Remote Work Dress Code Guide. Dress Up or Dress Down?

Remote Work Dress Code Guide. Dress Up or Dress Down?

Remote Work Dress Code Guide.

Yeeeyy! You no longer have to wake up early and put on make-up, a dress, or suit and tie, or the famous khakis. There is nobody to judge you and no one to impress when you are working remotely. But, what should you wear? Just because nobody will see you, does that mean you should wear your birthday suit? While you may be tempted to dress down and work from your bed, we found that what you wear might be just as important as where you do your work. Checkout this article on how to set up a remote workstation for productivity.

Why you should have your own dress code for remote work.

Remote work has its many challenges and requires a lot of discipline. It can either increase or drastically hurt your productivity. Things like creating a schedule, optimizing your workstation, and using organizational tools are all obvious ways to ensure that you stay productive. What many people don’t consider is their remote work dress code and how what they wear can affect their productivity. Having a dress code and dressing up for remote work might seem like a waste of time, but it can actually increase your productivity.

1. Boosts your confidence and motivation.

Motivation can easily be lost when there is no boss watching over your shoulder. It is easy to start working from bed, get distracted, and lose your motivation. Studies have actually found that “Putting on formal clothes makes us feel powerful, and that changes the basic way we see the world,” says Abraham Rutchick, an author of the study and a professor of psychology at California State University, Northridge. This may coincide with the theory that making your bed can help set you up for success. By dressing up you may increase your motivation and confidence to tackle the day.

2. Supports a better mood.

It has been proven that a plant on your desk and the colors on your walls can improve your mood. A study by The University of Hertfordshire found that there is a strong correlation between the outfit that we choose and our mood. Professor Pine from the study summed it up by saying: “This finding shows that clothing doesn’t just influence others, it reflects and influences the wearer’s mood too. Many of the women in this study felt they could alter their mood by changing what they wore. This demonstrates the psychological power of clothing and how the right choices could influence a person’s happiness.” Wear something that makes you feel good. This is the same concept of smiling to make yourself feel better.

3. Gives a good impression on video calls.

Sure your boss may be okay with informal dress and everybody else might be dressed down; but that does not change human behavior and perception. It is well known and proven in many studies that the way we dress affects how people perceive us. This does not change for video calls. Dressing professional for video calls will help leave a good impression and show that you care. 

Why dressing for comfort is a good thing when remote working. 

Business attire isn’t exactly the most comfortable clothing to wear. Here are some arguments for dressing for comfort when working remotely.

1. Saves money.

Depending on your job, dressing up to go to the office can become costly. If you are working at home, you could save a small fortune by wearing cheaper or more comfortable clothes. Sweatpants are certainly much cheaper than business attire. 

2. Relaxation and increased focus.

Tech companies like Google actually have nap pods and many studies are finding that relaxation actually increases productivity. By wearing comfy pajama bottoms and a cozy sweater that makes you feel relaxed… you might just find yourself relaxed enough to tackle those hard tasks on your list. 

3. Less time to get ready.

Choosing your outfit and dressing up can take extra time away from the things you want to do. By working remotely you have the ability to save lots of time by not commuting and getting ready in the morning. 

4. Be ready for a workout.

Finding time for working out is much easier when you are working remotely. Many people across the web have shared that they work remotely in their gym clothes so that they can workout in-between work or directly after. Time savings is perhaps one of the greatest benefits of working from home. 

As always the important thing to do is find what works for you. Know yourself and know what makes you feel good and productive. Let us know in the comments what works for you! Are you dressing up or dressing down while working remotely?

Justin Palmer is Founder and CEO of The Remote Firm

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