How To Stop Wearing Your PJs All Day

It might have started in 2020. Or when you retired. Or when your job went from mostly in-office to mostly at-home. However it happened, you found yourself staying in your PJs a little too long. Maybe you changed mid-morning? Or after lunch? Or maybe, some days, you found yourself changing out of the PJs that you wore all day into another set for night.

And maybe they weren’t PJs at all, but baggy t-shirts and comfy shorts, or loungewear, or your husband’s old pajama pants. Either way, your daytime clothes and nighttime clothes became one tired and shapeless wardrobe. And maybe, at first, it didn’t seem like a problem. I mean, you weren’t going anywhere, right? Why bother to get dressed and look cute?

But then you found yourself declining invitations. Ordering in instead of going out. Skipping errands because the hassle of getting dressed to run to the corner store just seemed like too much effort.

It’s a slippery slope, and one that so many women find themselves on.

Today, I show you how to break the cycle of 24-hour pjs and get dressed daily in a way that’s practical, comfortable, and stylish.

Why Get Dressed?

There is a strong correlation between getting dressed and mental health. Not to oversimplify, but the lack of interest in getting dressed is often one of the first signs of depression. And many of us have experienced that. We just lose interest in the day-to-day routine of putting ourselves together and facing the outside world.

Often, the path to normalcy and reclaiming some of your interest in life starts with habits that support that, including the habit of getting dressed daily.

That’s why the distinction between daytime clothes and nighttime clothes is such an important one.

Another advantage to getting dressed daily is that you sleep better at night when you haven’t been in PJs all day. We’ve all experienced this on the odd-pajama day or sickish day, but making a clear transition from day to night ensures a better night’s sleep.

And when you do get ready for bed, you want those PJs to be fabulous.

Make Your PJs Fab

One of the keys for me in feeling like I am keeping it together and not overwhelmed or stressed out by life is to wear beautiful pajamas. I grew up wearing pajamas and nightgowns to bed and not ratty tees, and I have for the most part stuck with this as an adult, but a few years ago I found an occasional old tee as a PJ top (worn with pajama bottoms) creeping into my sleep wardrobe, and I always felt dumpy in these combos. I decided to refocus on cute sleepwear and it has made all the difference. Wearing pretty pajamas when my girls have friends over for sleepovers or when we have guests and just around my own family at home makes me feel like a pretty glamorous mom and not like a frumpy housewife.

Here, some of my favorite PJs, from the fancy to the frugal.

All of these chic pajamas can be found here.

Find Daytime Pajama Equivalents

This heading is a little misleading, because I’m not talking about wearing pajamas during the day, but creating a rotation of cute outfits that are as comfortable and as much of a no-brainer as your pajamas. These, for me, include cute loungewear sets, bra-tops and loungewear that allows you to skip the bra and still have that support, and, in warmer weather, the house dress.

You can find all of these items right here.

Do Something

Another tactic that can help motivate you to get dressed on a regular basis is to set an alarm. Pick a time that you will commit to changing out of your PJs and into a cute daytime comfy outfit, and stick to it. Whatever that time is, it’s up to you. But make it consistent. And definitely make it in the A.M. hours.

Another strategy is to schedule something every day, whether it’s a trip to the dog park or an errand or a walk around the block. Give yourself a reason to get out of the house every day, if that is possible for you. Often this is motivation enough to get dressed.

Hair & Makeup, Always

Finally, decide on the level of hair and makeup that makes you feel pulled-together yet casual. That might be an updo and sunscreen and lip balm, or it might be a blowout and your favorite bold lipstick shade. That level is different for each woman, but having your hair and face look good changes everything.

The same is true for hygiene, of course. Shaving, showering, and wearing a pretty fragrance can make you feel pretty on even the most casual day.