In recent years, there has been a growing trend in companies allowing some or all of their employees to telecommute, whether that be every now and then to every day. Many people have also resorted to side hustles and starting businesses from home. Some companies are more accepting of the concept than others, but in either case, it is essential that, whether you work from home or not, that you are focused, productive, and organized.
I work in a software development position for my job from my own home. I occasionally travel to one of our locations or elsewhere to have in-person meetings, but I am otherwise remote. In addition to maintaining a solid routine, I am absolutely sure to dress for the occasion, even if nobody sees me. I may not necessarily be in business casual clothing, but I do look as put-together as I would if I were to go out for a casual outing. I put on makeup every morning and do my hair as well.
You may ask yourself, “But wouldn’t you rather be comfortable?”
Yes, absolutely, which is why I don’t find the need to wear a blouse and slacks every day. But I also don’t want to work in sweats, pajamas, or anything I’d lounge or not leave the house in.
Have you ever heard the term “Dress for success”? Because I believe that applies here as well, even if nobody will see you, and here’s why:
It adds to your routine.
For some jobs, you can work whenever you want as long as you work a consecutive number of hours. I don’t really think having this flexibility is so much of a good thing, at least for me, since I feel that routines are the key to productive work. I like to have a more structured routine on weekdays because I want to have my workdays be as productive as possible. By not having a commute, you have more time to establish a morning routine that prepares you for the work you have ahead of you – take advantage of it! Having a work routine, including showering, getting dressed, etc., preps your mind for the day ahead.
It gives you confidence.
Think of the last time you had to go to an event where you had to dress formally. How did you feel? If you’re like me you probably felt great. Sure, it’s nice to get into cozy clothes every now and then, but personally I’ve always felt more confident in myself when I dressed up.
Perhaps you may only think of yourself of wanting to appear confident in the presence of other people, but confidence leads to quality work. Take posture, for example. If you go to work in a hoodie and sweats, you may be more inclined to slouch in your chair. But if you’re in a dress, you may feel the need to sit up straight as if you were in the presence of other people. You’ll more than likely get more productive work done if you’re sitting right. While you’re in that dress, even though you’re alone, you may feel a little differently, which leads me to this point:
Your clothes have an association with them.
On a day I leave the house, I like to put together a nice outfit, and love to do hair and makeup. But some weekends, I like to have a relaxing day. I’ll throw on some lounge clothes and my hair in a bun. Maybe I’ll read a bit, journal, play piano, or anything else that’s calming. But now I have an association with cozy clothes to those activities. You may have the same associations as well. To put things simply, when I put lounge clothes on, it makes me want to take a nap. But when I put on work clothes, it makes me want to be more productive. This is the main reason why so many people recommend dressing up when you work – and it truly makes a difference!
Now you know what some of the benefits of dressing up for your telecommute are, but how can you maximize your productivity with these tips? Here’s what I do:
Wake up early and have a morning routine.
At my company I start at 8 AM, but I will get up a couple of hours earlier. I like to spend plenty of time especially pulling together my hair and makeup. I’ll also have an outfit set out the night before – a part of my evening routine. Whatever routine you set will help prepare your mind for your workday – and getting showered and dressed is a big part of that!
Pick clothes that you feel good in.
Just because something looks nice, it doesn’t mean that you’ll like the way you look in it. Have you ever tried on something and everyone thought you looked good in it except for you? How did you feel? Everyone else thought it was a great look, but I bet you felt uncomfortable and awkward in the outfit.
Pick clothes that you like to wear instead, that you think make you look good or feel good. It will make a difference!
Pick out clothes the night before.
I know I mentioned this earlier, but I’m mentioning it again because I think it’s very useful when you’re tempted to change into lounge clothes instead. I originally did this in school not only to save time in the morning, but also to encourage myself to try new outfits and dress up. Since I already had an outfit picked in the morning, I would just put it on without thought and that was that. I also believe an evening routine is a great way to wind down for bed, and picking an outfit is a mental reminder that you need a good night’s rest for work tomorrow!
Do you work from home? What do you wear for work? Let me know below.
Until next time,
Julie Anna
