Dear Friends,

Some of you have been resisting getting dressed down to the shoes each morning. You don’t see the point if you are not planning on going anywhere. I want to give you the top 10 reasons why I think it helps you to get dressed each morning.

1)      You will feel energized and ready to take on the tasks of the day.

When I get dressed down to the shoes each morning, I feel ready to take on my morning duties. I have school to do with my boys. I need to do some computer work and start the day off with my social media. I need to check in with the members of FlyLady Premium.

If I am not dressed, I am not ready to do these things. Pay attention to how your energy level is when you get dressed versus a day when you hang around in your pajamas.

2)      Your family will take you more seriously.

Teaching your children is not always an easy task. There will be hard days. There will be days when they do not want to do part of their school work. You are their teacher and authority for your school. Wearing clothes versus your pajamas suits your role as a home educator. You will be taken more seriously.

3)      You are ready to leave on a moment’s notice.

This one reason can almost be the number one reason for getting dressed down to the shoes each morning. You never know what might happen in the course of your day. Accidents happen. People get sick. Barns catch on fire. Cars break down. Tires get flat. Loved ones lock their keys in the car. Kids need stitches or x-rays.

Every one of these situations have happened to me over the years. I was thankful that I was dressed down to the shoes and that I had gas in the car.

4)      Your children will be ready to do their tasks when they are dressed down to the shoes.

Resist it when your children ask you to let them have a pajama day for school. They will be able to pay attention better and work with more energy when they are dressed. If you are worried about the germs on your children’s shoes, you can assign them to have a pair of shoes that are to be worn inside of your home.

5)      Getting dressed down to the shoes will lift your spirits.

When you are dressed down to your shoes and feel pretty, it boosts your spirits. I have observed this over and over again.You do have to buy fancy clothes to feel pretty. I tend to have a daily “uniform.” I wear pants or leggings with a pretty top. I shop online or in thrift stores. I do not spend a lot of money on clothes. I tend to buy things that I can mix and match.

I attend a church where a men’s mission brings 40+ men to church each week. They have a dress code to be in a collared shirt, tie, and dress pants for any church or chapel service. Many of these men do not have the means to purchase these items new, but they receive clothing donations and have a thrift store. They work together to find clothes that will fit new men who come to the mission (Most arrive with nothing.). You can tell by how they walk and carry themselves that taking care of their appearance and wearing dress clothes gives them confidence and a boost in their spirits.

6)      Getting dressed to the shoes each morning will boost your self-esteem.

Some of us struggle with low self-esteem. Getting dressed gives you a little boost. You will start to see yourself doing more things around the house to bless yourself and your family. You will want to declutter and do your Home Blessings because you want the peace that comes with caring for your home. As you continue taking care of yourself and your home, your self-esteem will blossom.

7)      It is important to take care of yourself.

Taking a daily shower or bath, brushing your teeth, and getting dressed daily are important elements of your daily routine. It is important that you take care of yourself. You are teaching your children by example to take care of themselves. Believe it or not, I have talked to ladies who can’t remember when they last showered. They admit to falling asleep before they brush their teeth at bedtime. They are doing too much. I understand that some of you have dry skin or eczema, and you might not be able to bathe daily. At the very least, you should bathe every other day if you suffer from dry skin.

8)      You will be fully dressed if you have any deliveries that day.

Many of us rely on online ordering for basic supplies, and it is helpful to be fully dressed if a delivery man shows up on your doorstep with a delivery. How many of you have hidden in the house and just let the delivery man leave the package on your porch? I am sure there are several of you who have done that. Some of you ask your children to accept the deliveries for you, so you don’t answer the door in your pajamas.

9)      Getting dressed down to the shoes helps you set your routines.

Having a daily routine helps you navigate your day. As you do the same morning routine over and over again, it helps you have structure. Your body and mind get used to doing things in the same order. My morning routine is basic, and it happens whether I am at home or traveling.

I get up, make my side of the bed, go to the bathroom, eat breakfast, have quiet time, brush my teeth, and get dressed down to the shoes. Yes, I make my bed when I travel. I also wipe around the bathroom sink. I straighten things and declutter. I do not consciously think about these things. They are just so set in my routine that I do them without thinking about it.

10)   If you are dressed down to the shoes, you are less likely to stub your toe or injure a foot or toe.

All of us have dropped a glass at some point. If you are dressed down to your shoes, you are safer cleaning up the mess because your feet are protected. Some of us walk through the house when it is still dark. Having shoes on will help you keep you from hurting your toe if you accidentally walk into a piece of furniture.

If you are resisting this one routine, I want you to start doing it daily for the next week. Then, I want to hear from you. How did you feel? If you are already getting dressed down to the shoes daily, I want to hear some of your positive experiences. You can email me at tami@tamifox.com or at homeschool@flylady.net.

Your Home Blessing for today is to dust and vacuum.

Your Zone Mission for today is to declutter deal with the stash and dash in your room.

My menu plan for Tuesday is Taco Tuesday.