#9 Let's do this - something helpful to reduce decision fatigue and something I'm watching
Yes, it's "With love, Meghan"
After personal training this week, a friend, our trainer and I were chatting as we walked to our cars.
They asked me about my shirt because I was wearing a work golf shirt due to it being day four of the office that week (we are required to work three days at the office).
Then I told them something that seemed to surprise them both.
My clothing system for office days
Every Sunday, I check the weather for the three office days. These are not always the same days because in-person meetings move around.
Based on the forecast, I then choose my three work “outfits” (outfits is a very loose term) for the week.
I pair pants/ skirt with top, add a necklace or scarf if that is needed, and even add the handbag and shoes. Now that the weather is cooling down (thank the Lord), I will add the cardigan or jacket too.
These outfits are moved to the front of my wardrobe so they’re together in one place.
For my work-from-home days, I always wear jeans and a t-shirt (or shorts and a t-shirt) so I don’t prepare at all.
Why do I do this? Do I not like spontaneity?
I like spontaneity as much as the next ESTJ which is to say “when it’s planned” :)
But… I love not having to make decisions in the morning which is not my best time of the day.
It completely reduces decision fatigue because I just get dressed after my shower. It is lovely and gentle and calming.
I used to choose clothes the night before but that was in the old days when we went to offices five days a week. Here’s my post from 2014. Those were the days :) Three days a week feels like almost nothing.
It takes me less than 10 minutes to check the weather forecast, choose clothes and change my handbag to match. Sometimes my mood is such that I pick clothes that will all match with a particular bag I’m into (like last week’s purple fuschia bag). 10 minutes!
Those 10 minutes pay dividends every day I have to go to the office when I’m already doing backward maths (if my first meeting is at 9.30, then I need to leave my bedroom latest 8.20 which means I need to jump into the shower at 7.50 which means I need to stop reading my book at 7.40). Do you do backward maths too?
Anyway, I said all that to say this - if you’re required to be at the office a couple (or all five days) of days every week, do yourself a favour and try choosing all your clothes at one time. It will definitely reduce decision fatigue and you might even… enjoy it.
With love, Meghan
When I was in Cape Town last week, I created a little ritual in my hotel room every night.
I’d submit that day’s expense claims and then set out my things for the next day - clothes, work stuff and Things to take to Breakfast (pill box, small bag, room key and phone) - while watching “With love, Meghan”.
I didn’t know what to expect but I am loving it, three shows in.
It is calming, gentle, aspirational content from someone who is clearly an Acts of Service person. Imagine how loved her friends feel.
I have seen whole posts on Threads and here on Substack tearing into the show and I have three things to say:
if you don’t like visually beautiful things to look at, maybe don’t watch. But I love and want that feeling of more calm and beauty in my life.
not everything you see on TV or instagram is for everyone. That’s why it’s called aspirational content. I’m also surprised that people don’t go after a certain organising brand with all the plastic containers and rainbow organising. That is also aspirational content that is (to my mind) even more unrelatable. Most of us can at least make the easy spaghetti and some of you who are bakers can make the lemon cake.
I love how wholesome the show is. She shows us how to be an intentional, thoughtful and kind friend and I want more people like that in my life. Will I be making a balloon arch? Never. But can I think about what a friend coming to visit me might like and order it on Checkers60? Definitely. And that is what I’m loving about the show.
What really has upset me is seeing all the women tearing down this woman. Why? Are we so mean-spirited that we can’t revel in another woman doing something well?
Have you read Spare by Prince Harry? Are you watching With Love, Meghan?
With regards to your closing question: You have the Spirit of God in you, that's why you see things different to those who crush Megan. You'll understand my answer because you're a child of God.
I want to watch the show as well after your review but purely because I like cooking and baking. I get new ideas from shows like these.