Wear confidence: defeat decision fatigue in clothing

Styling strategies to stop stressing over clothes

As a professional, you might be familiar with the term “decision paralysis”. When it comes to clothes, overthinking outfits is not uncommon and often you might be stuck in a decision paralysis, sort of speak, where you can’t make a decision because you feel there are too many options.

In today’s article, I’ll share my thoughts and provide easy to follow strategies to help you defeat this.

Understanding decision paralysis in clothing

Paradox of choice: you might be overwhelmed by having too many clothes to the point that choosing one or two pieces becomes a problem. This phenomenon is known as paradox of choice, whereby more options make you less satisfied and more stressed.

Decision fatigue: each outfit choice requires cognitive resources and the cumulative effect of those choices across the day can result in what’s called decision fatigue, a state in which your brain is overwhelmed and exhausted, so that even quick decisions feel impossible.

Social pressure: wanting to look good can make picking an outfit feel even more stressful. When you feel like you have to fit in with what’s typical or expected, creating outfits stops being fun and becomes complicated.

How to stop overthinking

Here are some strategies to help you defeat decision paralysis for good.

Capsule wardrobe: build a wardrobe with versatile, high quality pieces you love. By doing this, you’ll drastically limit your options every morning and simplify the process of getting dressed.

Plan ahead: prepare your work outfit the night before. I’m a huge advocate for proactive decisions, and clothing is no exception. This will also improve your mornings, because you’ll have more time to prepare a healthy breakfast, stretch, or take a longer shower.

Create a base outfit: give yourself permission to not think about what to wear every day. Adopt a personal uniform of the same pieces, in different colours. Think of what settings you spend more time in and get clothes that work in that setting. I spend more time in corporate environments, so my base outfit consist of either a sheath dress, or blouse and pencil skirt, paired with classic stilettos and minimalistic jewellery. Half of my closet contains those pieces. Having a base outfit cuts down daily decisions in half and creates a look that feels like you.

Decision tree: if you’re methodical, you can bring this management tool to your clothing. Ask yourself the most basic questions such as 'What's the weather like?' or 'Where am I going?' or 'How comfortable do I want to feel?' and go from there. When you follow a step-by-step process, creating your outfit is easier.

Dress for your mood: sometimes, it’s easier just to pick an outfit based on your mood or, alternatively, the mood you’d like to be in. Feeling bright and cheerful? Choose bold colours or prints. Need some comfort? Choose your trusty favourites. This way, you’re tying in how you feel with what you choose to wear. I have a free tool that will help you with this.

Time yourself: when you have to get dressed, set a timer. Knowing that you have a limited amount of time can motivate you to make decisions more quickly and prevents overanalysing. 5 to 10 minutes is usually a good amount of time for an everyday outfit.

Feedback loop: once in a while, run some of your outfit ideas by trusted friends or family members. Getting some outside validation or helpful feedback and adjusting based on that can help you in the future: they might offer a fresh perspective and over time, will help show you that there isn’t really a “wrong” choice.

Rotation system: rotate your clothing items so all of your clothes get equal wear. This will help you avoid the paralysis that comes from having to choose among everything at once. For example, group clothes by day or week.

Psychological insights

Mind and body are one, and your looks reflect your inner world. Here are some mindful tips to help you apply the strategies above.

Exposure therapy: if fear of judgement is a big factor in your decision paralysis, then slowly exposing yourself to situations where you have to wear outfits that are far from your comfort zone will start desensitising you to the fear and anxiety surrounding such clothes. Start small and build it up.

Be present: practicing mindfulness can help you to stay present and not get lost in the what ifs. When choosing an outfit, stay in the moment and how each item makes you feel now… not how you think it may feel.

The 80/20 Rule: you probably only wear 20% of your clothes 80% of the time. Figuring out what those clothes are will make getting ready much less stressful.

Acknowledge your emotions: if you find yourself feeling anxious or fearful over the choice of an outfit, there might be a deeper emotional issue that is causing this undue stress such as perfectionism or fear of judgement. Addressing these emotions can help ease the burden of decision-making.

Practice self-compassion: remember that there’s no perfect choice and it’s ok to make a mistake. Becoming resilient when things aren’t perfect will help relieve the stress of deciding what to wear.

Limit social comparison: don’t expose yourself to social media or fashion influencers that may set unrealistic standard (most of the time, they do). Work on expressing yourself, everyone is different and has unique preferences and clothing types that work for them.

Cultural and social considerations

We are not alone in the world, so it’s helpful to think of ourselves in our geographical and cultural context.

Cultural dressing: embracing traditional attire can sometimes simplify choices by adhering to cultural or familial standards, which can also boost your confidence through a sense of identity and belonging.

Sustainability as a guide: if sustainability is a value, let it guide your choices. Choosing items that are durable, versatile, and ethically made can narrow down options to those that align with your values, reducing the burden of choices.

By integrating the strategies with the mindful techniques and cultural considerations, you can develop your own approach to overcoming decision paralysis in clothing, aligning your choices with your lifestyle, values, and emotional well-being. Remember that the goal isn't just to reduce overthinking, but to boost your self-expression and comfort in your skin and clothes.