How often do you 'get ready for the day'?

[whitenoise24]

I have come to the realisation that on the days that I properly 'get ready for the day' ie. put some makeup, do my hair, 'nicer' clothes than my usual leggings and a jumper then my day is infinitely better. I'm just a better person/Mum if I feel put together. I feel more ready to face the world, talk to people, make decisions.

However, even though I know this and know how much better I'd feel I more often than not just throw on a cap and some old leggings and that's me done. I KNOW I'd feel better if I got up an hour earlier and made the effort but I just can't/don't.

I'm 7 weeks pregnant and in the throes of the first trimester hell on earth (sickness, insomnia, fatigue), and also have a 10 month old baby to look after. So at the moment Im lucky if I shower every couple of days. But even before I was pregnant this time around I still barely managed to scrape myself together for the day. Most days are spent chasing my tail and then hating myself throughout the day for just looking/feeling so disgusting. On the days that I do make a bit more effort they are the days I have plans to see people, even then sometimes Im cutting it fine.

Is anyone else like this?!

Please give some motivation so I can use it when I am out of this first trimester period, I need to get my arse into gear and don't want to spend the rest of my pregnancy feeling as disgusting as I did before it.

Thank you! xx

No motivation here, sorry! Just to say I’m 3 children in & only get ready on the days I’m going out too😅 Occasionally I’ll buy myself some new clothes to make myself feel better but the biggest thing that’s probably helped is learning to feel comfortable in my own skin, once I’m enjoying time with my children I find I’m too preoccupied to even care what I look like! Dirty clothes & all😂

5 kids here and rarely wear make up/ do my hair, i get dressed into the first thing i pull out the draw (generally leggings and vest top) hair goes up in a ponytail, and thats me done lol xx

It boils down to the fact that you think other people are worth making the effort for but not yourself. When you are pregnant and have a tiny baby this is understandable but it doesn't sound like it's making you feel good.

I'd be looking at how to make the most effort to me in the most minimal way. Showering and running straighteners through my hair is my minimum, my hair was much shorter when DD was little that made that process quicker.
Dresses with shorts under if running around after tots in the summer or with leggings and ankle boots in the autumn/winter instantly makes me feel more put together even if not particularly in fashion, Mountain Warehouse do cheap and casual dresses almost always on sale at the £20 mark, buying nicer lounge wear.

Throwing out stained/holey /tumble dryer shrunk clothes- I'm terrible at that and tend to keep things far longer than I should as they are 'fine' around the house. Then when I wear them around the house needs to get changed to pop to the shop etc.

I definitely feel better when I'm dressed for the day (including shower and makeup ) so I've done this every day, since before having dc. I'm lucky that I have a DH who pretty much gets the dc dressed and gives them breakfast so I can get myself ready in the mornings. My outdoor clothes are casual - jeans and a top - but at home I'm comfier in track suit bottoms so that's a clear division of going out/staying in clothes. My hair is long and I keep it tied up so it's out of the way, but it's always brushed and clean. I don't do anything to my fingernails but I have a cleansing/moisturising routine, and wear low key make up but it definitely makes me look healthier and more awake.

Personally I do get out every day with dc as I feel much better with a planned schedule of activities. We have regular weekly classes every day of the week.

My baby is currently waking me up at 5am give or take 30mins so I’m not doing any ‘getting ready for the day’ at 4am.

Thanks for your replies ladies - glad to hear I’m not the only one 😅

I think the gist of it is, I wanna be that kind of person but Im just not! However, Im going to try my best to get a few ‘non-negotiables’ in place once I am feeling better ie brushing my hair properly and maybe a slick of makeup!

Are you sure it's not reverse causation? I.e. on the days you are feeling better to begin with, you have more energy for everything - including making more effort getting ready. Personally I'd feel worse if I deprived myself of an extra hour of sleep if I were already struggling through the day.

It’s the FLY lady philosophy, Finally Loving Yourself, and the recommendation of properly dressed every day, even to include shoes not slippers is what you are describing.
have a look at the web site, but it is a bit ott and American, but full of insights and gems to help you through the day

i do love the shiny sink idea though

I don't make a massive effort but do 'get ready' pretty much every day - my mental health really suffers otherwise. My little one is 15 months now but I think I started doing this from when he was around 6 weeks old and I'd recovered from the birth. I didn't with my first or at the start of lockdown and I really felt like I was spiralling! I've learned my lesson now and make sure I prioritise the basics - shower, hair wash at least every other day, nice moisturiser, make up, teeth brushed etc before I start the day.

I do get ready every day but I would never get up an hour earlier to do it. I throw on a simple outfit, and spend max 15 mins on hair and make up (usually much less if my hair is already straightened). I think getting a simple make up routine that makes you feel good is key - I've learned that for me, bronzer and highlighter really make me look 100 times better! So I just do concealer, a little foundation, mascara, bronzer and highlighter. It takes about 4/5 mins. I do this every single day.

I do think it's SO much easier to shower at night too, just before bed. You then wake up relatively fresh and can just brush teeth, wash/moisturise face, deodorant, throw on clothes/make up and do your hair really quickly.

For me it's just a non-negotiable so I've learned how to do it really fast. Saying that though - you are going through SUCH a hard time at the mo being in the first trimester with a toddler. So now is not the time to add more pressure! Maybe this is something to try once you've got a little more energy.

Every day. It's important for me for all the reasons you've said, and I can do the whole routine in 25 mins max so it's not that difficult to get the time. Up to you whether it's worth it. If you want to can you find ways to shorten your routine but still get to an end point that makes you feel good?