Are you stuck in a yoga pant rut?

Have you ever had this thought while in Target – “I’m a little worried they’re going to profile me as a shoplifter. Don’t put your hands in your pockets! Oh wait…I don’t have pockets.”

I’m here for you, homie. You’re in a safe place now.

This is not a fashion blog. You won’t find me at the launch of any Spring Collection or within 100 feet of a catwalk. And I’m guessing you’re not there either. I’m all about super easy outfits that give you confidence and make you feel motivated to get after it.

We’ve been sold a lie.

If you’re anything like me, you lusted after yoga pants hardcore when you were slogging it in your professional career. When you put on your suit and heels you dreamed of the day you would become a stay-at-home mom and wear yoga pants. All. The. Time.

But maybe…you’re starting to feel weighed down by yoga pants now. I feel ya. I’ve been there.

They’re no longer the symbol of your carefree, work-free, #momlife. They now feel a bit like a weight around your shoulders. Sure they’re comfy and you can nap anytime you want, but therein lies the problem…they’re too comfy and you can NAP whenever you want.

If you’re feeling unmotivated and even a little depressed, check your yoga pant privilege.

The importance of putting on “real” pants.

I’m here to offer you the solution to your self-imposed yoga pant prison. Get dressed. Preferably in “real” clothes. “But yoga pants are real clothes!!!” you shout.

For some people, yoga pants are “real” clothes. Lots of big-time entrepreneurs and authors wear yoga pants and are highly successful. Jenna Kutcher and Gretchen Rubin are two of my heroes and they wear yoga pants on the regular.

But here’s the thing. They don’t feel bogged down by yoga pants. If you’ve read this far, you probably do. And if you’re shaking your head “no, you can pry my yoga pants from my cold dead hands,” maybe you’re not ready for this message yet. You’re new to the former-professional SAHM life and you’re thriving in yoga pants. Awesome! This post will be here for you if you need it in the future.

Science people agree with me. Get dressed.

Everyone will have their own version of what it means to be dressed. I would encourage you to define what “get dressed” means for you and start doing it on a daily basis, or at least on the weekdays (even I wear sweats at night and on the weekends). This will provide you with a feeling of distinction between “work life” and “family life.” Especially if you’re trying to make a go at the #mompreneur life and you currently work out of your home (like I do). Creating a distinction between work time and family time will add structure to your day. When it’s the end of the business day for you, by all means, get in those yoga pants and relax.

This isn’t really about yoga pants.

Poor Lululemon, I hear their stocks crashing right now (if only I were that powerful). The thing is, yoga pants are MY cross to bear. Maybe putting on yoga pants and a cute fluffy sweater makes you feel like a million motivated dollars. If this describes you, by all means, you rock those Lululemons girl.

What I’m really talking about when I say “get dressed,” is the feeling of being “put together” enough to give you a sense of motivation in your day-to-day SAHM life. My husband can attest to this, but if I’m in comfy sweats or yoga pants and I sit down on the couch, I’ll be passed out in about 10 minutes. And in my house, yoga pants have such a chemistry with the couch that it feels like they are magnetically drawn together.

I don’t have time to get dressed is just an excuse.

Harsh. I know. You need a harsh friend. We’re the best kind of friend. We truly want you to be successful and we’re not going to sugar coat it for you.

This isn’t like the brain surgeries you used to perform or the rocket science you have a degree in. You don’t need to break out the old suits (but wearing a blazer will make you feel powerful).

Let’s be honest, you have the same couple of outfits that you wear time and time again. You do that because you like the way they look on you and you feel good in those clothes. You don’t really have to put too much thought into those outfits. Speaking as a person who literally wasted minutes of my life trying to decide which pair of black yoga pants I was going to wear, you have the time.

I basically wear a uniform of jeans, a t-shirt, a sweater/blazer/light jacket, necklace, and earrings. My friends laugh at me because if I find something I like I will buy it in every color. Because easy.

No one knows it’s a uniform, but me (and now you). Find a simple mix of clothes that make you feel powerful and motivated to stay off the couch and then stick with it. Trust me. I don’t spend more than a minute (generally while I’m brushing my teeth) thinking about how I will put an outfit together.

Don’t believe some random blogger on the interwebs? Try it for a week.

I get it. You don’t want to give up the symbol of the SAHM life… and damn, they’re so comfy. But just try it out for a week and let me know how it goes. You’re going to feel motivated. You’re even going to feel creative.  You’ll certainly feel productive.