What have you decided not to do lately? Given the weird year that 2020 has been, you may have felt like nothing was constant in your life. Even things you were used to suddenly became harder to do, and even if you could do them, you may have felt low on motivation.

Here’s a challenge: Do something you won’t usually do just to add something new to your routine. Say hello to your least favorite colors.

Trading Neutrals for Loud Colors

When it comes to clothing, a lot of fashion experts will recommend sticking to a neutral wardrobe so that you can mix and match them without thinking too much about their color combinations. This works well regardless of your personal style, as neutrals come in all shapes and forms. They may also have a slimming effect, especially if you wear a monochromatic attire. Just the idea of switching those neutrals for loud colors might be making you cringe, but think about it: you’re opening your world to new things. This is something you might not do again if you hate the results, but you might also be surprised by how good you look in reds, greens, yellows, and even pinks.

The trick is to not dive into all the colors at once. Stick to most of your neutral wardrobe and replace one with a pop of color. Rather than a black top to go with your black jeans, choose a red blouse. That’s already a big change. Once you’re more comfortable, switch your jeans to something with a lighter wash. Before you know it, you will have outfits with items you wouldn’t normally reach for in your closet.

Wearing Prints Over Plains

Plain items of clothing are safe, and some would argue that they are more professional. But you might be comparing them to very loud prints with florals and outrageous designs. Those extremes are not your only two options. You can wear checkered pants to look pretty, or a striped dress to give your figure a boost. The trick to acclimating to prints is to go with colors you’re comfortable with. You’re already wearing prints as a challenge; you don’t have to wear them in the loudest colors at the same time.

Go with a simpler makeup to complement the look, and do the initial preparations the night before so that you can mentally prepare for this change. Lay out your outfit and hang them up so that you can see them before going to bed. Go about your night as usual. If you’ve just gone face mask online shopping, you’ll have the pampering beauty product to ease some of your anxieties about the challenge, and when you wake up the next day, you will have a healthy glow as well as a positive mindset about wearing prints.

It’s all about the right mindset when you’re challenging yourself to do something you’re not comfortable with. Give these clothes a chance and wear them at least once so you will know if they can be part of your wardrobe permanently.