The Philosophy of Matching Pajamas
Header by Valerie Letts
When Monday night rolls around each week, my bed either serves as a cozy cinema for re-watching my favorite chick flick or a pressure cooker as I desperately race against time to finish an assignment. I find myself stumbling home on Tuesday nights, either from drinking too many dollar beers or sore muscles from an impromptu volleyball game at the gym. The pendulum of Wednesday nights swings from spontaneous karaoke sessions to doom-scrolling on the couch until the clock strikes midnight. Weekend going-out plans either get canceled after an out of the blue breakup, or suddenly you’re going out on a Sunday night to mend a broken heart.
Each night is a wild card. To contrast, my schedule during the day neatly unfolds. Classes, work shifts, and club meetings copy and pasting from one week to the next. Yet as the sun sets, the predictability completely vanishes, and a nonexistent evening routine emerges.
Amidst this whirlwind of university life, finding moments to wind down often feels impossible. Taking a moment to step away from the chaos has to be deliberate, and even just a second to breathe can allow us to pause and reflect in a world that continues to push us forward.
When I get dressed for a workout, I meticulously choose my activewear. Similarly, getting ready for events or conferences requires me to wear heels and a blazer. Sweatpants for lounging, beanies for cold weather, and sundresses for warm summer days. Clothing, in all forms, is inherently intentional. So why do we overlook sleepwear?
Matching pajamas, typically reserved for couples and families on Christmas morning, emerge as an instigator of a night time routine. Intentional sleepwear signifies a choice, to transition from the bustling activities of the day to the calm sanctuary of night. In the same way we curate outfits for different activities and occasions, sleepwear can set the tone of an evening. It’s not just about comfort; it’s about taking a moment to yourself to wind down and create space for relaxation.
With an endless list of tasks and to do lists, it can be challenging to draw a line between work and personal time. When you put on designated sleepwear, it’s a visual cue that the day’s responsibilities are on hold until you take off your pajamas in the morning. No more school work or organizing schedules; the day is done. It’s a small task in the evening that can be applied no matter what you’re doing that night whether it’s going to bed early or coming home late after a big night.
Sets of pajamas range in price and extravagance, from flannel long sleeves for the winter to linen shorts and a tank top for the summer. It’s not the price or look of the pajamas that I’m advocating for, it’s the intentionality.
You don’t need to follow up the act with a 10 step skin-care routine or read an entire novel before going to bed. Putting on matching pajamas is still an act of self care on its own, as it’s a declaration among the chaos of life that you deserve a moment to wind down. So ditch the old t-shirt and boxers, and trade chaos for comfort with the power of matching pajamas.
Header by: Brigitta Brumund
