As the pandemic continues, working from home has become a mandate for most of the workforce. One of the difficulties of WFH is conjuring up the willpower to change out of your PJs… and wondering if you even have to? (P.S. Yes, you do!)
Why it is good to get dressed for the WFH office
Look good = feel good
PJs = less productivity
Professional appearance = better output
Routine = sense of normalcy
Although it may feel trivial to be concerned with at-home attire during COVID-19, getting dressed in the morning can considerably impact your work output, in addition to maintaining a professional attitude throughout the day. You don’t have to be dressed in formal office attire, but changing out of full-blown loungewear will be beneficial. So… throw on a comfortable pair of jeans and a t-shirt or leggings and a chic top. Getting your WFH attire set is more about having a routine and giving yourself some sense of normalcy. It also affirms your commitment to work hard and be productive. It is important during any crisis to work hard at your job, but it’s more important to take care of yourself.
Attending Virtual Meetings & Virtual Happy Hour:
What formalities from before the quarantine are we expected to maintain? How much do you dress up for a Zoom meeting with a colleague? With your clients? With your boss? What if you are the boss? Is wearing a suit while working from home borderline insanity? We are living in strange times. If you are really unsure of how to dress for a virtual meeting, don’t be afraid to ask your colleagues or manager for guidance. We’re in uncharted territory and there is nothing wrong with making sure that everyone is on the same page. Just know, that just because your video conference callers can only see you from the waist up, that does NOT mean you don’t have to wear pants. Learn well from this BBC reporter (BBC Interrupted Interview).
FUN FACT ALERT: Zoom has a ‘touch up my appearance’ feature that you can apply to your video to smooth out your skin tone and make you look a little less like you haven’t left your house in four weeks. To activate it, launch Zoom and then click “Settings” followed by “Video.” If you’re already in a meeting you can get there by clicking the arrow next to the video icon and choosing “Video Settings”. Within the Video Settings menu check the box for “Touch up my appearance” to activate the filter.
WFH Wardrobe Must Haves:
Comfortable pants (holey sweats do not count)
Cozy layers
Structured top for virtual meetings
Accessories to add on (nice watch, earrings, necklace, etc.)
Working from home may have seemed like a dream come true at first… thoughts of sleeping in and setting your own hours, long lunches, and wearing PJs at your desk…. But for many, especially those with kids and spouses at home as well, it is a stressful challenge. Ultimately, you must treat WFH the same (or close to the same) as you did your office. Get up at a set hour, GET DRESSED, and get down to work.
Need more help?