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Let’s be honest with ourselves: as stay at home moms, it is extremely tempting to live in leggings and a t-shirt all day, everyday. The socially acceptable version of pajamas to manage the littles, take on your to-do list, and squeeze in your side hustle. Did you know, however, that research suggests the clothing you wear can impact your productivity? In fact, it makes as much of an impact as planning your day out does! Let’s look closer at how factoring in your closet each morning can help you get a jump start on an incredibly productive day.
Clothes impact confidence and concentration.
Back in the fall of 2023, researchers at Temple University published an article regarding the consequences of employees’ daily clothing choices in the workplace. You can read a synopsis of the article published by Forbes online. And yes, I know you’re a stay at home mom but hear me out. Your job as a mom is your work – plus your side hustle – so keep with me! Studies like this one have shown that what you wear can actually impact your confidence and concentration.
I know that’s true for me, because when I started working from home during COVID and living in leggings and t-shirts with no makeup, both of those things went WAY down the drain for me.
Taking the time to get ready in morning routine can supercharge your day
Now, I’m not going to get too deep into what makes a great morning routine. If you don’t have one already, a great place to start is with The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod.
What I do want to get into is how taking the time to put on clothes that make you feel put-together will give you a sense of accomplishment right off the bat in the morning. That accomplishment, in turn, can boost your confidence and self-efficacy, making you feel more capable of tackling whatever challenges your littles, your to-do list, and your work, will inevitably throw at you.
Benefits of planning your outfit in advance
Planning your outfit in advance can be a game changer in your morning routine. Aside from the confidence boost, planning ahead will:
- Reduce decision fatigue. Planning your outfit means you won’t find yourself half-awake, staring into your closet trying to figure out what to wear.
- Lead to less morning stress. Avoid rushing through getting dressed only to realize an importance outfit piece is in the laundry.
- Build confidence: Taking the time to put together an outfit you feel good in does wonders for confidence.
- Save valuable time. Knowing what you’re going to wear you can move onto the next thing, like getting the kids out the door.
All of which leads me to…
The REAL secret weapon of my morning routine
When I came home full time to start living in the same jeans and t-shirt every day, I began to feel pretty blah. I was used to dressing up for work and putting my makeup on in the morning. Since I was no longer having to wear my business clothes everyday I had no clue how to dress myself beyond the same jeans and t-shirts and leggings that I was constantly in.
Fortunately, I ran across an ad online for what has since become my secret weapon. This not only takes the guesswork out of what I’m going to wear on a given day, but gives me new ideas of how to pair together clothes that were already in my closet. You ready for it? I’m talking about the capsule wardrobe outfit calendar by Corina over at Frump Fighters.
I remember that I felt a bit ridiculous when I first bought this a couple of years ago, but it was on sale and I figured I had nothing to lose. Now? Now I can’t say enough about it. I even have it on my Favorites list if you want to check it out along with some of my other favorite things!
I started with the FREE Wardrobe Guide. This helps choose your capsule colors, and then takes you through a checklist of things to have on hand. Think black top, neutral blouse, print tee, tunic tee, graphic tee, print blouse, striped dress, dark wash jeans, leggings, light color cardigan…see? They’re things that you probably have on hand already. The calendar just puts all of the outfits together for you – over 400 of them! And the outfits? I can honestly say I feel cute, put together, comfy, and wouldn’t have thought of a lot of these combinations.
Be sure that when you go check it out to use the code BUSYMAMABEE for a discount on your purchase. Also, she has different tools that you can utilize on her site, plus style guides for the whole family.
Remember, Mama, you’re already wearing a ton of hats!
Now it’s time to add in one more: master of the morning grind. By utilizing a habitual morning routine that includes getting dressed and planning your outfit ahead of time, you’re setting yourself for a successful and stress-free day (or at least not as stressful as it would be otherwise). So set the leggings aside, embrace the power of planning, and watch your productivity take flight!
