When I am feeling blah, I go wash my face, put on lipstick, dab a little perfume, and change my outfit. I have the belief that my inside and outside work together. If they are not in harmony, my energy level will be affected. Yes, I mostly choose my outfit by the kind of energy that I want to project for that day. Do I want to feel energized by feeling comfortable and ready to tackle hard work or do I want to feel professional for a day planned on Zoom calls. I realized years ago during my retail management days that how I dressed had a lot of power in how I felt. I tended to choose jackets over my dresses which seemed to give me energy and the feeling of power. Now that I work from home, my choices are more broad but I still know that my clothes can affect my energy level.
This might sound all woo woo but it has some truth to it. I promise. There is even a term for this.
"Enclothed cognition" is a term used in psychology to describe the systematic influence that clothes have on the wearer's psychological processes. The concept suggests that the clothes a person wears can trigger mental processes that are related to the symbolic meaning of those clothes. For example, when someone wears clothing associated with power and authority, such as a business suit, they may experience a sense of confidence and competence. Kind of like my retail days. This is because the clothing itself carries symbolic meaning in society, and wearing it can activate mental associations related to those meanings. I knew that a jacket not only made me feel more professional but I appeared more professional. There are times when we want a physical sense of ease, which can translate into a mental state of being more at ease and focused. I choose comfort on my weekend days for sure! Some will want to disagree that how we dress, should not matter. However, most research has proved otherwise. We do not have to care what others think of our clothes but it can influence how they initially treat us or how our clothes make us feel. I know for a fact that I am energized by how my clothes make me feel. I might be strange but it is my truth.
Overall, enclothed cognition highlights the idea that our clothing choices can have a significant impact on how we think, feel, and behave, beyond just their practical function of providing warmth or protection.
In closing, I challenge you to spend five extra minutes on your outside to give you a bump on the inside.
Coffee chat this week I talked about the herb sorrel. I hear it is delicious with a smooth lemon flavor. For those of you who have an herb garden, be sure to add it!
I love you guys!
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