So now that you have secured that work from home job (WFH), how do you ensure that you don’t lose it to the teeming number of unemployed folks out there. Simple. Be as productive as you can be wherever you are.
Of course, you also need to cater to your mental health to have the right mindset. But then there are loads of online and offline resources that could help you with your performance at work. Interestingly, an often ignored factor plays an integral role in how much work is done: your work from home attire.
Believe it or not, there are claims that there is a relationship between work from home clothes and overall productivity. That is why this piece of content you are reading will be looking at what you should wear when working from home. The issue of work-from-home clothes is a big deal for remote employees, but we believe that you will be better informed about it after reading this blog.
Should your work-from-home outfit look different than what you wear when you go to work?
It depends on the field where you work and the dress code for that line of work. For example, an accountant who has to offer remote services might find it a tad difficult to enter “work mode” if they spend all day in athleisure outfits.
For one your hair needs to be done. You could get away with jeans but slippers are a no-no.
Getting dressed has a positive influence on your mood
You’d be amazed at how what you wear affects your mood. Your appearance is known to impact you emotionally, mentally, and psychologically which ultimately affects your productivity at work. One of the reasons for this is that dressing up sends subliminal messages that you care about yourself and life in general.
This positive attitude spreads like a ripple in a pond, and soon it begins to influence your confidence and mood positively. Once you have a positive mood, you are more motivated to tackle all the tasks that come your way because the improved mood gives you all the energy you need to do more things. On the flip side, the belief that it is okay not to put in the effort into looking good affects you negatively too.
This might be particularly true for creatives who constantly need to create things. Heck, people, in general, become happier when they show up in outfits that offer them the most confidence and comfort.
Clothing makes you feel good (or bad)
The clothes that you wear have the power to make you feel good or bad. Especially when you wear stuff that you feel comfortable in. We all have different preferred clothing styles, attires, and favourite colours.
And we can all attest that the buoyant feelings we get when we are dressed up in such clothes. It is difficult to feel bad when dressed in comfortable clothes (like t-shirts from stretch fabrics, or a soft knit cashmere sweater for example) that match our style. Conversely, it is difficult to feel good in ill-fitting clothes that are cut in a way that we dislike.
Neither is there any fun in wearing clothes and colours that don’t quite reflect our styles? That said, some folks enjoy wearing casual clothes and wouldn’t be caught dead trying to look dapper and vice-versa. The key to optimising your clothing is to know what works for you and to dress that way as often as possible.
Get dressed to signal a shift in your day
There are different clothes for different parts of the day for most people. For instance, there is nightwear for sleeping work clothes for work situations. And of course the clothes they wear for events and occasions.
Each of these sets of clothes marks different parts of the day and often influences how we handle those parts of the day. For instance, if you are still in your pyjamas around the afternoon, there is a tendency for your mind to be in a relaxed mode. In the same way, getting dressed in professional clothing tells your mind that it is time to get up and get things done.
The thing is, with the restrictions on movement and the need to stay indoors for most of the day, most folks find it easier to lounge about in sleeping clothes or the most casual outfits that they have at best. For remote employees like you, that is not a good look. Because there is a tendency for you to approach your day like you would your night (laidback and relaxed), which is not the best attitude for the day ahead.
So we recommend that you get dressed in outfits that signal the shifts in your day. We think it is a great idea to get dressed in work attire during work hours because it influences your mind’s approach to work, leading to you feeling productive. How?
Like we mentioned a few paragraphs back, work clothes signal your mind that it’s time to work, and the mind slips into work mode. That way, you tend to be more productive since your mind has been primed to go into action. The other side of the story is that changing into more casual outfits signals your mind that it is time to rest and relax.
Both situations are imperative for an ideal work-life balance when working remotely. So here is a simple formula to follow: get dressed in work clothes when it is time for work but change outfits when it is time for
rest. It is a great way to switch modes when working from home.
What to wear when working from home?
When working from home, you can get away with a lot more corporate fashion aberrations than you would at the office. So the trick about dressing up for work at home is to aim for a style that is formal enough to get you into “work” mode while being casual enough for you to be comfortable in. The idea is to wear something both comfortable and professional.
Like a pair of jeans or a pair of pants, a cashmere sweater, and a pair of shoes or UGG boots. Think of a fashion style that might not be as comfy as a pair of pyjamas but a lot more comfy than suits.
While talking about your work-from-home attire, we took it for granted that you understand the need for taking good of your grooming and personal hygiene. Here are some suggestions on what to wear from home.
Balance Practicality with Comfort
When choosing an outfit to wear from home, look for something stylish enough for you to be in the work zone but relaxed enough to make you feel comfortable. You might try wearing fitted clothes that are loose-fitting enough to provide the comfort you need while working at a table for long hours. Try shoes with soft insides and comfortable pants that you could wear around the office.
You might not be able to keep this up every single day but you don’t need to change to a new routine. The right hairstyle, pants or jeans and soft leather shoes will never go out of style.
Wear Something You’d Wear Outside
Make sure that you are wearing an outfit that you won’t be afraid of being be caught outside on camera. While it is a great idea to be casual, you shouldn’t be too casual. Avoid wearing stuff like fuzzy slippers even if you are just moving around the house because you could feel pulled out the motivation that you managed to create.
Dress code tips for virtual meetings
Virtual meetings, video calls, or the odd video conference have become the corporate world’s response to the social distancing exigencies of the pandemic. And so, as a remote employee, you need to master some virtual meeting skills, including how you should dress for such meetings. However, here is some good news.
You don’t need a style manual to dress for virtual meetings. Almost anything goes as long as you are dressed in appropriate attire for a business meeting, aim to put together something business casual. However, that does not mean that you should go overboard with an outrageous t-shirt and poorly groomed hair.
If you work with a company, you might want to find out what the company’s fashion codes are for such interactions. If you are a freelancer meeting with your clients, we recommend that you opt for a casual business outfit with your favourite colours. Whatever you do, remember to wear something that reflects your industry and is quite comfortable to spend hours in. Here are some tips that might help you.
Follow the dress codes.
Your employer might have a stipulated dress code for virtual meetings. Now, while it might be tempting to wear something comfier, you are better off sticking to the stipulated dress code when having official virtual meetings.
Wear Your Favourite Right Colours
You want to be at your best when you are at virtual meetings. So we recommend that besides wearing an outfit that fits your style and personality, wear clothes in your favourite colours too. Fashion experts also reveal that certain colours have the power to affect your moods, so you should incorporate colours like green, cobalt blue, yellow, and corals in your daily routine when working from home.
Opt for Time-savers
When working from home you might need to hop on a virtual meeting with just a moment’s notice. So it would be best if you always had a wardrobe of business casual attires that you can slip into once you get the heads up about a virtual meeting. Here are some clothing items that you should always keep handy in case of impromptu virtual meetings:
- A well-pressed shirt or blouse
- A dress shirt and tie
- A nice pair of pants or jeans with an elastic waist
- A fitted sweater or cardigan for the warmer weather during summer
- A blazer or suit jacket
Conclusion
As we adjust to the work-from-home trend that has become imperative given the COVID-19 restrictions, it makes a whale of sense for many of us to understand how to be great at it. In addition, understanding and knowing what to wear when working from home can make you feel confident, a bit happier a lot more productive. That is why we recommend that you invest in a wardrobe that has a lot of professional, stylish attires that can pass for office attire but are comfy enough for you to wear around the house.
No matter what day of the week you are when working from home, you should always put together an attire that could pass as office attire even if you don’t step out of the house. We hope that you stick with the tips shared in this blog.
