Dressing for Success When Working from Home
Do you own your own home based business or are you a home based worker who is employed by an outside company? If are you, you may enjoy the many comforts of working from home. Although working from home is nice and is a dream of many, it can also be very difficult. Many home based workers have reported problems such as missed deadlines or the inability to always stay focused and stay on task. If this a problem for you, the solution may be a lot easier than you may have originally thought.
Although not true in all cases, many individuals believe that home based workers have difficultly because of their lack of professionalism. This professionalism isn’t in how they present themselves to clients and it doesn’t concern the work that they submit. Instead, this lack of professional focuses on the appearance of most home based workers, namely the clothing worn. If you are working from home right now, what are you wearing? If you are like many home based workers, you may respond with jeans and a t-shirt or even your pajamas. If you are looking to improve your professionalism and possibly even your performance levels and productivity, you may want to make changes in the way that you dress for work.
Even if you work from home, there are a number of benefits to dressing for success. One of those benefits is the work that you may be able to produce and your productivity. When working from home, there are typically two types of individuals. There are those who work best when comfortable and those who work best when poised for success. If you are the latter, you may benefit immensely from dressing for success, even if you work out of your home. It has been reported by many that the more professional you dress, the more professional results you will likely produce.
It is also important to examine your current working situation. If you run your own home based business, does your business require that you regularly meet with your customers? If it does, you may want to consider dressing for success, even if it isn’t necessarily expected of you. Taking steps to dress for success when meeting with clients and customers is a great way to improve your public perception. Even if your clients are use to seeing you in casual clothing, it may be a nice surprise and change for all parties involved, including yourself.
When dressing for success, when working from home, it is important to remember that you do have a number of different options. You do not necessarily need to go all out. Although business suits are ideal for both men and woman, a simple pair of slacks and a dress shirt may do. If you are looking to dress for success to hopefully improve your performance and productivity, you may want to experiment. Trying on different outfits, when working from home, is one the best ways to find the dress for success clothes that work best for you.
Of course, the decision to dress professionally and dress for success when working from home is yours to make, but you may be surprised with the results. Speaking of results, why don’t you at least give dressing for success a try, as you have nothing to lose by doing so.
It makes you stop, and think before putting work off till later!
Another helpful hint: Start your workday early (BEFORE your family wakes up, and starts thinking you can give them your immediate attention “because your right there”!
Tommy
February 28th, 2008 | #
yeah when you are dressing nicely even you are working at home, it gives you some kind of commitment, and of course this will increase your productivity..
March 13th, 2008 | #
Hm, interesting look on it. Makes sense though. Your clothes really can determine how you feel about yourself or what you do. Normally I like to slough around. I don’t wear PJ’s, but still I look like a slob and don’t put on make up. Maybe time for a change
April 2nd, 2008 | #
It’s so true. I started dressing and putting makeup on first thing every day. With that I added a normal routine of an 8 hour work day and have been accomplishing so much more from home.
May 5th, 2008 | #
I highly recommend a nice comfy dressing gown. Just don’t let it come into contact with the sofa!:mrgreen:
May 16th, 2008 | #
I’ve started working full-time from home recently and I’ve experienced all the difficulties you mentioned here - “missed deadlines or the inability to always stay focused and stay on task.” And like the lady who commented above, I don’t wear PJ’ either but I won’t meet up with a client with the way I dress working from home. I’ve read about this somewheres before, but somehow you’ve managed to connect with me on this. I’ll definitely implement your suggestions on dressing for success. Thank you.:wink:
May 20th, 2008 | #
I work at home and was wondering how dressing can do some magic but you have proved that. I like the post very much and shall be promoting it to my other friends.
May 28th, 2008 | #
I have to add that working from home can be excellent and dressing for success can make put you more in the “mind frame” of actually doing business professionally and getting the job done. This is an excellent post. I wonder how motivated i would be if i tried to be productive in the same garbage i wore to sleep last night???? i think i might be more productive if i just stayed in bed longer….:smile:
June 10th, 2008 | #
my last comment i meant to SMILE in it…. so here it is
June 10th, 2008 | #
I also recommend unplugging the internet connection every once in a while. I have this horrible habit of checking my mail or the news to distract myself, and when voluntarily or involuntarily I do not have ready access to the internet, I get so much more work done.
June 30th, 2008 | #
You know it is my 2nd visit to the article. I haven’t commented it first for one reason. I want to know some wide thoughts so i did start a new topic on a forum(that was related to “work at home” and “freelance”) and I have got some opinions which are purely against this topic. Majority of work at home people even don’t like to wear something else than a jeans and a T-Shirt.
July 1st, 2008 | #