Dressed for... Well, just DRESSED
Today I had the option of hanging out all day in pajamas, workout clothes or (my personal preference) a combination of the two. Lots of work to do, but nothing that required me leaving the house. I'd worked out, showered, and stood with dripping hair, pondering whether it was really worth it to blow dry and apply mascara when my chances of conversing with my cats was much stronger than chatting with a human being face-to-face.
At this stage in my freelance career, I know better. I did full hair and makeup and grabbed the last bit of life from some dressy white pants before the Labor Day ban on white begins. Why all the bother? Because I had a busy day. Huzzah for freelancers who can work from bed. I'm not one of them. If I want to get anything accomplished, I'm much better off if I dress the part of a professional. I'm more likely to make phone calls, tackle to-do lists, and be flexible with my day.
And as it turns out, I did leave the house today to run to the bank, drugstore, and to meet my egg dealer for a drop. Nothing earth shattering, but if I'd had no makeup, frizzy hair, and pj bottoms, I would have put all the errands off, making some day in the future busier than it needs to be.
I've also charged through today's work. Looking professional (well okay, I'm a writer so looking semi-professional with a little bit of artsy leeway thrown in) means I act more professional with my time.
Anyone else experience this? Or has everyone except me mastered the art of working in t-shirts and fuzzy slippers?
Cheers,
Dena
Tuesday, August 31, 2010 at 3:29 PM | Dena Harris | 10 Comments | Email Article | Share via Digg | Print Article | tagged Freelance lifestyle, freelance writer, freelancing, working from home, working in pajamas in Home Life, Writing, General
Reader Comments (10)
T-shirts and jeans, baby. When I have to dress up to go to a meeting, it's major "I don't have a thing to wear" stress time.
green with envy
I bathe and dress, but it's shorts and a tee in summer, jeans and cashmere sweater in winter. No chance of running into Anna Wintour in the cafeteria anymore (unless she magically appears at Fuzzy's—which would be so awesome!). I think I've put makeup on a dozen times since we left NYC, and my fancy shoe and bag collection has been terribly ignored. Wouldn't have it any other way.
My summer attire has been workout clothes, butt it's usually jeans and a t-shirt. When I have client meetings, I get quite distressed b/c my biz casual wardrobe is greatly lacking these days.
Clearly my six year old is influencing by focus on butts and poop these days, as exemplified by previous comment.
Hm, I guess I'm lucky all my clients are too far away to meet in person. IM and email cut way down on the "what to wear" problem. If anyone wants to video chat, however, I will break out the blush and mascara pronto!
I think you're totally right! Sluffing around in scrummy clothes invites naps and other distractions! I just feel disgusting if I look disgusting. Who can be creative when they feel disgusting? Believe me, in my case, no make up = DISGUSTING!!!
PS,
I even went to the scrubs store and bought a big lab coat so that I don't have to get undressed when I paint. I've had a lot of ruined clothes because I didn't want to take the time to change.
Me too, Connie.
Another thing that gets me is the way teachers dress, now. Jeans, flip-flops, sweatshirts...no wonder the kids don't have a lot of respect. It just seems weird to me.