and with care. This shift in mindset matters far more than it might seem.
While the trend looks aesthetic online, the effects extend far beyond cute coffee videos. Research suggests that how you dress influences how you think, behave, and perform. Psychologists call this “enclothed cognition” the idea that clothing impacts your mental state and cognitive abilities.
https://utstat.utoronto.ca/reid/sta2201s/2012/labcoatarticle.pdf
Studies have found that when people dress in ways that make them feel confident, capable, or put-together, they tend to behave in ways that align with those feelings. Students who dress more intentionally often report higher levels of confidence, higher engagement in classes, increased motivation, a stronger sense of identity, a heightened feeling of purpose, and better focus.
Dressing up also acts as a psychological boundary marker. Putting on an outfit that makes you feel “ready” signals to your brain that the day is starting with intention, not chaos. It helps separate study mode from sleep mode, especially when your dorm room doubles as your entire world.
Even small acts of romanticizing your routines, like making your desk cute or choosing jewelry before class, can create micro-moments of joy that reduce stress and boost your mood. And a positive mood is strongly linked to improved cognitive function.
Adopting the “look good, feel good” lifestyle doesn’t require a full glam routine or a brand-new wardrobe. It’s about small, intentional choices that make your life feel more meaningful and structured.
A few simple ways students can use romanticizing-your-life habits to boost their academic success are:
1. Choosing outfits that make you feel capable.
Pick pieces you already own that make you feel polished, energized, or confident. You don’t need to dress fancy, just intentionally.
2. Create a tiny morning ritual.
Drink your favorite coffee. Read your Bible. Put on a playlist that makes you feel like the main character. Small rituals can trick the brain into shifting gears.
3. Romanticize the mundane.
Turn studying into an aesthetic moment if that helps you enjoy it: light a candle, use a cute pen, or study at a cozy café. When the process feels pleasant, motivation increases.
4. Treat showing up like a date with your future self.
Imagine who you want to become and dress to honor that version of you. Not for others. For yourself.
At the end of the day, looking pretty won’t make you pass finals. But feeling confident, intentional, and engaged can absolutely help, and how you dress or structure your day can spark that mindset. Romanticizing your life is more than a trend; it’s a shift toward treating your everyday experience with care. And when school feels more meaningful, you tend to work like it matters.
So what about you? Do you feel more productive when you dress up or romanticize your mornings? Think about how you bring beauty, motivation, or intentionality into your daily routines!