With the capabilities of video conferencing, gone are the days when you could call into to a meeting with your phone and leave what you’re wearing to the imagination. With services like Zoom, colleagues will see you and notice how you’re dressed. It’s important to stay professional and comfortable, and above all else create a routine during the quarantine.
Knitwear is your friend. It’s easy to wear and feels great. Sweaters were the original lounge-wear long before sweatpants and hoodies. However, unlike sweatpants and hoodies, sweaters can be made to look professional. I have a cardigan I like to throw on over my shirt. Having something cover my shoulders while working just feels right to me. I typically wear a sport coat or suit and wearing something like a jacket while working from home puts me in the mindset of “it’s time to get work done.”
Wear a pant you need a belt with. Jeans, khakis, or wool trousers all work fine so long as they have some structure. Did your mother ever tell you that you are what you eat? Same is true with the clothes you wear. If you wear sweatpants, you’ll feel like sweatpants. That’s fine for loafing about, but when it’s time to work, you can do better. Putting on a pant with structure puts the wearer in the right frame of mind to get work done! And hey, as soon as you’re finished with work, switch back into the sweatpants.
Finally, wear a shirt that goes one step above lounging around. If you typically wear a t-shirt, wear a polo; if you wear a polo, wear a button-down. Little elevations do a lot to put you in the right mindset and build a routine.
No one should expect anyone to wear a suit and tie while working from home. Just wear something different than what you’d wear when you’re just lounging around. Working from home is a tough adjustment for most of us. Keeping a routine and creating ways to separate work from play will help us a lot as we navigate through this. Do yourself a favor and pay attention to how you’re dressing working from home. Follow these suggestions and it may help your life become a little easier in a very difficult time.
Will Franklin