Is it just me or has the entire country succumbed to credit crunch psychosis? Okay, so I know the economy is in a worse state than Kerry Katona but it seems to me the media are making things ten times worse. Only yesterday I picked up a paper with bad news about 700 job losses on the front page. It’s a shame they didn’t choose to run with the story tucked away on page five about the creation of 1,000 jobs by another firm. Funny that. But then, in medialand (and I’m a part of that remember) bad news always makes the best news. And you know how us Brits like to moan.
Even my friends have jumped on the doom-and-gloom bandwagon. Just before Christmas, for example, I was lambasted by a friend for buying a brand new (and, ok, admittedly quite expensive) winter coat. How, they asked, could I think about splashing out on such and item at ‘a time like this’? My answer was that a. I needed a new winter coat; b. by buying a quality one I’m actually investing my money rather than wasting it; c. by spending at all I’m actually supporting the economy and d. that even when times are hard – in fact, especially when times are hard – you still have to look good.
The last point isn’t as flippant as it sounds. At times like this appearance is even more important than ever. Why? Well, for starters, when jobs are under threat and everything gets that much more competitive, good grooming is something that can definitely give you that all-important edge in the workplace. There are countless studies and surveys to suggest that employers now take grooming more seriously than ever and one famous study by the University of California that suggests that 55% of a person’s opinions of us are based on our appearance alone. Forget how skilled, talented or funny we are or how firm our handshake is.
And as any psychologist will tell you – when you look good, you exude positivity which in turn inspires confidence and elicits respect. And when that happens you feel even better about yourself – it’s a self-fulfilling prophecy. Trust me, it works – if you’re feeling a bit low, lacking in confidence or stuck in a rut try getting a new haircut, splashing out on a new fragrance or growing a goatee (being a bit thin on top I find a bit of facial topiary works wonders!). So despite feeling the pinch, I for one won’t be foregoing those important fashion accessories or skimping on my skin supplies just yet because, when it comes to the crunch, good grooming is everything.
