What do you put on the first thing in the morning? - YouLookFab Forum

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What do you put on the first thing in the morning?

Anonymous

How we start the day matters and there are all kinds of ways to do it. I am curious what do you first put on in the morning and how does that choice affect how you feel about yourself and your day?

My story: Before I retired from college teaching, I always got up and showered, first thing. Then, I got ready for the day. Only on weekends, did I climb into a robe or sweatpants for a couple of hours as I savored my coffee. Now retired, I am more apt to put on a robe and head for the coffee. That loungewear first thing, however, does affect my emotions as I'm noticing I am just slowing down and moving is so important for mind and body, intentional beginning, again, each day. I have decided to make some changes--get dressed first thing and allow Sat or Sun for loungewear into the morning. Some say, you are retired now, do what you want. I don't want to be that elderly person sitting in a chair with her robe on until noon and later. What we wear and when we wear it, first thing, affects the day.

Please share your thoughts and choices on this question. And link to 'morning clothes' you feel great in, if so moved.

Dressing

49 replies

Latest reply was from always trying

Diana

Veteran

Does moisturizer count?

The first thing I do when I get up is brush my teeth, wash my face, and apply my facial moisturizer/sunscreen. (I shower at night.). I don't feel like I've gotten up until I do this.

Otherwise I just hang out in my pjs until I'm ready to go out. I guess if it's cold I put on slippers or a big sweater.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I work from home and usually put on workout gear first thing. I keep it in a pile next to the bed and will wear it through getting the kiddo off to school, my workout, breakfast, and coffee. Then, I'll shower and get dressed for whatever I have planned for the day. Since I started this a few months ago, I find I'm much more likely to exercise each morning.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I wake up early - about 5.30am at the moment. Put on my lounge wear, wash my face, take Sam into the garden, feed him, make myself a MUCH NEEDED hot drink (or two), and start working immediately. I shower and get dressed at anytime from 7am to 8am, and also play with Sam. Have brekkie only after I'm dressed. And then it's back to work, either from home or I'm off to work with clients. Twice a week I head out to yoga at 8.30am, which changes my routine slightly.

The weekends are no different. We work A LOT.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

It depends on the season and my plan. Some mornings I work out really early, so I put on my workout gear and head to gym. Come home, have breakfast/ get daughter's breakfast, shower, get dressed, begin work day.

Non workout mornings I usually stay in PJS (and robe and slippers in cold weather) until after DD goes to school. Then I get dressed myself (and shower if needed) and begin my own day. I don't really own much in the category of true loungewear and don't like to stay in my robe for long unless I'm ill.

Gaylene

Veteran

Now that I'm retired, unless I'm ill or headed to the gym, I get dressed.

My loungewear sweats are only worn in the evening, after my nightly shower. When I was working, i wore a robe briefly after my AM shower while I did my hair and makeup. Nowdays, my morning grooming takes only a few minutes, so I do it in my regular clothes. Exercise wear is worn only while I'm exercising, so it gets put on and taken off before and after the activity. These days, I do a lot of city walking and biking in my regular clothes, but I will change into biking or hiking gear if I'm going for long distances or the weather/terrain requires gear.

PJ are strictly for sleeping. Outside of my husband, no one sees me in them. Even when my kids were toddlers, our family was always dressed when we sat down for breakfast. It looks very odd to me to see adults eating breakfast in their PJs.

Anonymous

Your thoughts on this subject seem correct to me. If I sit around in lounge clothes I get next to nothing accomplished. When I get intentionally dressed I get a lot done and my self esteem is higher. It takes some discipline to get up and get dressed when you don't have specific tasks at hand. I do it just because.

deb

Veteran

I put on a robe, feed the pups, and have a cup of tea and read the news on my pc or tablet. Then brush my teeth and wash my face, get dressed and apply moisturizer and whatever makeup I am going to wear.

Anonymous

I feed the dog, drink my coffee, put on my exercise clothes and head out to walk the dog for an hour or two. We're just walking and enjoying ourselves, it's not about fitness or exertion, it's about being happiness and gratitude.

Getting up and getting out is a great way to start the day and that early morning contact with the world I actually live in, not tv, not internet makes me feel connected for the rest of the day.

Anonymous

I like to be out in my garden early, so I usually throw on some comfy shorts and a tee when I roll out of bed. While I drink coffee, I walk around making sure there's plenty of water for the thirsty creatures who wander by, and for the birds This seems to get me awake and ready for the day. If I don't go out, I'll just stay as is.

Dee

Veteran

During the work week, I hop out of bed and head directly into the shower. I don't usually feel awake until I shower (I am NOT a morning person). So I'm dressed by the time I drink coffee, check email, etc.

On the weekends, I just end up lounging around in my pajamas until late morning or I need to leave the house. I don't own a robe but might throw on a fleece in the winter if I'm chilly.

For those who wear a robe or some other layer over your pajamas, is it for warmth, modesty or something else?

Aziraphale

Veteran

We're a pyjama family. I will happily sit in my pjs until noon every chance I get, and so will my partner and kids. However, I don't get to do this Monday to Friday, of course! Most days (during the school year) I'm up at 6:00 and dressed within 5 minutes. Some mornings I shower, but on the mornings I have to leave the house at 7:00, I don't. I bathe every night, though.

One of the great pleasures of summer is that I can have my morning coffee in my night-clothes most days. I don't care who sees me in my pyjamas, which are loose-fitting, modest and in good shape. I replace them regularly. The queen of England could come over in her Easter-egg coloured skirt suit and I'd be perfectly comfortable offering her a cup of tea while still wearing my pyjamas.

Anonymous

My two cats would never survive (based on the way they act in the morning ) if I didn't put on a robe and go directly to the kitchen and get them fed . Then the coffee gets made, then I eat my breakfast while reading the news or my email. Only after that is all done do I get dressed. Weekends? We definitely sit around in robes drinking coffee and reading the newspapers - as long as everyone is dressed by 11 or so, I don't mind it at all We no longer breakfast together, but I do know what you mean Gaylene about adults sitting around the table in pyjamas. It just kills me that you see it sometimes at those family hotels that offer free breakfast buffets in the morning and there is some random family with wet hair and pyjamas eating right there with you. If we are a guest at a cottage or someone 's house, I would NEVER sit around in my pyjamas - same if I were hosting at my cottage or house.

Joy

Veteran

To answer Dee's question, I have a robe but neither DH or I own PJs, so I use it for modesty. What I put on first thing depends on my day. DH gets up first, dresses casually (retired) and takes care of the dog and makes coffee. Sometimes I put on a robe or sweats to get a cup of coffee before showering and dressing. Other days I just get dressed first. CJ, I think that you are right. Getting into a habit of sitting around in lounge clothes wastes much of the day. If one is dressed, they are ready for activities.

kerlyn

Veteran

I put on lounge wear or workout wear first thing, feed the beagle (who thinks he's starving to death!), pour coffee, get the newspaper, wake up my daughter...then spend some time reading the paper, having breakfast, etc. After getting my daughter off to school I (and hubby, if he's home) will usually spend the morning doing housework, garden stuff, running errands ( I put on real clothes if I'm going out), and sometimes exercising. I find I'm more likely to exercise if I put on workout clothes right away. After a run or yard work, I'll shower and put on regular clothes.

rachylou

Veteran

I put on something warm... slacker hipster knit track pants, tennies, sweater, puffy... for the first dog walk. In this summer weather, when we get back, it's warmed up to HOT, so then I put on something summery. Then later in the afternoon I either put on my bakery clothes or change into something warm again as the temp drops.

This summer has been nightmarish this way, actually. I've been unable to do WIW photos because I'm changing clothes so much. I can't keep up with myself!

milehighstyle (Linda)

Veteran

I wash my face and brush my teeth as soon as I get up, then get dressed in work clothes or workout clothes, depending on what I am doing that day. I have a robe, but only wear it on cold nights if I'm lounging a bit before bed.

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

I put on my housecoat as soon as I get up weekdays and weekends. I got into the habit of sitting around and relaxing while drinking tea or coffee a decade ago and the habit stuck. It just lasts a bit longer on the weekend. I usually drink my warm beverage for about an hour and then shower and get ready for the day. I like my quiet time in the morning.

Anonymous

I usually put on a t-shirt and shorts/sweatpants first thing in the morning as I take my dog out for a long walk before I do anything else. Once we get back from our walk, I feed the dog, eat breakfast, put the dishes in the dishwasher, and put on a pot of coffee while I make the bed and this time get dressed for the day. I usually do my makeup first (I shower the night before - saves me loads of time plus I sleep better after my shower), pick out what I am going to wear, then fluff up my hair.

Tania

Veteran

I head downstairs, make coffee, and check plans/email for a few minutes. Then I change and stretch and do some quick exercises. Then I clean myself up/get dressed and help the kids transition into their day/chores/walk/etc.

Marley

Veteran

I almost always get dressed as soon as I hop out of bed. I've learned from experience that if I don't get dressed then, that I may end up in my pjs all day - and when I do, I feel awful. I work from home and I'm much more productive when I am fully dressed, make-up on, hair styled, etc. before I sit down to my computer! I work 7 days a week - so I have the same routine everyday! My workout clothes go on around 4 p.m. - I head to class at 5 p.m. - get home between 6:30 and 7 - shower, and put on my lounge clothes. Evenings are the only time I wear "lounge clothes."

Windchime

Veteran

Three mornings a week, a I put on exercise clothes a meet a friend for a long walk, stretches, and some calisthenics. The other mornings, I like to enjoy coffee and YLF for a little bit before getting dressed for work. On all mornings, the kitty gets fed and the dog gets let outside before anything else gets done!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I get up very early and put on my workout clothes and brush my teeth. After a long, long couple of coffees, during which I email and YLF (that is what I am doing right now), I do some form of exercise, shower, put on sunscreen, lounge clothes and eat breakfast. After that I get dressed for the day. I get up very early and am out of the house by 8am most days.

Runcarla

Veteran

Weekdays I throw on a sleep-T (I don't wear night clothes to bed) and will add a big terry robe in winter. While DH showers and gets dressed, I feed the cat, make coffee, have breakfast while packing the lunches (DH and me), check the weather for the day, check YLF for last minute inspiration!

DH shows up for breakfast (he will have made the bed) and it is my turn to wash face, brush teeth, get dressed. I am usually out the door an hour after waking.

On weekends, I am up just as early, but into work out gear for early am gym stuff.

Sometimes on Sunday's, or holidays we are the family that lounges around until noon in our PJ's and robes! More so on snowy, wintery days. I have been known to eat breakfast, and go back to bed to nap or read. I have always cultivated a nice bedroom, and it remains my favourite room!

FWIW, when I get home from work I will change into jeans and a cozy top. If for some reason I am unable to change, I wear an apron over my work clothes. If I am pressed for time, I sometimes change directly into workout gear, and pack the jeans and comfy top combo. I don't really have 'lounge wear' per se and stopped wearing yoga pants when not in work clothes after joining YLF.

Laurinda

Veteran

I work from home and shower and dress every morning as soon as I get up. I don't own any lounge wear other than a pair of sweatpants I wear over my shorts when I go to the gym in cold weather.
I can only imagine wearing sweatpants around the house if I was really ill.

Rambling Ann

(website)

Veteran

It's funny how getting a puppy changed my routine almost overnight. Gone are the wee morning hours of lounging in my fleece sweats before feeding and watering the rest of the animals. The puppy needs to get going early and often, so now I jump straight into my day clothes, which is still mostly gear. I haven't been to the gym since we got him, but his exercise needs are high, so it's about a wash. I miss my comfy contemplative half hour before the day's agenda starts, but he's worth it.

Echo

Veteran

I always put on a fluffy robe first thing in the morning. When I don't have work, I definitely have a cup of coffee and breakfast before getting showered and dressed. When I teach, I am up early and head straight for the shower and get dressed. I'd love to get up and have a cup of coffee before showering on days I work, too, but I'm not willing to get up that early! I don't find it affect my productivity for the day at all. I just like to relax and wake up a bit before getting the day started.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

Almost always, I change directly into exercise clothes. If I get a bit of a lie- in, maybe a cardigan over pajamas for breakfast and then the workout gear after.

SW Ann

Veteran

I'm up Mon-Sat 4:15 am during summer/heat of Arizona (later in winter only on Saturdays) and get straight into my exercise clothes. Then, coffee and a light breakfast before it's out with DH for an hour long fitness walk in our neighborhood. Then, back home for shower, make DH lunch, and get him out the door, then get myself dressed and ready for whatever the day holds. I don't work at a paying job, but work hard at daily activities, home making and living a good life. The only day I stay in jammies is Sunday, when we indulge in brunch and a couple of Sunday papers with our coffee and chocolate pancakes (why do you think I do all that walking the rest of the week??!)

Staysfit

Veteran

I am up at 5 am. I put on my exercise gear first thing everyday (6 days a week) for my morning workout, then I eat breakfast with the DS and DH, then I quickly shower, dress for the day and head to work. Routines are key at the Staysfit household. What a great question CJ. I'm intrigued by the ways getting dressed provides structure for so many of us.

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