what not to wear when working from home...part 3

truth be told...working from home does have its advantages...so if you are one of those peeps...whether you work from home full time...or have the ability to conduct business off site for a few days a week...enjoy it...enjoy the non commute...enjoy the quiet...enjoy lots of things...but don't get into a mode of being sloppily dressed...

as i dove into this subject of what not to wear when working from home part 1 & part 2...click on the links if you would like a refresher...the last part of this is scenario time...perhaps you are thinking...i'm okay...no one will see me...plus i don't look that bad...

may i say first & foremost...look your best for yourself...not others...YOU deserve it!  but put your self in these situations...and what would your thought be?

scenario 1:  you are expecting something in the mail...and your mailbox is 20 feet from your door...you are in your home work attire...would you be mortified if a neighbor greeted you at your mailbox?

scenario 2:  a friend knows you're working from home today and calls you near noon with a last minute lunch invitation.  would you be able to say yes...jump in the car as soon as you hung up the phone...and head to the restaurant?

scenario 3:  your boss sends an email blast and wants to set up a video conference in 30 minutes...are you scrambling to pull a look together or are you focused on the work agenda so you can be sharp and ready?

the great thing about working from home is that you do have the freedom to create your own dress code...what works for you?  and what is comfortable for you?  maybe you say yes to jeans but pair them with a silky jersey t-shirt...a navy easy-fit cotton blazer...and flats...maybe you say no to jeans and prefer a simple dress...sandals...and a long necklace...

your work attire deserves thoughtfulness and respect...need help developing yours? start looking at pics of casual attire...if you are local...give me a call...i'd love to support you!  

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what not to wear when working from home...part 2

so yesterday i started a blog post about what not to wear while working from home...part 1...i have to say...i love all the comments i received on the blog...in email...facebook & twitter...seems that the majority of my readers that work from home...do think about "dressing" up for their work day...and by dressing up...i mean...still being casually dressed...while not in your pj's or workout gear...

while the pic i chose for today is clearly someone out in public...in their pajamas...i am continuing part 2...of what not to wear when working from home...pajamas in public can stir up many more blog posts...maybe i'll save that for a later date...because as funny as this pic might look...it is a reality...unfortunately...and one i've seen many many times...

so did you used to have a morning routine...when you actually went into an office?  keep a part of it or all of it...these things may seem minor...but...take the time to shower or wash your face...put on some makeup...even if it's minimal...all these little routines will make you feel like you're showing up to your work projects looking sharp...get dressed for the day before you get sucked into reading and responding to emails...

while my office is upstairs...right next door to my bedroom...it would be very easy for me to just plop in my office chair and get going...and before you know it...hours have passed...and i look like i did when i crawled out of bed...instead...think of it this way...even thought the distance to your office may be seven steps to the spare bedroom down the hall...don't skimp on your morning "me" time...have your cup of tea or coffee...read the paper or something inspiring...review your goals or affirmations...have something to eat...prepare to go to work...

when it comes to getting dressed...don't pull clothes from your workout pile or grab something that's been tossed into the back of your closet...don't choose what is hanging on the side of your bed...that was thrown there from a prior day...or worse yet...continue wearing what you slept in...be intentional...if you want to make a bridge from your home life to your work life...use the language of clothes to make the point that you're going to work...

instead of throwing on an old tee-shirt...wear a non-iron blouse instead...

instead of that cardigan with the missing buttons...wear one of your nicer ones...

instead of those sloppy pajama bottoms...wear your favorite jeans...

instead of those ratty slippers...wear your comfy flats...

not sure how you are doing?  stay tuned for part 3 tomorrow...i will give you a few scenarios to think of...that will help you decide if your "work from home" attire needs some sprucing...

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what not to wear when working from home...part 1

let's face it...for those of us working from home...there are perks...no rushing to get out the door...no traffic...and for some...no need to get dressed...meaning...let me stay in my pajama's all day...truth be told...i have done that...but two things happened...

one...i didn't feel like i was truly working...i didn't feel as productive...now some may say that has nothing to do with what i'm wearing...and everything to do with my mind-set...while i believe that...i have found that i am more productive...and work harder when i am "dressed"...being in my pajama bottoms and a tee-shirt...although VERY comfortable...i noticed a little bit of a relaxed mode...almost...lazy...i mean...i'm usually thinking about lounging when i'm in my pj's...

two...although this didn't happen every day...and it took only one time for me to say never again...the doorbell rings...and i am frantically trying to make myself look at least semi professional...or at least like a took a shower...not a good thing...especially in my profession...

while more and more people are working from home..it would seem easy to stay in your pajamas or workout clothes all day...but is that really the best uniform for you?

while the home office could and should have a more casual dress code...eliminating a dress code all together could be a mistake...paying attention to your grooming and your attire even if no one will see you could give you a structure to your workday that benefits you and increases your productivity...

so tomorrow...i will go into what not to wear...but more importantly...what TO wear...

so based on the pic below...what are you most likely to wear when working from home?  according to the citrix survey...these were the results...where do you fit in?

49% wore jeans and a t-shirt

25% wore pajamas

14% wore workout clothes

12% wore "other

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working from home...what to wear?

it is your first day at work...not in the office...that was your old life...but at home or in the studio or in your own business...the only rules governing what you wear are the ones you make yourself...no one will be seeing you...and if someone does...it won't be someone who's judging your clothes by what's proper or powerful in the corporate world...

the only problem is...what do you wear?

can clothes make you feel more successful...even when no one's looking?

you work at home...alone...theoretically you could get up...have your coffee and work all day in your pajamas...or you could pull on the clothes you left in a heap after the girlfriends came over for casual potluck last nite...or you could go halfway...wear "nice" casual clothes...a little makeup...perhaps some earrings...or you could get dressed as if you were going to any office...except that yours just happens to be down the hall from your bathroom...

the question is...since you're not leaving the house...since you won't have to see anyone...does it make any difference at all what you wear?

well...yes...it makes a difference...but only to the extent that your clothes can affect how you feel about yourself...which can affect how you feel about your work...and the clothes that make women feel more successful...or more creative or more motivated...when no one's watching...are determined by personal idiosyncracies rather than standard business-dressing rules...

at home alone...a feeling of success is as likely to emanate from wearing lipstick or a favorite t-shirt as it is from wearing a business suit...

of course...self-image is the bottom line since...when you work alone...that's the only image that counts...i will say...that when i've been home...and in my pj's (yes...i've had those days)...after a while i'd start to feel non-productive...and not very creative...kind of like a non-entity...not only about my work...but about myself...so for me...it helps to put a little effort in what i'm wearing...although my suits have been nicely stored away...

calling all entrepreneurs...fess up...what do you wear when working at home?

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