GET READY TODAY 💚 I asked ChatGPT to research something I’ve believed and researched for years: getting ready can change how we experience the day. Not because we have to look perfect or owe anyone makeup, styled hair or a great outfit. But showering, getting dressed and caring for ourselves can signal: The day has started, and I’m participating in it. Five research-backed reasons to get ready: 1. IT GIVES YOUR DAY STRUCTURE. Regular routines are associated with better mental health and resilience. Getting ready can be a dependable anchor in your morning. 2. ACTION CAN COME BEFORE MOTIVATION. Behavioral activation teaches that we don’t always have to feel motivated before we act. Sometimes the shower, the outfit and the lipstick come first, and the energy follows. 3. GROOMING CAN AFFECT HOW WE SEE OURSELVES. Research suggests grooming can influence our self-perceived body image. It isn’t about looking better for someone else. It’s about caring for the woman in the mirror. 4. CLOTHING CAN HELP US STEP INTO A MINDSET. Researchers call this “enclothed cognition.” What we wear may affect how we think and feel because of the meaning we attach to our clothes. An outfit can remind you who you are and how you want to show up. 5. GETTING DRESSED IS SELF-EXPRESSION. Clothing communicates identity, personality and mood. We can choose to show up feeling comfortable, creative, capable, playful or strong. You don’t need an appointment, an office or a lunch reservation. YOU ARE THE OCCASION. Take the shower. Do something with your hair. Put on an outfit you enjoy, even if you’re working from home or running errands. It may not transform every day, but it can be one small way of saying: I’m here. I matter. And I’m ready to participate in my own life. Hi, I’m Jill. Follow @shoppixieco for modern midlife style, wearable outfit ideas and encouragement to keep showing up for ourselves. 💚 Do you notice a difference when you get ready? Sources: NIH/PubMed, Adam and Galinsky’s “Enclothed Cognition,” and the American Psychological Association. GetReadyToday MidlifeStyle WomenOver50