I was once given the advice to shut off all devices on Friday nights and make each Saturday technology-free. No emails, no Reddit, no I-know-it’s-the-weekend-but-I’ll-just-finish-this-slide-deck-for-work. I’m starting to think that’s a good idea, but I don’t think I’m quite ready to commit to that. For now I’m using fashion to help me get my chill on.
Sometimes I feel like I live three lives. I’m simultaneously a student at Dalhousie University, a Technical Evangelist at Microsoft, and a writer/blogger here at Trendy Techie (which takes up a lot more time than you may expect). And since all three of these are rooted in technology and somewhat intertwined, there is seldom a waking moment when I’m not thinking about something related to these three facets of my life. Like many bloggers, I treat my blog like a job and invest dozens of hours a week in it, usually on the weekends. Trendy Techie is much bigger than what you see here online, there’s a lot of planning, photography, editing, meeting, testing and emailing – lots of emailing – that goes on behind the scenes, as well as some plans that I am very excited to share with you in the coming months! But all this work doesn’t leave much time for mental emptying, and this weekend I came to the realization that I’ve forgotten how to chill.
I’ve always found that what I’m wearing has a strong influence on my mood, but lately I’ve been so busy that my default outfit on any given day is high-waisted structured trousers and a blouse (definitely NOT chill-in-able). So I’ve adopted the habit of wearing clothes that make me feel like a bro and taking what I’m now calling “enforced days off” – days when I can use my devices, but only for things that are strictly NOT work/school/blog admin related. This outfit is my best bro outfit, the most chill-in-able clothes I have that I can still feel okay about going outside in (I still have yet to find a pair of sweats I look good in, suggestions are welcome). Just like the way a pair of heels can instantly make you feel sexy and confident, a snapback can make you feel like all that matters is the ice cream in your hand and the sunshine on your face, and sometimes that’s just what you need.
top: H&M / jeans: Guess / hat: Lids / shoes: city walk / glasses: Charming Charlie