This simple evening gesture actually hides a rare quality according to psychology researchers.
17 minutes a day. This is the average time a person spends each morning in front of their wardrobe deciding how to dress. Over a year, this represents the equivalent of 4 full days according to a British study carried out by Marks & Spencer. This same survey reveals that 62% of women (and 20% of men) admit to having already had moments of frustration or black anger in the morning (“wardrobe crises”) simply because they couldn’t find what to wear. This morning decision in front of the cupboard is often a source of unnecessary stress. To avoid this moment of friction, some people systematically prepare their outfit the night before. This behavior, far from being an organizational detail, shows a very effective way of using your brain at the end of the day.
Scientifically, this habit works the prefrontal cortex, the area at the front of the skull that manages tasks related to organization. Neuroscience studies show that people who anticipate their actions in this way have very fluid neuronal activity in this region. Their brain starts planning the next day before they even go to sleep.
This habit therefore reveals great clarity of mind. By making this decision the evening before, the person eliminates a source of unnecessary stress and saves his strength for the next day. This concrete organization shows an ability to simplify one’s life and keep one’s ideas clear for the things that really matter. It means being both a step ahead and a sense of priorities. Like people who don’t respond immediately to a message.
Psychology researchers call this combating “decision fatigue.” Their research in social psychology demonstrates that our brain has a limited reserve of energy to make choices during the day. Choosing your outfit in the morning empties this battery as soon as you wake up, while resolving this issue in the evening allows you to start the day with a maximum energy gauge.
In addition to saving time, this routine calms the areas of the brain that manage anxiety. Waking up becomes calmer because the mind knows exactly what to do when it opens its eyes. Adopting this reflex is an easy way to clear your mental load and give your brain a smooth start to the day.
