Did you guys all hear the news? According to the World Health Organization, we can now officially be diagnosed with burnout. Burnout, according to the WHO, is a phenomenon that is specifically related to chronic workplace stress, and consists of three major dimensions: feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion, increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job, and reduced professional efficacy. If you read that description and suddenly felt very seen, well, you’re not alone.
I’ve been feeling burned out for a while, for a variety of reasons. My day job is stressful, my blog feels a little aimless, I’m constantly having an existential crisis over whether or not I’m fashionable enough to have this job or if I can call myself a “real” writer – it’s enough to leave me despondent on my couch most nights, shopping on my phone and pointedly not talking to my husband (they should really add “always being mad at your husband for no specific reason” to the list of burnout symptoms). I can’t go on feeling like this forever, and it seems to me that the only way out is through.
So here I am, committing myself to yet another wardrobe project: blogging about my outfit every day for 100 days. I decided on this project for a few reasons. First and foremost, I re-watched Julie & Julia the other night, and it gave me the confidence that I’ll one day be able to transition this blog into a book deal and a movie starring Meryl Streep. Second, I’ve been feeling lately that as I become more content with my closet and my personal style, I have less interesting posts to make for you. Does the world really need another how-to guide on paring down your closet or an essay on the virtues of creating a capsule wardrobe? No, not really. There are bloggers out there who are doing that in a much more organized and comprehensive way than I ever could. But I think most of you have stuck with me this last year not because I have the best clothes or the best advice, but because you enjoy bearing witness to a normal person’s evolving relationship with personal style. At least, I think that’s why you’re here.
I want to continue to share this little part of my life with you in a more consistent way. In their book Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle authors (and sisters) Amelia and Emily Nagoski recommend, among other things, “connecting with your something-larger” as an effective treatment for burnout. Well, I think you guys are my something larger. Showing up here for you is the best part of my day, and getting dressed might be the second-best part.
I have no goals or rules for this project other than to finish it. I thought about adding a shopping ban component or something, but why add more pressure to an already overly ambitious project? I just want to see if I can do the simple thing of remembering to take a photograph of my outfit and post it on this website every day.
A brief disclaimer: because this blog is as much a money-making endeavor as it is my creative hobby, I will be including affiliate links and occasional product reviews in these posts. When you click through an affiliate link and make a purchase, I earn a small commission, at no additional cost to you. So, if you like something that you see here, please consider using my affiliate links to make your purchases. It should go without saying that I would never link to a product that I wouldn’t personally wear or recommend.
Okay. Ready for Day 1? Here we go!
Outfit details: VETTA Boxy Blouse in White, VETTA Peg Pant, Everlane Day Heel in Pecan (gifted), Everlane Day Square Tote in Black (gifted)
Am I awkwardly uppercutting this day? Yes, yes I am. Despite the burnout, I got it together enough to put on a good outfit, and even threw in a red lip for good measure. If you’re a regular reader, you know that black and white is my personal uniform. Wardrobally speaking, this outfit is my happy place. I wore this to the office for a half-day, and then to the salon to get my roots done in the afternoon.
That’s all I’ve got for today. Cross your fingers for me that I can at least carry this experiment through to tomorrow.
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Goblin Shark 
“Wardrobally” … Absolute genius. Thank you for writing. I read that article too. It’s popped up a lot in my feed. Can certainly relate.
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Glad my made-up word is going over well 😅 And yes, I feel like I haven’t talked to anyone about the burnout news who doesn’t also identity with those feelings in some way.
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Your blog is one of my favorites because you show your minimal wardrobe honestly, with pieces on repeat. So many bloggers write about minimalism and capsule wardrobes but always seem to be wearing something new. And, your voice is refreshing and unique. Do we need another essay about cleaning out our closets? Probably not, but if you write it I’ll show up for it. You really do have something to say, and I can’t wait for the movie.
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hi, i am new to your blog and i love it, that was a very hard work.
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I love this post! All of your recent feelings about blogging really resonate with me. Between my ‘real’ job, four kids, not feeling like a good enough blogger, and uncertainty about what I’m even blogging about/for anymore I totally feel ya. You’ve inspired me to try 100 days of outfits, but I’m getting nervous about actually getting on my blog each day. But we shall see.
Thanks for being so open and honest and keeping it real,
Paige
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I so feel that! Sometimes the expectations we put on ourselves are completely absurd and can leave us feeling uninspired. I certainly haven’t kept my promise of posting every day, but it’s still been a great project so far! I love your style, so selfishly I would be really happy if you did this challenge too! Haha
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