Should we dress up while working from home?

The old saying “dress for success” has always been my fashion mantra because I have always believed that when I look good, I feel good and would thus be self-motivated to be productive and professional. However, that mantra seems to have been made redundant after a few weeks into this quarantine. Dressing up without the intention of going out to the world, and having people not see what I am wearing makes me feel like I am wasting an exceptionally good outfit

Should I dress up or should I stay in my pyjamas?  That is the question that I seem to ask myself every morning. While working from home comes with its own set of advantages, I’ve noticed that location might influence my mindset when it comes to work.

So, what am I getting at? Well, finding the motivation to get out of our pyjamas is challenging, simply because we are in the comfort and confines of our home. However, when we spend day after day in our night suits, some of us might start to feel like - dare I say it - sloths! I’m particularly concerned that this lethargy can compound and manifest itself negatively in both the personal and professional aspects of our lives. So, here’s my theory - if we associate relaxation with what we wear at home, we may slack while working. On the other hand, if we dress the part, we may find ourselves suddenly more productive!

I am not going to pretend that I have it all figured out. However, there are a few things I’ve come to find quite helpful in my own life.

1] Get up at the same time you would normally get up to go to work. If it usually took time for you to commute, use this to mentally prepare before you begin.

2] Take the time in the morning to shower and get dressed in proper clothes. This motivates us to get up and start the day, but more importantly, it helps establish routine that differentiates our work life from our home life.

3] If you are having trouble deciding what to wear, I would suggest going for more loose fitted clothing. If you are one of those people who wear jeans at home, kudos! I, for one, cannot make myself wear it.

4] You will have days where you don’t feel like getting dressed, and that is okay! Just make sure it’s not every day.

5] If you are going to dress down, always keep a business casual up top. You won’t look like you just got up in case you need to jump on a sudden conference call.

6] Lastly, when working from home, your work-life balance is completely blurred. To give yourself some boundaries, change into comfortable clothes whenever your work cut off time is. As this will help provide a distinct shift in your day and can reinforce the need to continue working.

Ultimately, I believe that everyone has a different productivity strategy that works for them, and clothing is an integral part of mine. The clothes you wear every morning, aren't just clothes, they are an extension of you.

If I have to leave you with just one piece of advice, it would be to experiment with what works for you. We are in a time where the only form of our entertainment is within our four walls, so there is no excuse. Getting dressed and establishing a routine may be more helpful than we think.

We are all in this together! Let us rise to make the most of it!

_{Written by Jerusha Loreno}

_{Edited by Kirk Lobo}