Dress For Progress
Imagine a businessperson turning up to their first big meeting of September in slippers and jogging pants, racing in five minutes late. How focused do you think they’d feel? Would others take them seriously? Even more importantly, are they taking themselves seriously? Just as sloppy clothes can undermine how others perceive us, they can silently tell our subconscious, we’re not taking this seriously. That message quietly dampens focus, discipline, follow‑through.
I have been researching if there’s evidence of this assertion, and there is. Enclothed cognition tells us that what we wear influences how we think and perform. In one study, participants wearing a doctor’s white coat (and believing it was a doctor’s coat) completed visual tasks with sharper attention than those wearing their own clothes showed that people who dressed well - conforming to workplace norms reported higher self-esteem and were measurably more productive. In short: dressing well isn’t vanity, it’s a psychological investment in how we show up to ourselves.
Think of it like this: if you hired someone to coach your business, they wouldn’t show up in their PJs. Because deep down they know the impact that makes. So why would you show up to your own health goals looking, well… like you didn’t care?
You’re the CEO of your body and your wellness. The better you present yourself, even in subtle ways, the more power you tap into mindset, motivation, and follow-through. Investing in how you present for your September wellness restart doesn’t mean spending a fortune. It’s about seeing and honouring your own value.
The investment isn’t just in what’s clothing your body, I would strongly urge you to invest in what goes inside. Again, it shouldn’t need to feel like taking a second mortgage out, but a good multi-vitamin can do wonders for your body and mind. Commit whatever you can financially - look at the areas in your life where you’re investing in poor health - daily coffee from Starbucks £110/month (and that’s their cheapest options BTW), a takeaway on a Friday night £150-200/month, a couple of drinks of a Saturday night, depending on your taste that could be anywhere from £70-200/month. I’m not saying to drop these forever, maybe just realign your priorities for September.
My Top Picks
Multi-Vitamin: Click the button to see how effective a very basic Muti-vit was on test subjects health.
Creatine: For muscle recovery, better cognition & improved strength. Head to my shop to see the brands I use.
A Pair of Runners
Best In Class: The Adidas Adizero Evo SL shines as one of the top overall running shoes for 2025.
Budget Friendly Option: Decathlon Store Sale. Pickup a really good pair for £50 that will cover you until next September.
Smart Watch: Keep track of daily activity - specifically worthwhile if you spend a good part of your day sat down at a desk or home. Smart watches are also great for tracking your fitness improvements such as activity intensity, overall workload achievements & health markers like resting heart beats per minute. My top tip is to NOT connect your messages, emails, social media notifications or WhatsApp to this device. Your world is bleeping enough, use your yoga and fitness sessions as a break from the distraction.
Best In Class:
1) Whoop £169-349 per year (its worth noting whoop is an annual subscription) offers the best health feedback on the market.
2) Garmin £120-899 (one of payment and you have it for life).
Budget Friendly Option:
Head to www.backmarket.co.uk or even look at other used tech sites for a bargain. You can pickup a 6-24 month old smart watch for under £150 if you look around online and it will have all the features you need.
My Choice: Garmin, mainly because I love the look of them and they are robust - swims, mountaineering, run and gym workouts are all taken care of. With a smart watch, I just want to monitor my fitness level and intensity during the workshop, I don’t want all the bells and whistles.
What to Do Right Now
Move this week. Book a walk, run, gym class or if PJ mode is calling your name, press play on something energising at home.
Watch this space. My new class timetable lands next week and you’re the first I want to invite. Want support? Now’s the moment to let yourself be seen taking action.
This isn’t about being flashy, it’s about sending subtle signals to your brain that September, you're worth the restart. Whether that’s a multivitamin, a running trainer, a watch that keeps you honest, or a simple sports top, each one says you’re choosing yourself.
Thanks for being here,
Stuart