The Mental Load of Getting Dressed

Why women carry more decision fatigue

Let’s talk numbers for a second. Research suggests the average adult makes around 35,000 decisions a day. And for women, that number often skews even higher.

By the time you get to the “what should I wear?” decision, your brain is already working overtime.

And here’s where clothing makes it worse: most wardrobes aren’t designed for real life. They’re full of pieces that only work in specific situations, require specific undergarments, or need to be paired with three other things to make sense.

Suddenly, getting dressed isn’t one decision. It’s twelve.

How clothing simplicity creates freedom

The shift is this: when your clothing actually works for your life, the mental load lightens.

Versatile pieces remove the question mark. You’re not standing there wondering “will this work?” because you already know it will.

Sheila swimwear is designed to remove that internal debate. Not because we think you can’t make decisions (clearly, you’re making plenty), but because you shouldn’t have to waste mental energy on something that should be simple.

Swimwear that eliminates outfit changes

Let’s play out a typical summer day: school drop-off, a quick walk along the beach, coffee with a friend, errands, maybe a swim if there’s time, then home for the afternoon chaos.

The traditional approach? That’s at least two outfit changes, possibly three, plus the mental calculation of what to wear when and whether you need to pack backup options.

The Sheila approach? One piece, styled differently.

Our Celeste One-Piece works as a bodysuit under pants for drop-off, pairs with a loose shirt for coffee, and handles the beach without fuss. 

Or our Ash Cropped Vest paired with our Alyssa Mid Swim Short and you’re good to go from Pilates to work calls to school pick-up and beyond.

How Sheila fits into a simplified life

Simplicity isn’t about owning less for the sake of minimalism. It’s about removing unnecessary friction from your day.

When you know your swimwear fits properly, won’t ride up, and looks intentional (not like you forgot to change after your swim), you stop thinking about it. Which frees up mental space for literally anything else.