How Clothing Can Help Us Have a Sense of Normalcy - Work From Home | Covid-19
We have a new normal. Ever since the outbreak of Covid-19 in the United States, we can no longer do what we once did. Stay-at-home orders have been put in place all across the country and that has severely impacted how we go about our daily lives. Those fortunate enough to keep their jobs now work from home, students now have to take classes online. No more proms, graduations, sports events, among others. People are even afraid to go grocery shopping now. Since we are now spending most of our time at home, it’s normal for people to not want to get dressed up like they usually do. On Zoom and other video conferencing tools, only your head and shoulders are really shown, and you have the option of not being shown at all. With Covid-19 having such an impact, people’s top priorities are food and staying healthy. However, there’s strong evidence to support the claim that clothing has an effect on our emotions. It may not seem like it, but the clothing we wear subtly affects our moods and can be a big predictor for what kind of day we have.
CLOTHING AND EMOTIONS
When you dress up, it brings you a boost of self-confidence, especially if you receive compliments about how nice you look. So even, if you are not going anywhere, dressing up is likely to make you feel better. I know it’s very easy to just put on your favorite pair of sweatpants and a hoodie and call that a day. But that can lead to depression, and make the stay-at-home order seem unbearable. One easy way to do that: colors. There are bright colors: yellow, green, orange, pink, purple that can brighten your mood. Try putting on some of those colors and see the difference it makes in your day. Another thing to try: funky fabrics and patterns! Wearing something unique and vibrant can also have a positive impact on your day. One thing to avoid though: your favorite pair of jeans. Jeans are a classic favorite for many people, but a word to the wise. People often don’t buy a well-fitting pair of jeans. It’s now common for women to have to struggle to get into jeans, and that can have negative psychological implications as well.
For women, what you wear on a day to basis can differ. Maybe you like to wear t-shirts and jeans more than dresses. Maybe you like to wear darker colors compared to lighter colors. But there are ways to for whatever your personal style to dress in a way that can make your day that much brighter. Men, while you may think that what you wear doesn’t affect you if you dress the part, you’re more likely to act the part. If you wear gym clothes, you are more likely to work out, wear a suit, you’re more likely to be ready for whatever professional activities you have that day. Also, for men, color can tell what kind of mood you are in. So also pay attention to what colors you’re wearing, and try to avoid wearing the same thing every day.
IMPACT ON RELATIONSHIPS
Staying at home now means that all date nights and romantic trips are unfortunately out of the question. So no you and your partner have a lot of time on your hands, hopefully you are keeping busy individually, but also making time for each other. This is a trying time for everybody, so remember to be kind and compassionate to each other. Since you can’t go out for a date night anymore, how about you have a date night right at home? This is a perfect way to keep the romance going and to distract yourself from reality for a while. For your date night at home, you can both get all dressed up, formal attire for both of you, cook a meal, set up fancy decorations, and enjoy dinner and a movie. By having this kind of date night, you are showing that you are still putting effort into your relationship.
Have a prom or graduation that won’t be hosted in person? Get dressed up for it and host one in your house. Get your friends together on a videoconferencing tool and host one for yourselves. That way you get to be with your friends and take pictures, and still have great memories for the future. Getting dressed up at home can make you feel better and improve your mental health as well.
Even though we’re staying at home, it doesn’t mean we need to let ourselves go. Now is the time to stay healthy, both physically and mentally. The way we dress can have an impact on our mental health, so anything worth improving our mental health is worth trying.