Hi loves!! Happy Saturday! This is a very RARE weekend post, but I wanted to get the Working From Home Series out as quickly as possible. My goal is to help those of you who are currently working from home to feel good and confident during your time working remotely!
I’m a firm believer that these skills will also help you with your everyday life. Whether it’s simply being more organized and strategic, or helping you adjust to change, I’m here for you!
The past two posts of this six part blog series can be found below:
Today I’m sharing tip number 2 to boosting your productivity while working from home: Get Dressed and Ready for The Day!
I wrote a blog post sharing my home office redo!
Tip 2: Get Dressed and Ready For The Day
After waking up, making my schedule, and working out, it’s VITAL to get dressed and ready for the day! This step did not come easy for me.
Honestly, if I could wear my soft pottery barn robe and cozy slippers all day around the house, I would! When I first started working from home, I was stoked to be able to stay in my PJs and not wear makeup everyday. There were definitely days where I did this, sat on the couch, watching TV and “working.” I realized I was getting little to nothing done (not ideal for someone who doesn’t have a salary and works on contracts!). I needed to make a change in order to be productive!
The next day, I decided I was going to get ready for working from home, I didn’t sit on the couch, and I made a schedule. The benefits I noticed, almost instantly were incredible!
The Benefits of Getting Ready to Work From Home
There’s quite a few benefits to getting ready to work from home! Personally, not having coworkers or a boss, I’m riding solo. Benefits I was in search of were getting more work done, feeling confident/less stressed, and overall building my business.
Here’s the benefits I noticed when I started getting ready to work from home:
Self Confidence
Almost immediately, I felt better about myself. I wasn’t necessarily getting full glam on every day! I would however, shower, brush my hair and style quickly, and do 5 minute makeup. I’d throw on a cute casual outfit (jeans and a top typically), and be ready to work in 20 minutes.
I started getting more emails returned from potential partners, I was able to check off my daily check lists, and I finally felt like I was getting into the groove of things. Having that self confidence was a HUGE help. I felt good, because I was following my schedule and I was dressed and ready to conquer the world (ok well my world!!). You will notice your self confidence improve when you get yourself together!
Creating Boundaries
This is a huge one for me! There are also two major factors in creating boundaries.
First, getting dressed and ready for the day signifies you’re working. When changing out of work clothes after your 8-5 day, loungewear means your work day is over. If you’re always in loungewear, it’s like the work day never stops!
In addition, if you live with someone it shows them that you’re not only serious about your work, but that you have designated work hours and need your space during those times.
For example, my husband and I both work full time from home. He’s actually been WFH for about eight years. When I first started working from home, we immediately had to establish boundaries. He needed his space and I needed mine (will dive deep into this point in tomorrow’s blog post!).
I noticed when I would work in my robe and slippers, Jesse looked at me like I wasn’t working and would chat me up! When I started getting ready for the day he literally never bothered me while I was working! What a simple fix to establish boundaries. I basically gave hime a visual reminder that I was in the middle of my work day. Super helpful!
These are two HUGE benefits to getting ready for the day while working from home!
Boost in Productivity
All of the bullets above really add up together. I felt good, I dressed the part, and my confidence was boosted. I felt good and it translated into my work. By doing this, you’ll be able to focus, strategize, and see the return in yhour work. I’m sure you will notice a huge boost in productivity, just like I did.
Professional Perception
Flashback to the previous 10 years of working in the corporate world, I always worked in casual environments! I never had a business dress code and could typically wear anything I wanted (unless I had client meetings, then I dressed up). I’m sure many of you can relate! There were always girls who went to the office with no makeup on, hair not brushed, and in yoga pants. As an observer, I noticed a HUGE difference in how I was treated vs how they were treated.
Despite just doing quick makeup and making sure I looked presentable (I’d literally give myself 20 minutes to get ready in the mornings), I was ALWAYS looking presentable. I truly believe that my male and female counterparts had extra respect for me, because of it. I’m not saying those girls/guys who didn’t get ready in the morning were not respected, but I could see a difference in how I was professionally perceived. I was also always the first person to get in front of the clients. I have a feeling that wasn’t coincidence (I was no better at my job than the others).
Anyways, my point is, despite working from home, having that respect for yourself will ultimately give your counterparts and your boss the perception of professionalism. You are who you want to be, right? You can work from home have that same professional perception you had in the office!
Ideas of What To Wear Working From Home
Casual/Loungewear
What To Wear On A Video Call
Quick Makeup (The Necessities)
