It all started with a pair of black leggings.

I was in a rush to school and grabbed the easiest outfit I could find, haphazardly pairing it with a grey hoodie, and then running out the door.

The next day, a similar pairing choice occurred: white sweatpants and a navy hoodie. Then the day after that, and the one after that too.

As I placed dull greys, blues, and blacks on my body, my shopping habits morphed to match. I stopped buying items that caught my eye, and instead opted for the safer and more boring option every time because it just felt easier.

My mood began matching the muddy color scheme, with my lazy outfits being curated to reflect my exhausted winter and spring mindset.

Although for many people, fashion may seem irrelevant to their day-to-day lives, the way one dresses can affect everything from their mood to even academic success.

“Enclothed cognition,” a term coined by a 2012 University of Toronto study, describes the influence that clothes can have on the wearer’s psychological processes. Another technique, known as “Dopamine Dressing,” means wearing clothes that reflect how you want to feel, a Forbes article reported. If your goal is to be cheerful, bright clothing with casual styles work. If you want to be in a more relaxed mood, opt for comfortable clothes and soft fabrics, according to Forbes.

This strategic dressing can even be applied to your everyday outfits at school. Wearing more put together, brighter outfits on a regular basis could not only lift our spirits, but also increase our concentration and help us learn better, according to a study done by BBC Science Focus Magazine. When you feel confident in your outfit, overall academic confidence and performance increases too, according to a Western University article.

If searching for brighter clothes is something that you don’t want to spend too much money on, there are still ways to dress more thoughtfully. One, cheaper option is thrifting clothes, where you can find cheaper and vintage pieces. Beyond shopping, simply creating an outfit that is put together with purpose can go a long way.

We all experience stressful exams, difficult classes, and hectic schedules. Often, these situations can leave us feeling powerless. But by adding a little extra flair to your outfit, you can gain a bit more control over your life.