Dress for Success: Even Working From Home Requires a Dress Code

I’m sure you’ve seen the commercial – and I’ve referenced it before. The woman gets up, exercises, takes care of her daughter and then conducts business in pajama bottoms and slippers with her baby nearby. I wish that this was reality but, for the most part, it just isn’t.

Even if you are working from home full time you should follow some sort of dress code. Thankfully, this doesn’t need to mean putting on a suit every day, or anything that requires dry cleaning, for that matter. But you really should get dressed.

Have you ever heard the rule that putting a smile on your face will put a smile in your voice? Well, keeping pajamas on your body can put drowsiness in your voice.

Whether you work from home with a flexible schedule or with specific hours it is important to get into a basic routine. Get up at about the same time each morning. If you want to begin your day with a little work, that’s fine. But then get in the shower. You will feel refreshed and more awake. You can save money on coffee!

When you get dressed you can certainly stay comfy but try to stay away from “lounging” clothes like sweats or pajamas. This is especially important if you will be talking on the phone with people. It might sound funny, but you will sound perkier if you are dressed! And if you feel perkier, you will also be more productive.