3 Ways to Motivate Yourself to Get Dressed When You Work From Home
You go to your closet in the morning, ready to get dressed…and then you do a quick scan of your (for once!) empty calendar and think OR 🤔 I could just stay in these oh-so-comfy joggers and this oversized pajama tee…
And from there on, the thoughts just keep coming, “I mean, don't I deserve a little comfort and relaxation for working so hard? I should just stay in my comfy clothes today as a little treat. Plus, putting on clothes and make up is SO MUCH WORK and I'm so tired today.”
I feel ya. I've been there.
Being a stylist doesn't make me immune to the enticing comforts of staying in sweatpants all day. (I don't think anyone has that superpower!)
However, I also know that wearing sweatpants all day can actually impact your mood and productivity.
As shared in a Forbes article, Dr. Karen Pine, professor of psychology at the University of Hertfordshire and fashion psychologist said, “When we put on an item of clothing it is common for the wearer to adopt the characteristics associated with that garment. A lot of clothing has symbolic meaning for us, whether it's 'professional work attire' or 'relaxing weekend wear', so when we put it on we prime the brain to behave in ways consistent with that meaning."
Essentially, what you wear impacts you based on the symbolic meaning you have attached to those clothes.
This is why putting on your shoes is a great hack for instantly boosting productivity when you work from home.
Think about the last time you wore shoes - was it to kick back, relax and watch TV? Probably not! And how often do you take off your shoes and walk around in your socks or slippers all day while working in-person at the office? I’m guessing not very often!
Any time you put on shoes, it’s because you have something to do and somewhere to go. Your sub-conscious has attached this symbolic meaning to shoes and wearing them will trigger your brain that’s it time to work.
On the flip side, slipping into that cozy comfy lounge sweater that you normally only wear to binge watch Netflix on Sundays can cause you to feel even more tired, more unmotivated, and have you performing at a lower level than normal when you decide to ‘treat’ yourself and wear it while working from home.
This is why on the days you’re feeling tired and unmotivated it’s even more important to get dressed for the day.
Sure, no one on your Zoom call is going to see that you’re wearing those baggy, stained sweatpants (unless you have to stand up to get something off the printer - oops!) but getting dressed for your day isn’t just about how you look - it’s also about how you feel.
You can change your mood, energy levels and productivity by using this powerful yet simple tool at your disposal. To do this, get dressed with the intent of how want to feel that day and not how you actually feel that morning.
Once you’ve done this a few times and experienced the benefits for yourself, the knowledge that putting on that bright top in your closet will help you feel happier or wearing that soft sweater will give you a sense of calm when it's much needed is a powerful motivator to go ahead and get out of those sweats.
Still finding it hard to get dressed, even with knowing how powerful it can be?
Give these three tips a try on days you need a little extra motivation when it comes to getting dressed in the AM:
Give new clothes a test run
This is a great opportunity to try out new clothes and see if you’re fidgeting, if it feels uncomfortable in any way and how it works with other pieces in your closet. I.e., are these pants high waisted enough that you feel comfortable wearing it with a shorter top? Now you’ll know before you run out the door instead of discovering halfway into your day that you can't stop tugging your shirt down because you feel so dang uncomfortable.
This little trick works especially well with shoes. You know how you need to “break in” some pairs a bit? Better to do it at home than while standing in the boardroom giving a presentation with aching feet! Plus, you get the bonus of improved productivity at the same time. Win-win!
Make it a contest with yourself to see how wacky you can get
If no one is seeing you today, it's the perfect time to get a little wild and crazy. Hot pink heels with brown leather pants and a crazy geo pattern tee? Sure, why the heck not?! A glittery silver unitard - give that a go! Thinking through these possibilities can make you excited to get in there and get creative. Excitement and having something to look forward to can be a powerful motivator!
Sometimes, you just need to buy something new.
If you’re feeling really uninspired and unmotivated to get dressed, buy something new. It can be a gorgeous, budget-friendly blouse from Target that you pick up while grocery shopping or a rad new expensive and beautiful piece from your favorite online store.
Even just getting a new pair of earrings or bold lipstick shade could be enough to get you imagining all the pieces you can wear it with and increase your excitement for getting dressed tomorrow. There’s a reason they call it retail therapy!
Getting dressed isn’t just about having somewhere to go. It’s about mentally and physically preparing to have the type of day you want to have.
If a down day starts with a down mood, it usually stays that way. By dressing for your day and feeling confident and beautiful, the things that go wrong (and they will, because there is no such thing as a 100% perfect day) won’t be a big deal at all! Shrug it off your pretty shoulders, because you’ve got this!
With these tips, you can start your day feeling motivated and ready to take on the world!
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ABOUT:
I'm a Minneapolis personal stylist on a mission to eradicate outdated style 'rules' so women can unleash themselves in all their beautiful, authentic glory!
I offer personal styling services that empower women to wear what they love by helping them ditch any outdated style rules keeping them stuck, showing them how to dress in a way that embraces their beautiful body and, the key to it all, having fun! I believe in a liberated style approach so there are no style rules, body shapes, seasonal colors or dos and don’ts given out here. Rather, I help my clients tap into what lights them up and dress with the purpose of expressing their authentic selves rather than impressing others.
This is all done through a combination of styling services (including wardrobe edits, shopping trips and styling sessions) available in thoughtfully curated styling packages designed to help clients unleash their true self through the power of style.
When I'm not helping women take back their power style, you can find me reading (about a gazillion books at once), traveling to new and old favorite destinations, binging a random circa 2000's TV show with my hubby, Aaron, playing with my adorable rescue pup or, of course, shopping! :-)