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.

The cupboard is very cramped. I do washing through the week and it’s impossible to reach the back, so it would become disorganised by Wednesday.

If there's room for the rail, it seems like there should be room for something similar but less open to view. What about a screen, as suggested earlier in the thread? Or a decorative curtain to conceal the rail?

I have depression and other MH illnesses. I struggle a lot. When I’m bad I have my clothes set in what to wear for the week hung on hangers inside my wardrobe. I usually have 7 outfits really plus two extra if the weathers a bit different. It helps me.

I think you need to add sone wardrobes and storage to your house op. Loft stuff should not be in your bedroom. I’ve recently got a divan bed with four drawers instead of my old one with two has made a big difference for storage. Saving up for one for another bedroom in the house now.

Tricks like this actually help me keep my space less cluttered. I throw things around less because I’m not stressed in the moment.

I have done this for years - on a Sunday night I look at my work diary and plan 5 outfits which are then hung together
I don’t share a room with anyone though - if I did I would just put them ready at one end of my wardrobe

As an aside, has your GP discussed SSRIs for Seasonal Affective Disorder and is this something you would consider? The NHS considers anti-depressants an option, particularly when the seasonal pattern is consistent, so you could explore this. It's not the case that there's nothing they can do (or at least try):

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) - NHS

Mind's guidance is also helpful:

Seasonal affective disorder | Mental health problems | Mind

As well as using the Lumie alarm clock, do you use a light box during the day? Some find these helpful to simulate natural light during the darker months.

I think this is more than just a rail.
I think it will be a real lift having a dedicated space that is yours.
I have had one and my only advice would be don’t let it become a dumping ground which attracts crap, costs fling over it etc
Treat as if you are a fashion assistant, even if you don’t feel like one.
You will also start working out what you enjoy wearing and what no longer works. For that stuff and treat yourself to a few new accessories. By a nice glossy mag each month and create a little chic corner just for you.

With out wishing to sound rude, if you have had blood tests that are all normal, is this not more of a psychological issue - is there any treatment available to help with that?

I love this time of year but I do like to know what I’m wearing in advance. For me it’s just making the decision that helps.

Every weekend I sort my work clothes out for the week. It’s been a game changer and has made the mornings much easier as I have everything including undies on a hanger (or 2 depending on what I’m wearing).

If your partner is dead set against the hanging rail idea, what does he suggest instead?
Although I don’t see the problem with it to be honest. Like you said, you’re only in your room to sleep.

@wholikesliving
And don't forget your accessories as
Your shoes/boots should be in place also
So get a rail where shoes can be placed down the bottom

Totally get this OP. I too suffer from SAD and have always found winter mornings hard. I have done exactly what you are suggesting - checked the weather, laid out 5 work outfits for the week on hangers in my wardrobe, then picked one each morning dependent on my mood/weather/if I have pms bloating whatever. It always helped me enormously because by midweek i lost the will to be organised and put together and just stopped caring. Go for it. A small change for your improved mental health is a no brainer. Your dh is being silly.

I'd find this level of control too much.
It's good your DP is happy to accommodate you. Everyone is different!

What's he gonna do if you just buy it anyway? Moan? Oh well.

I'm not a fan of clutter but I am a huge fan of easy mornings - I mentally prepare the night before but that's all.

Buy it, if it doesn't work it's RIP to a few quid ain't it.

He can also hang his theres if he wants too.

Do you have an extra cupboard anywhere else you can hang a rail in?

I organise my clothes for the week and it helps me a lot

is there somewhere else in the house it could go, like a landing or spare room?

I always choose my outfit for work the night before. It just makes the morning a lot easier. We had a bit of space between the wardrobe and wall, so my DH drilled a rail to go in between. It is brilliant, as I use it for my planned outfit and also my jacket etc that I've worn once but doesn't need a wash yet. Only a few items so it uses the space but doesn't look too cluttered.

Your partner is unkind to not let you do something simple that would help your mental health.

I do kind of see where your DH is coming from. We had a clothes rail for a while before we had wardrobes fitted and it did without a doubt make the room feel cluttered and messy. It felt so much calmer and relaxing when we were able to get rid of it. The best solution, as others have suggested, would be to use one end of the wardrobe or just plan one day's outfit at a time.

But you are not adding more clothes, just arranging them in order?

Technically I'm accommodating him with the chair drobe. Not wanting a messy house with clutter isn't really controlling!

Does he have any useful suggestions to help deal with your symptoms or does he think you just need to pull yourself together?

I'm guessing the latter if he thinks that the room looking uncluttered is more important than your mental health.

I wouldnt want a rail hanging in the bedroom, it would look messy and cluttered and stress me out

What you could do, is put the whole outfit, in day order at one end of your wardrobe, so they're ready, hang the trousers and shirt on one hanger for one day and so on

You need to de clutter and get built in wardrobes. Good storage is vital and although it might cost money its worth it.

If had (which we currently do as waiting for our new wardrobes) rails everywhere and clothes out, I would feel very anxious, edgy, miserable, claustrophobic and pissed off every time I went in the room

I don't understand how the room would be big enough to have "tons" of room for two storage rails plus everything else in it, but at the same time the proportions are too weird to get even the smallest wardrobe in, even something like this or this
(I know the second is a cabinet but you could easily take the shelves out and put a rail in instead)

We don’t have a wardrobe, we have a cupboard with a clothing rail in it

Are things on hangers then? Can you take a top on a hanger, a skirt or pair of trousers on a hanger, put a pair of pants, bra, tights, leggings, whatever draped over both hangers? So they’re one unit? Then repeat that another four times, put them all back where they were and that’s your outfits sorted? Or a coat hook on the back of the cupboard door for the five outfits? Or back of the bathroom door? I admit I also don’t quite see where the issue is. Maybe we need a photo?