One of the best things about working from home is that you can finally get rid of those constricting suits you wore to the office. There are no more slacks without stretch in the waistband, no more blazers pinching around the armpits, no more dry-clean only garments, and thank the Lord, no more bunion-inducing high heels! When you work from home you can pull on your comfortable sweats and saggy, baggy jeans without fear of reprisal (at least not from a boss), or even stay in your pajamas all day if you feel like it. But the truth is, while this could be a fun departure from the restrictions of your regular work wardrobe, it’s not necessarily something that you want to continue in the long-term. In fact, there are several reasons why you shouldn’t get too comfortable with your new uniform.
From a purely practical standpoint, you will actually have to leave the house on occasion, whether you’re dropping off and picking up kids from school, running errands, or heading out to meet with clients or friends. The more you wear your comfy clothes around the house, the less you’ll want to slip back into something a little less comfortable. And soon you may think it’s okay to leave the house dressed in your flannel pajama pants. Hey, high school kids do it, why can’t you? Because you have a shred of self-respect left, that’s why!
Okay, okay – that was uncalled for. But back in your working world days, what would you have thought about a woman wearing her pajamas at the grocery store in the middle of the day? You would have shaken your head, sighed, and wondered why she gave up on life. Admit it. Now, you do not want to be that person. Completely aside from the fact that you need to dress appropriately for business meetings with clients, whether in your house or at an offsite venue, you should also make an effort every time you leave the house, or even when you’re just sitting at your computer all day.
The main reason for this has to do with your self-esteem. When you dress like a schlub, that’s exactly how you’re going to start feeling. Further, this strain on your mental and emotional state could start to affect your work. Over time you may become lazy, despondent, and even depressed, which will in turn make you less productive. Those who work at home already struggle with motivation and isolation, so why exacerbate the problem? You don’t work in a gym; you’re a professional. So ditch the sweats and dress appropriately.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to pull your suits out of mothballs, but is it really so hard to take a shower and put on some fitted jeans, a blouse, a colorful cardigan, and a cute pair of flats? These items are, for the most part, nearly as comfortable as the wardrobe you’ve adopted, and they’re far more stylish. Plus, they’ll make you feel good about yourself, which can help to improve every part of your life, both professional and personal (you can bet that your spouse will appreciate the effort). If your current work wardrobe consists of tracksuits instead of the traditional kind, get online and find yourself some new clothes to go with your new lifestyle (often, free shipping is available on large orders, so you can save a little money there). You’ll quickly see a change in attitude that makes working from home a true upgrade from the office environment.