You’ve left your 9-5 job to be your own boss. You’ve tossed the blazers and heels. Now your work uniform is your favourite pair of underwear. But put your pants back on and take heed.
You’ve just escaped the monotony of your 9-5 dream-crushing job, and you’ve gone for it. You took the plunge so you could work for yourself and become the entrepreneur you always wanted to be.
You’ve tossed away some old habits, and maybe in your quitting frenzy you’ve tossed all those tight fitting blazers, heels and nylons too. You’ve probably tossed so much that your work uniform is now just your favourite pair of underwear.
“As freelance writer who works from home, I’ve felt the liberation behind the business clothes purge. But I also know the perils and pitfalls that can blindside you, especially when you’re just starting out.”
As freelance writer who works from home, I’ve felt the liberation behind the business clothes purge. But I also know the perils and pitfalls that can blindside you, especially when you’re just starting out.
Not to be the bearer of bad news, but it’s time to put on some pants and take heed. Here is a breakdown of ways you may not realize your underwear is slowing you down and some simple methods for recovery.
Client Time Postponed
When you wake up in the morning and don’t get yourself ready for work at home, you’re essentially stumbling into the office late. If a client calls for an impromptu video call, you have to run to the bathroom, comb your hair, and put on some decent looking pants. Instead of preparing notes and talking points, you’re scrambling to find a bobby pin.
Your client probably won’t see below the waist during your video conference, but how awkward would it be to attend an in-person meeting without pants, especially if your client had no idea the entire time? Your mind would probably be somewhere else.
Creating a morning ritual can solve this problem. Set your alarm for an hour earlier than usual. Take morning showers and make yourself breakfast. Put together an outfit that makes you feel comfortable and confident. The next time that client wants to chat, you’ll be prepared.
Your Brain on Laziness
When you’re donning those fashionable underpants, you may feel spy and free. You may also be allowing yourself check Facebook on the couch between tasks.
The truth is, when you’re wearing underwear to work, you’re giving yourself flexibility to be lazy. Consider this one of the many blessings and many curses of working from home.
Underwear is a symbol of the freedom you’ve always craved in the workplace, and it would work well as a symbol on the national flag of Planet Lazy. This is a case where too much freedom can be a dangerous thing.
On the other hand, dressing confidently can make a major difference in the way you approach a client. Taking a minute to get yourself looking pro could be the reason you make a sale. There’s also a sense of accomplishment that goes along with de-robing at the end of the day, it’s a physical way of alerting your brain that it’s okay to shut down and relax after a long day of work.
Low Self-Esteem
Karen Pine is a fashion psychologist who has studied not only what our clothing communicates to other people, but how it makes us perceive ourselves. The crux of the idea is that when you dress yourself in the morning, a big part of that decision is determined by your mood.
What mood are you generally in when you’re sporting just underwear?
There’s a chance you’re feeling gorgeous, but maybe you also just couldn’t be bothered with putting on a composed outfit. Maybe you’re feeling lackluster and down. The act of putting on clothes that make you feel good is an instant mood-boosting exercise and can change the way you market your business.
Don't work in your undies. Putting on clothes changes the way you work from home. Click To TweetEven if you’re a devout strictly-underwear kind of person, you can make a few simple changes to stay comfortable while working from home. It’s not the worst news in the world when the solution comes in the form of an outfit that makes you feel stunning.
