Working from home is a dangerous gig sometimes.
The number of days I have had the thought around 2 PM: “Wow, maybe I should put on pants” is a frighteningly large numeral.
Which then seeps over into other areas of my life. Such as when I bring out the curbside recycling at 8 AM in my tank top and boxers, only to discover I have already missed pick up on my side of the street so I am compelled to run through the beginnings of commuting traffic amidst honks and swerves. Teenagers on summer break dress better than that!
It is easy, when hunkered down in front of the computer with Facebook on one tab and Tweetdeck on the taskbar, Skype bubbles popping and GChat messages dinging, email constantly incoming and any number of other distractions while wearing the yoga pants you threw on that morning before stumbling into your office, to have a lazy day.
When I worked 50 hours a week at the corporate gig, you could not pay me to change out of my pajamas on Sundays before 3 PM.
Now? The effort just is not worth it all that often. Who is there to impress here? The cats could care less if I’m naked or in a ball gown.
Still, sometimes I feel the need to do something that kick-starts my initiative. I open my closet, lovingly pull out my satin and patent-leather 3″ Madden Girl heels, select a fun flippy dress, take a shower, slather myself with lotion and moisturizer. I dry out my hair, then roll it up into cascading curls all around my head. I dig into the back of my makeup case, with all the eye shadow and blushes I rarely apply. I put on my tortoise-shell computer/reading glasses. I dollop lip gloss on, with extra care to the center because a lady at a makeup party once told me that is what well-maintained people do.
I don’t go to this effort on most dates, even if I really like the guy!
Am I possibly a product of my media-influenced generation, that as woman I somehow deem myself more productive and useful if I am prettier.
That may well be.
But here is the thing.
It Works.
As soon as I put all that effort into getting myself ready for the day, it is a lot harder to let my mind wander or for my brain to turn itself into Idiocracy-mush.
I thought I might be crazy til I explained the process to a couple friends. They tried it on days they just couldn’t get their productive juices going (one was a guy friend who went into the back of his closet and pulled out a 3-piece suit). Reports are always flooding in that the day of production is working, and they are cranking out work wearing their perfect pearls or button-down blazer.
Now I’m not exactly a fashion plate. My idea of dressed up is a sparkly tank top with my dark-washed denim jeans. In fact, I’m sure that many people who know me well are trying to scrape their jaws off their hardwood floors (those with carpeting, aren’t you happy with that decision now?!)
It doesn’t have to be a gussied up glamour shot. If you have a favorite concert shirt or a comfortable dance leotard…you rock what works for you.
Something about putting all that effort into and emphasis on yourself jolts you into making the most of what you created.
*Warning – You may also be tempted to beg friends to take you out on the town for dinner and/or drinks. You gotta show this off. It was just yesterday you couldn’t bring yourself to peel off your Old Navy lounge pants, remember. That was gross. Try to keep that behavior to a minimum, mmkay?
I’m just coming out of a bit of a funk. What are some things you do to jolt yourself back to reality and productivity? That maybe don’t involve burning hot barrels of metal.
The last time I felt like a bum, my room was an absolute mess and I couldn’t muster up the resolve to clean it. I remembered how someone told me to spend a few minutes each day talking out my feelings to myself (I realize this sounds crazy but it works! Promise!). So I sat in front of the mirror and completely berated myself about how gross I was. After five minutes, I got up and in trying to decide what to do next, I started picking stuff up off the floor and before I knew it, I couldn’t stop cleaning and then my room was spotless! This might not work for everyone, but it’s worth a shot. And not just with cleaning, but with other stuff.
So true! I have to remind myself that often when I look at a messy situation, overwhelmed at where to begin. If you just select one task and work at that and accomplish it, the rest often falls into face. Either you have gotten into the groove, simply want to finish or are thinking of how great it will look when it is done (or a combo of all three!)
We all know the easiest way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time, but sometimes when you are staring at an elephant you just don’t even know where to start!
I LOVE THIS!!! You are a genius. This post is so fun — to read and to imagine you sitting there all gussied up writing it! I really should have taken this advice yesterday — had a huge to-do list and didn’t do a damn thing about it. It’s amazing how laziness begets more laziness — but if you turn the tables and put in effort from the get-go, you feel better. That’s why I’ve been making every effort to run in the mornings — it starts the day off on the right foot…bad pun intended 🙂
Haha, well, the next day I was totally useless. Didn’t change out of pajamas until 4:30 PM! So it isn’t a PERMANENT mindset thing. 😉
I like the idea of going running in the mornings. My biggest obstacle is often that I get out of bed and hit my work running, so by the time I’m ready to take a break it isn’t to run. Obviously need to adjust that!
Completely agree! I get a lot more done even if I just put on a dress and put on some lip gloss. I found that I may have forgotten how to walk in heels (YIKES) so I will also be making more of an effort to just put on my shoes and walk around even when I’m working from home.
I’m pretty sure I could compete in one of those high heel 5K’s, even after not wearing heels consistently for almost a year (probably cause I have about 10 years of wearing heels consistently M-F before that!) 🙂
I have done the just a little dressed up as well. I often stop myself to get dressed and ready, to at least shift my mindset into “work” mode rather than “hungover Sunday” mode.
I have often read that when doing a phone interview, it’s best to dress up as if it were an actual face to face one. That way it’ll help put you in the mindset. This definitely works. But it also helps in normal day to day staff: I am lazier when I’m in my PJs all day and feel significantly less productive. However, when I am bathed and dressed I feel better. And I normally can’t even work unless I have cleaned my room – and sometimes even the house in some capacity. I can’t work with clutter – period! Ugh. :3
So I’m not surprised that dressing up has made you feel better. Completely changes your mindset! 😀
I’ve heard that as well, but had totally forgotten it til you mentioned. There is some sort of trigger in our brains that flips when we know that we are supposed to be a little more “on” when we take the time to get ourselves ready.
Is it mental, is it physical? I’m not sure, but I’m gonna run with it no matter what!
I couldn’t agree more, when I take the effort to make myself feel hot I am unstoppable…. Even though I had to get up 20 mins earlier to blow dry my hair I am more awake all day.
I also find that when my house is spotless (very rarely) I am on fire, even when I am not at home…. I think it is like wearing sexy undies, even though I am the only one who knows I still feel pretty great about it!
Ah! Yes! I hadn’t even thought of the sexy undies thing but it is SUCH a good example. Even though no one knows, you still *feel* it. Plus, it is a little secret, something that is making just you feel better/sexy/productive/awesome.
Great call!
When Funk comes callin, I relive all the glory moments of my working past. I did out the thank you note where someone said I was the best massage therapist ever or give a call to that elderly insurance client that sent me home with a batch of homemade oatmeal cookies cause she said I was her angel for explaining Medicare to her so well. These little self imposed pat on the backs validate me and keep me jazzed to get up and try hard the next day.
I love Yay Me folders!! I keep them in my email, my seaman’s chest, my memories. A little happy pick me up is ALWAYS great 🙂