How to feel more put together

When you are experiencing a flare.

How to feel more put together when you are experiencing a flare. When you have inflammatory arthritis or any kind of chronic pain and are experiencing a flare, you feel terrible.  Of course there are different severity of flares, some more mild, some debilitating.  However all of them are hard and taxing. This post will look into how to feel more put together when you are experiencing a flare.

If anyone jumped into our bodies for a few minutes, they would understand.  They would undeniably excuse us for staying in bed all day (not that I have done this myself, but my, how I have wanted to sometimes).  They would praise us for curling up on the sofa with Netflix and resting, and sometimes we want to do just that.  For the majority of us though this is a very rare, dare I say treat!  For most people, life takes over, regardless of how we feel.

How many of you wake up and don’t want to get out of bed, but have to?  How about put on a smile when you are asked how you are, when you could really just cry out of sheer agony or frustration?  I hear you!  I empathise! You can read my story Here.

Back to the point of this post.  For a great many people struggling, life cannot pause while you are flaring!  If I had a pound for every time I have wished the world would just stop temporarily, I would be a rich woman!  I have two children, and although they are not babies, they are not self-sufficient yet.  I have to get up and make them breakfast and check they are ready for their day.  Help them pack their school bags and gather their lunch together, help with their hair, make sure they have brushed their teeth, the list goes on.  I know many of you can relate. We cannot just stop because we need to.

There are also times when you will have to attend meetings or appointments; these can be so important that rescheduling them is out of the question.  There is no invention yet where the shopping and the cooking will magically sort themselves out!  Let’s not even begin to discuss the complication of having another sick day form work!  Basically there are times when you need to function as normally as possible despite how you are feeling inside.  What about how you look?  On these terrible days when you have to soldier through, does it make you feel worse to look a mess?  It makes me feel much worse.

This post will focus on how you can fake it till you make it, as painful as it may be.  So that you can go about your day at least not worrying that you look a mess as well as feel It. This post is focused around women, but I’m sure that my male readers will get the point I’m trying to make!

Make peace with not looking like a catwalk model.

What I mean by this is that so many of us feel inadequate without make up, or if we nip out to run an errand with sweats on.  We hope that we don’t run into anybody.  Really! Who cares?  No one!  The truth is the people you run into probably won’t think anything at all.  If they do it will probably be, “I hope they aren’t unwell”!  If they think anything negatively, are they really the kind of people we want to be surrounding ourselves with anyway?  Everyone (every kind person worth caring about) is so wrapped up in themselves and their own little universes; they will barely notice what you look like.  This isn’t a criticism, we are all wrapped up in our own universes, this is how human nature works.  It is all inside your own head so make peace with this and give yourself a break.

That being said…….

That being said, most of us do still feel nervous when we aren’t looking our best!  I know we shouldn’t but even the most confident of us still do to an extent.  There are a few tricks that will instantly make you FEEL like you don’t look so rough.

Defining you.

Tint!  Never underestimate the power of tinting!  With your eyelashes and eyebrows looking more defined, you will look instantly more put together, it works every time!  This way when you go out without a scrap of make up on, you will still look presentable.

Hair today, gone tomorrow!

This may be a controversial one.  Especially for those of you that do not de-fuzz unless its summer!  Now, I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, what I’m saying is that if you don’t feel great unless you are de-fuzzed then why let it grow!  Get into a habit of getting rid and see how it makes you feel. I for one feel psychologically better when I’m fuzz free; this includes the face as well.  Nothing beats a great eyebrow wax after all!

The cutting edge.

Your hair cut and colour can make or break a mood, am I right?  I want you all to conjure up that feeling of leaving the hairdressers with your new hair!  Feels great doesn’t it?  If your hair is easy to manage, when a bad flare day hits, it should be no problem to quickly make it presentable!  Not a lot can make you feel crappier about how you look physically, then venturing out on a really dodgy hair day.  So make it a point not to have many!  Learn how to style your hair even when it’s a little dirty, so when you haven’t got the energy to wash it, it isn’t a problem!  I know for me, dry shampoo, is definitely my friend!

Colour me pretty.

There are certain things that just make you feel better about how you look.  It is very individual, for some it may be one of the things mentioned already.  For me it is my nails being neat and painted!  I instantly feel more put together and feminine when my hands and feet are manicured and pedicured and my nails are painted, even if that is just with a clear polish.  Find out what that something is for you and get into the habit of doing it, make it a routine.

Fashionista.

Do your clothes make you feel good?  Chuck out all of the clothes you don’t like, that way you will never have a day where your clothes make you feel yuk!  Why not invest in some plain clothes that you can chuck on quickly, without having to think too much when you feel at your worst.  Like a few plain t-shirts and some statement necklaces, with a pair of jeans, this will look great and no effort needed.

How about your underwear! Why have you got your nice underwear in one section and the not nice underwear in another?  Just have the nice stuff!  Just don’t have anything you don’t like!  It’s that easy!  Ditch the rest!  What is the point in it?

What about those old comfy sweats?  Get some nicer ones. Treat yourself to some decent lounge wear, enjoy what you wear, then it’s easy.  One trick I have is to put on workout clothes after my morning shower.  I am way more likely to work out if I am already wearing the gear.  The same is true when I don’t feel great; I put on some comfy (but nice!) clothing.  It works at making me feel less blah.

So there you have it!  My guide to making you look more put together.  All of these things are done in advance and are not really high maintenance.  It really doesn’t take much effort when you get into the habit of doing it.  On a day when you cannot fathom getting out of bed, let alone getting ready, you will no longer have to do much at all in the moment to feel that you look ok.  Which in turn makes you feel more put together and therefore does not add to your already fragile mood.

You are welcome.

Health and happiness as always

Laura