Lately, I have been suffering evening migraines. It became a constant such that by 4pm, I would already feel it coming and I got stressed thinking about what the cause could be. Then one evening, I decided that instead of taking paracetamol, why not just shut down my laptop, put my phone on Do Not Disturb and try to sleep. That decision made me realize that most of the problems, mental unrest or even health issues we face can be sorted the natural way.
Hello ladies, I’m Mide and it is a pleasure to join another LOH community contest. I’ve been away for a short while due to how tightly packed my schedule has been. And to be honest, I could definitely have created time to write, but whenever I opened my MS word, I just became blank. My creativity was out the window and for the first time in my writing career, I experienced a writer’s block. I had ideas, I just couldn’t form them into words. There was even this time I tried forcing myself yet I couldn’t write more than 100 words, it was dreadful and scary.
But looking back now, it all makes sense. The constant headache, the lack of quality sleep, the creative block; it was all because I wasn’t at peace. Even when I slept, it felt like my brain was still actively wandering about. I would sleep for 5 hours and wake up feeling like I’d only slept for 5 minutes.
I was genuinely scared that something was wrong with me and despite my daily reliant on paracetamol, I was almost sure I needed more medications so I went to the hospital. The Doctor asked me some questions about my lifestyle and then concluded, I didn’t need drugs, I needed a lifestyle change, prioritizing myself before my schedule. And honestly, it all made sense to me. My busy schedule had made me forget myself, my routine had narrowed down to waking up, making a to-do list and chasing after time to ensure I finish my tasks. Often time, I do this and even forget to eat. And not to mention that my work and 90% of daily activities requires me staring at my phone or laptop’s screen which explains why headache chose me as its new bestie coming to hang out with me every evening.
Having had these explanations from the Doctor, I got home, decided to do a little bit of self-reflection and now that I have decided to live a more intentional wellness-me-first lifestyle, some days, I wake up feeling like I have my life together, before I go to bed, I ensure to plan my outfit for the net day in advance, I wake up an hour earlier to make myself breakfast, fill my water-bottle to stay properly hydrated all through the day and have my anti-blue light glasses within reach. Not to forget the compulsory two-hour nap scheduled somewhere in between my remotely chaotic workday.
Other days? Well, let's just say I blink, and it's already 7 PM, and I'm wondering where the time ran off to while I was trying to keep up. Sad reality, time waits for no one, and if there's anything I’ve learned, it’s that you have to be intentional about everything, be it, your peace of mind, wellness, work, and even fashion.
And that is why I’ve always believed that looking good doesn’t have to come at the cost of my comfort zone or bank account. My definition of sustainable fashion would be more about making smart, conscious fashion decisions that work for my personal preference and lifestyle and less about staying in trend. I’m a sucker for monochrome and neutral tones because they make styling effortless. Before I make purchase for any fashion piece, I ask myself, “Does the color, texture or even pattern matches at least three other fashion pieces I own?”
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Otherwise, that would just be a waste of money because it would sit in my wardrobe unworn and unable to be styled. I like monochromatic looks because if I own a pair of blue colored pant trouser, I can buy different shades of blue tops knowing quite well that I can style them differently to the blue pant trouser and still make it look fresh and stylish.
And shoes? Best believe I’m investing in quality pairs that go with everything, so I’m not out here saving heels I’ll never wear twice to cart. It’s not just about saving money; it’s about curating a wardrobe that works for me, not against me. Another important factor I consider is shopping for my body type and skin tone, I would never buy a dress just because it looked good on my favorite celebrity or because the color is rather dashing. I ensure I purchase fashion pieces that flatters my body shape and compliments my natural skin tone without overshadowing or dulling it.
There’s this saying, “dress how you want to be addressed”. While I appreciate looking stylish and a little bit of skin does not hurt anyone. I believe it is important to not overdo it. Luckily, my preferred fashion type is looking professional and casual-formal with the good ol’ pant trouser to shirts and tops combination.
But on few occasions where I have to wear gowns or skirts, I have one rule, “only show 1/4 of skin per outfit, maximum is 2/4”. If an outfit shows my bare back or shoulders, then my legs and chest needs to be covered. And vice versa. If three or all of these parts are on full display, I would be highly uncomfortable, and I like to look confident. There is absolutely no confidence in trying all night to ensure my exposed dress doesn’t get more exposed. If I’m wearing an extremely short dress that shows the bare back, best believe, I’m styling it with an ankle boot or pantyhose because, I need to be comfortable in whatever I wear.
But at the end of the day, fashion is just one piece of the puzzle in regards to being intentional about one’s lifestyle choices towards attaining inner peace. Working remotely means I’m staring at a screen from morning till night, so my anti-blue light glasses are now my saving grace. Even with them, I make it important to take a break with my two-hour non-negotiable afternoon nap. Even if I wasn’t feeling sleepy, I’d at least lay down there, away from the devices, close my eyes and just breathe while counting 1-100 to free my head of thoughts. Hydration? Essential. Breakfast? A must, because I’m not about to be that girl running on vibes and an empty stomach anymore, lol.
At the end of it all, I remind myself to give grace to my wardrobe, my routines, my time, and most importantly, myself. I may not have it all figured out, but I’m moving with intention. And for me, right now, that’s all that matters. From my mindful shopping processes and preferences, to my fashion rule and to my newly curated daily wellness practices, it is all to achieve one thing; inner peace.
All images are mine.
Thank you for reading! :)