To start picking out outfits for the week on a Sunday?

[wholikesliving]

It’s heading into autumn and winter and the dark mornings have really crept up on me. Every year I struggle really badly with seasonal depression. I’ve seen my doctor about it and the outcome seems to just be a shrug of the shoulders and a “sorry there’s not much we can do”. I’ve had bloods done, I eat well and maintain a good exercise routine, but just struggle.

One thing I think will help is laying out clothes for the week so each morning is as easy as possible. I really struggle to get myself out of bed, so reducing friction should help.

My partner is dead against it. We have a big space in our bedroom where I’d like to put a small clothing rail to do this. AIBU? He thinks it’ll be too cluttered and tacky. I think it would be worth it to help me in the mornings.

I do it when I’m in the habit but I put the outfits at the end of the wardrobe in order rather than out- could you do that?

I take it there’s no other room you could put the clothes rail in?

Planning a weeks clothes obviously would make your life easier, but not if it adds a stressful battle with your partner. Is he generally supportive, or not?

I’d hate to have a clothing rail like that in my bedroom too. It’s just a mess when full of clothes that don’t match the decor! My bedroom is to read and relax and sleep in, not a storage depot. Maybe something with doors to hide the clutter? Or in a different room! Or you just rearrange 5 hangers you currently have (wherever they are) in Mon-Fri order with whatever clothes you choose?

You don’t need to spend money on this issue. It’s just deciding stuff on a Sunday instead of Mon-Fri.

Honestly, I wouldn’t want a clothes rail in my bedroom for my partner to lay out a week’s clothes in advance. I’d be saying ‘By all means do it, if you think it will help, but find somewhere else to lay outfits out.’

I pick my clothes out for the whole week at the weekend. I have a hook on the back of the door which I use to put the next morning's outfit on. The rest live in the wardrobe.

I don't know much this would actually help. It's hard to tell on Sunday what you will need/want to wear on Thursday. Are you going to be checking the weather forecast while you're at it? What if you need to swap things around?

I would just get a chair for the corner of the bedroom and lay clothes out the night before for the next day.

If I had room I would get one these.

I like valet stands, they are male centred. I need something more suitable for women's clothes, like a maxi length dress.

I like the idea but like several other posters, I wouldn't want an extra clothes rail in my room. (I agree about it feeling cluttered- which isn't relaxing for me.) Surely you can make this work by still keeping the outfits on the cupboard rail you already have?

I'll do this when it's proper winter (or summer) but it's a bit in betweeny now so I don't want to commit to a wintery outfit unless it's a wintery day iykwim.

@wholikesliving I do this and find it helpful. I have ADHD so different reasons but it makes my morning much faster and easier.

I actually also do it at the end of the previous week not on a Sunday, as I like to maximise my ‘not thinking about work’ time on a Sunday.

I’d support you with this if I were your partner. I’m also quite minimalist though so can understand him not loving the rail. As others have said, is there a slightly smaller one/another room it could go in? Generally though it’s a great idea.

Presumably the clothes are hanging somewhere already. Can you pick the outfits and make a list then just get the ones out for the next day.

Also, do you wear something different every single day? I have an office type job and I have 3 outfits per week, 2 get worn twice.

I know that is Mumsnet outrage inducing to some but picking 3 outfits is easier than 5.

Definitely sounds like a good idea.

id also think about making a good morning smoothie to have in the fridge (on Sundays, I make one big bottle for a daily glass Mon-Fri) and getting a daily dose of at least vitamin D and iron to help with energy levels.

My breakfast smoothie is a half a cup or so of raw porridge oats, a half cup of natural/Greek yoghurt, a tablespoon of mixed seeds (4 seed mix from whole foods store), 2 heaped teaspoons of almond butter, a cup of berry smush (fresh or frozen berries already blitzed up - I like a mix of strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, redcurrants…and blackberries in autumn) and enough apple juice to make it drinkable (basically, once the mix is done, I pour into my 1 litre bottle for the fridge and add apple juice to fill the bottle, cap, and shake well, I usually need a small bit of juice in the smoothie maker as part of the initial mix as well).

How much space would there be in your bedroom if he decided to have a clothing rail as well?

Tons. The room is quite big but the walls are a funny lay out so a wardrobe wouldn’t really work

My base outfits stay pretty much the same from here till March now. I just add layers because the office stays the same temperature and it’s just coats I need to add

This is a great idea. I’d like to do it myself, to save having to think in the mornings but haven’t been organised enough yet to do it.

My aesthetic suggestion would be to place a folding screen in front of it. There must be plain ones available from Ikea etc, or one of those lovely vintage painted silk ones.

Get your rail and some Vit D tabs

When I first started work in the 90s I worked in a smart office environment and I did this for years so I could rotate my tops and skirts (no trousers in those days) to avoid always wearing the same outfit on the same day of the week

I still work in an office but the dress code is very much more relaxed now so I don't do it now

I like the unit you've linked, smart and functional

I just hang my planned outfits for the week in my wardrobe rather than on a separate rail - I would hate having an open rail in my bedroom! Recently ive started buying sets, so top and matching trousers etc which has made my working from home options much easier

If Im honest that rail would do my head in too. I like uncluttered surroundings, things hidden out of sight etc. His dislikes are just as valid as any others.

However, as this is affecting your mental health I do think he should be prepared to at least meet you half way.A shared bedroom should ideally meet both your needs and preferences as far as possible.

Do you have somewhere that an extra temporary rail could be put up, just so you can trail your approach re setting out clothes? I think you need to find a solution that is easy to reverse just in case your proposal doesnt actually work.

We also don’t spend much time in our bedroom at all. Getting dressed and sleeping only. If we want to relax we spend time in the living room

What about a set of packing cubes?

Can’t you just assemble outfits on hangers in the wardrobe, make Monday to Friday tags to hang onto them perhaps

I think it's a great idea it takes away some of the morning stress.

Re SAD lamps, a sunrise lamp/ alarm is great to help you wake up gradually. The Lumie Vitamin L lamp that PP referred to serves a different purpose, it gives you a brighter light for c.20/30 minutes depending on the lamp/distance, i have the same lamp and it really helped my SAD alongside the alarm clock.

I'd echo a decent Vitamin D supplement and a winter sun break - the canaries in January was winter changing for me.

I think it's a great idea!

With the Lumie lamp you have, is it just a wake up light or does it have 10000 lux making it suitable for SAD?

I have both and find I really benefit from the latter particularly.