As the end of the fourth quarter is quickly approaching, so are the big tests that lurk right before summer break. From AP tests to SOLs, to finals, nearly every student is beginning to prepare themselves for these exams.
Walking into the testing room on a big test day, there are two different types of students. There are those who just roll out of bed wearing sweatpants and a hoodie with an energy drink in hand, and then there are the students who look tidy and put together, wearing an unusually nice outfit. These two types of students raise a valid question: which is more beneficial, sleeping in for an extra 30 minutes, or waking up 30 minutes earlier to put yourself together before a big test day?
It might sound cliché at first, but there is real psychology behind dressing well on important days.
The idea of “enclothed cognition” is the physiological theory that the clothes you wear change how you think, look, and behave. Your brain takes signals from what you put on your body, meaning that if you put on activewear, you’ll be more motivated to exercise, and when you put on pajamas, it sends a signal to your brain that it’s time to rest.
What you wear can affect how you feel, and how you feel can affect how you perform. When you put in effort to your appearance, your brain can interpret the day as being important and therefore works harder to focus.
People tend to be much more confident when they like their outfit, and while confidence cannot magically make you smarter, it can reduce anxiety. Instead of walking into the testing room feeling lazy and unconfident, you walk in feeling prepared and confident. This mindset can make it so much easier to focus and test your best.
Aside from confidence, taking the time to get dressed and properly groom yourself in the morning comes with many other benefits.
Taking the time to get ready in the morning can give you a sense of control. Especially with finals right around the corner, it’s so easy to feel overwhelmed as a student even before the bell rings at 8:30 am. Waking up a little bit earlier in order to have personal time to get ready and eat breakfast in the morning before school can give you a sense of calmness that is hard to find anywhere else. This calmness before school sets the mood for the entire day ahead.
Junior Savannah Whitmer explains why she enjoys taking her time getting ready before school.
“I like waking up a little bit earlier to get myself together and organized before school. It gives me motivation at school whenever I look and feel my very best. I believe in ‘look good, feel good,’” said Whitmer.
Junior Lyndsay Arnold enjoys adding small pops of whimsy to her mornings before the school day.
“I like to add these cute little clips to my hair each morning. They make me happy, which thus encourages a better start to my school day,” said Arnold.
Taking the extra 20-30 minutes to get ready in the morning can set the mood for your entire day. This extra boost of confidence can be just what you need to make the best of each day.
