The Tranquil Vintessa

One of the most underrated self-care tools that’s at most people’s disposal is getting ready in the morning. Taking time to prepare for the day is something we often rush through or brush off, thinking it doesn’t matter, but it does. Spending time in the morning and deciding what to wear isn’t for the world. It’s for you to feel good and confident no matter where you end up.

I remember years ago, before I began my slow living journey, when I just rushed through the day. I always felt hurried because I created a sense of urgency that didn’t exist anywhere but in my head. I would convince myself that I was too busy to get ready, or I’d say the classic, “I’m just going here, who cares?” I would go out panicked, full of coffee anxiety, and daring anyone to question it because I already had an excuse, a defense ready.

What I didn’t realize was that I was unknowingly building a wall and becoming defensive before I even left the house. I felt judged immediately, and it all came from me being self-conscious. No one was judging me. When I caught glimpses of myself in the wild, I would think, “Oh my goodness, let me go home.” It took a toll on me mentally because I needed a reason not to look put together. Then, when I saw myself looking rough, so to speak, it didn’t make me feel good about myself, so I had to justify to myself why I came out looking that way.

Eventually, I just ran out of excuses. I wasn’t busy. I did care. I was the person who cared how I looked when I went out. I was just being careless with myself, and that’s what hurt the most.

I wanted to feel comfortable when I left the house. I didn’t want to go through the mental gymnastics of telling myself it was okay when it wasn’t. Not for me, at least. I wanted to go out and feel good about myself and confident, not like I was on guard or had to justify my existence.

It was then that I decided to change by creating a new baseline. I wasn’t going to do everything at once, but I could do something small. I began by brushing my eyebrows. Taking that five-minute moment gave me a pause to tend to myself. That small pause eventually turned into changing into intentional outfits to run errands in, not just whatever I had walked my dog in.

After a while, I subconsciously created a new baseline for myself. Now, when I leave the house, it feels like second nature to get ready and begin my day. I change out of my pajamas in the morning, throw on some comfortable lounge clothes (similar to the pieces I mentioned here), and continue with my day.

My appearance feels more intentional, and I feel less guarded, defensive, and self-conscious when I leave the house. The mental toll I didn’t even realize I was carrying is gone.

It’s funny how the simplest actions can sometimes have the biggest impact.