If you are like me and thought attending in person classes every day was a good enough excuse to flex a cute outfit, then this whole virtual learning thing is KILLING YOU. It is not easy to put on a pair of jeans rather than sweatpants just to sit in the same spot all day to stare at your laptop. When at home I choose comfort over style, lucky for me my style carries over into my loungewear more often than not. But still, I feel unmotivated and too cozy to be focused when I’m nestled up in sweats and an oversized tee when logging on for classes. So frankly, to be completely transparent this column is just as much for me as it is for all of you. I still have not figured out the way to maintain a sense of fashion while virtually learning. My favorite part of everyday used to be getting dressed in the morning. Now I just roll out of bed and crawl over to my laptop not even entirely concerned with my appearance as I likely won’t even turn my camera on. But there has got to be more to this. It certainly is harder to dress up (and by dress up I mean just wearing something you wouldn’t typically sleep in) when you don’t even have a reason to leave your house. We all know the feeling of lazy Sundays when you stay in your pajamas all day and just get cozy on your couch or in bed. For me every day feels like lazy Sunday! And let me tell you, too much of a good thing is DEFINITELY not a good thing.
Alright so then what are we to do? How can I incorporate my favorite season of fashion into my oh-so-boring lifestyle? First things first is start off every day with a shower. Taking a shower first thing in the morning is not only hygienically responsible, but it forces you to get out of your pajamas and therefore, actually get dressed. Once you’re all cleaned up you might even be motivated to style your hair if you don’t normally do that or throw on a little bit of makeup. Before you know it you will being feeling good about yourself. The part I struggle the most with is sitting comfortably in any pair of pants that are not sweatpants for the entirety of the day. See to me, it is different than wearing jeans or some sort of stiff material pant to in person class. When you attend classes in person you sit for about an hour and fifteen minutes at a time, once that time is up you get up and walk to your next class or the dining hall or wherever you’re off to. But when you wear jeans to online class, for me I am sitting in the same chair for about six hours straight and I will be the first to assure you that jeans get mighty uncomfortable awfully quick when all you’re doing is sitting in them. Which leads me to my next point.
In-between classes we must take time to stretch our legs and get our blood flowing. As of now my time in between classes has consisted of laying down, going on my phone or grabbing a snack. I think it is important to go for a walk even if it is just around your block or up and down your driveway. Leaving your house or apartment is key. Take your dog for a quick walk maybe. The act of actually stepping outside of your home will make you feel more active, and it will also feel like you are giving your fashionable outfit a purpose. It does not matter if you see anyone at all while you’re outside, it is not about impressing your neighbors or trying to get someone on the street to notice you. It really is just about getting some movement in and not letting those sweatpants become your weakness. Rock the jeans. Rock them all the way to your mailbox and back to your desk for more virtual learning.
Here’s another suggestion that I personally think is a great choice: Instead of staying cramped up in your apartment or bedroom all day, venture out to a coffee shop or maybe to Panera where you can find some quiet space but still have access to Wi-Fi in order to join your classes. It costs absolutely nothing to sit at Starbucks and do work. They have a policy that allows patrons to sit in their cafes without purchasing anything. Of course, I would never do that, as soon as I am within two miles of any Starbucks my basic girl senses kick in and I find myself ordering whatever venti drink I’m in the mood for that day. But beside the point, going to a coffee shop or some public setting will force you to get out of your pajamas and actually put real clothes on. Of course whenever venturing to a public place it is necessary to always bring a mask with you and follow CDC guidelines for social distancing. Last week on my day off of classes I forced myself to my local Panera to do work in a different atmosphere, and because of that I dressed up, mask and all. Another thing about being on campus is the plentiful options of places to study. Personally, I bounce from the library to different academic buildings, to classrooms or coffee shops. The change is necessary sometimes. In this day and age, something as simple as heading to a Starbucks instead of your bedroom for virtual learning could be the difference between learning a whole lot and sleeping through classes.
Getting yourself into the swing of these online classes might have been tough for some of us, certainly for me. Therefore, resorting to sweatpants or leggings everyday has been an almost subconscious effort. But now that I have settled into a routine I realize that I can do better than rolling up in my pajamas, not to please anyone else, just to make myself feel better. Maybe at first I will ease into it with wearing comfy outfits that are still cute until eventually I can sport my favorite sweaters and fall pants. It does not take much to get me to a Starbucks so I will be sure to throw on some trendy shoes with a chic outfit and make my way over. For me it is true, to look good helps you feel good. I do not know how students show up to class every day in sweatpants when we are in person. I get the comfort but looking good makes you feel so good! Sure, sweats make me feeling amazing too, but when I am cozied up in bed not when I am in the classroom ready to learn. But of course, to each their own. However, fall fashion is upon us and who doesn’t want to flex that? Certainly not me, so I will be home, behind my laptop, wearing all my favorite trends in silence and I hope all of you will be doing the same with me! Here are some of my fits so far.
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