Discardia_ More Life, Less Stuff - Dinah Sanders [83]
Upgrade the source of your aches and pains
One of the best and most simple pleasures, which can really make a difference in your day, is how well you slept the night before. Cut corners on other things so you can have a better bed. A good mattress is a truly wise investment; however, regardless of the type of mattress you have, spend enough time with it.
Get to bed at a reasonable hour, get a good night's rest, stretch when you get up in the morning, and face the world with a bit more (bed)spring in your step.
If you have a pair of cruel shoes, which leave your feet aching every time you wear them or, worse yet, damage them with blisters and contortions, get rid of those evil bastards! There are sexy shoes that don't cause agony. Another pair out there can make you just as happy as those worn-out ones, which can no longer live up to their former glory (or arch support), once did. Take care of your feet; they work hard for you. As my grandfather and other older friends and relations have warned, healthy feet are an increasingly valuable asset as you get older.
Is there a whole class of clothing that you detest wearing, but that you find hard to avoid? Find an alternative. For me, it’s pantyhose. They don't breathe, the tan color looks weird to me, and I hate hate hate the way the waistband slips down. For years I didn't like wearing dresses or skirts to business or formal events because of the expectation of having to endure pantyhose. Now, when I decide to give up my slacks for something a little more girly, I wear stockings or stocking-top hose in colors and patterns.
What about you? Don’t ever want to buy another cotton dress shirt again that isn't wrinkle free? Madam, do you want to replace that bra with a vest top, which includes hidden support? Sir, give yourself permission to grow that beard. “Happy” is a bigger part of “being nice to be with” than “clean-shaven.”
Handle efficiently that which you hate
I have to confess something. Unlike many people, I generally hate clothes shopping. The number of choices is overwhelming and the culture, which idolizes disposable fashion and stick-figure thinness, is depressing.
If you also feel this way, here’s a tip that made a real difference for me: Figure out a handful of colors that you really like to wear and look good on you. They don't all have to go together, but they should cluster in a couple overlapping groups so you can make the best use of your wardrobe. Poke around in your closets and drawers and note the colors of your favorite clothes.
Think about outfits you like that seem to match up well. If you are colorblind, like lots of folks, have a noncolorblind friend with good fashion sense help you with this. Also, get one of the great smartphone apps, like DanKam: Colorblind Fix to help you day to day. List your colors, decide on half a dozen on which you're going to focus, and figure out the ones that can be worn together.
When you’re shopping, look for your colors first. It makes it easy to scan a rack (or a catalog) and zero in on just a few things that might suit you. Then, you can quickly flip through and eliminate things that you don't like about the fabric or details (“too synthetic and shiny,” “too busy a pattern,” or “too many fiddly lacy bits around the cuffs”).
When some things connect, and they’re in your price range, try them on to find which one for this manufacturer is flattering to you. Don’t let size numbers stress you out; in women’s clothing especially, sizes vary radically from brand to brand. Wear what fits your body well.
As you do the “turn the hanger around backwards, put it back the normal way after wearing it, and six months later get rid of the still backwards stuff” trick, you’ll find that your closet has largely settled into your chosen colors. There may be a few exceptions, such