No PJs Here.

Do you remember that one person who chose to don pajamas at school? Or perhaps you were the brave soul who literally stumbled out of bed and into the classroom, crusty pajamas making their statement down the hall?

I could never understand how people did that.

Were they simply too lazy to put on pants? Was their closet completely dirty, leaving jammies the only thing to wear? Was it a statement against the hierarchy of the high school dressing system?

Whatever the case may be, I could never bring myself to dress as such.

I've got tons of nightwear, let me tell you, and I would certainly love to show them off, but the reason I never chose to had to do with the attitude that came with wearing them. 

I'm a firm believer in style and its relationship to the psyche, for I think the two are intrinsically linked.

See, when I wear pajamas, I'm about to settle down to bed. I whip off my bra, shimmy out of my clothes, and cuddle up in something delicious, mindset directed towards getting ready to sleep.

How on earth can you productively go through a school day when you're wearing clothes meant for sleeping?

I've been rediscovering the whole power of dressing the past month, for my I had my last day at Kaladis and I've been doing more behind the scenes kind of work. While I could just as easily show up to our #brewcrew meetings in my luscious robe, I know that my attitude will not be as professional and alert, for it will inevitably wander towards thoughts of curling back under the covers for a second nap.

It makes a whirlwind of a difference in how my days go. My "work" this past month has involved meetings at crew houses, going to the train to check out new construction, calling in orders, writing from home. I find that I'm more likely to be worthwhile in this project when I'm geared up and dressed professionally, then to show up in my robe (as comfy as it is).

The time spent on yourself in the morning sets the tone for the day. If you've succumbed to the mentality that appearance doesn't matter, "I'll just show up in my pajamas", then you've gotta change your attitude. When you take personal time to care for yourself, the better you feel about how you look and the message you are sending to the world is more clearly communicated.

Style is how you visually present your inner self, so what are you presenting to the world when you wear pajamas out and about?

I still have yet to don pajamas out in public, but if ever I do, you'll know that it was because there was a promised nap in the plan...

No PJs here!

Better Connection.

I'm finally off of my one-month social media break.

It was a glorious month, let me tell you.

Sure, there were many occasions in which my curiosity threatened to have me open an app or two, but my perseverance allowed me to put it away and focus on why I made the decision to stay off social media in the first place. 

I've never had a great relationship with social media. I was late to the scene when Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter became necessities on one's phone. I never saw the obsession with followers, likes, and creating one perfectly picturesque "aesthetic" that's supposed to describe oneself.

I'm the kind of girl who goes the opposite direction when something is trending or popular. And in this case, it was social media, particularly Instagram.

It's been a love/hate sort of relationship all along. I thought at the beginning that it was supposed to symbolize sharing photos of you and your life, what you had for dinner, what your cat was up to.

I think it was, at the beginning, intended for photo sharing, but it's now turned into this multi-billion dollar company that thrives on marketing, ads, and cultivating this niche where anyone can be someone.

Popularity can dictate fame. Likes equal dollars. The right filters and the proper editing, coupled with accurate timing and powerful hashtags have the ability to put you on the world's stage. And trending!

What irks me more though, is that this platform encourages our obsession with image. Unfortunately, that's a side effect that comes alongside our advances in technology, and is often hard to challenge, especially when it's so relevant in our lives.

I could go on and on about my stance with social media, but how is that doing anything to change what already is?

That's where my social media break comes into play. I know I don't have the power to change this industry that is obviously succeeding on image, but I have the power to make change within myself.

I don't think I've ever gotten a positive vibe whenever I've logged on/off Instagram, or any social media. It's hard to explain, but I'm left either feeling not good enough, wondering why not as many people liked my photo, or I continuously perseverate over thinking that my hand looks like a claw in a photo, nit-picking original photos for their lack of perfection.

And I'm a bad arse chick with classy confidence! So for me to admit that I feel this way is a big step in my personal change.

I feel that surely there are other people out there like me with similar stances on social media, maybe not those particular reasons, but it could be comparison, harassment, or low self-esteem. Whatever the reason may be, the simple solution that has worked for me, has been taking a break.

It's simple: you delete your social media apps. And I'm telling you, it's liberating.

With all this spare time on your hands that would otherwise be spent staring down at your phone, you have the opportunity to see the world not through your screen, but through fresh eyes.

I am lucky enough to live in a place that blooms on the idea of simple living, and one's connection with nature, so it's been accommodating to me, but anyone can do it with the right mindset.

It's healing and it really does remind you of all the things out there one neglects when spending so much time obsessing about your marketed online persona: like reading, writing, hauling wood with your dad, watching basketball, shopping with your mom, and yes, even napping!

It's my personal stand, but I hope that someone out there will feel compelled to take that stand with me, if it moves them as much as I. 

I was disconnected from social media for a month, but I ended up having a better "connection" with myself without it.