This month has been deemed the month for home-based workers to don their bathrobes to do their work. Whilst I appreciate the sentiment and reasoning behind this idea, I honestly can’t say I’ve ever worked in my bathrobe in the almost 13 years of my business. For the record, I do enjoy the freedom that working at home gives me and constantly give thanks for it.
I don’t know about you but I find I cannot focus ‘professionally’ without being showered and dressed and out of my bedroom clothing. I guess getting changed before going into the office helps clear the ‘cobwebs’ from my night’s sleep and wakes me up properly. I know that some VAs have and do work in their robes – I just can’t, it’s not me.
But a pair of jeans or trackies are fine – I can always change my pants or put on a jacket if a client is coming, which is quite rare as most of my client contact is via email and phone – at least they can’t see me from the other end! KMT
work at home, work in your bathrobe, home based workers
Demetria says
Working in my pajamas? Well…I’ve done it a time or two but I admit it is hard to keep a professional focus on my work that way. I typically like to treat my home business as though I were getting dressed for a corporate job and long commute each day — like you, I feel that at least getting dressed can play a big role in overall performance
Cristina says
Greetings. I admit I’ve worked in my PJ’s often. I hate getting dressed up to stay in the house, and some of my best work has been done in my PJ’s. However, as midday approaches it gets annoying to look at myself in the mirror and still see mess. So even though I’ve done it, I would prefer to get out of the habit. It feels slobby and unprofessional – I would be better off getting up early, getting dressed and pretty, putting on a load of washing, cleaning up the kitchen, and starting work with me and the house clean by 9am (as I’ve done today). Discipline always feels better than a sloppy life, so I’m a reformed bathrobe worker, its not for me.
kathiemt says
Good to hear it Cristina. I can’t say I’m dressed up – I’m in jeans, polo shirt and a cardigan but at least I feel I could meet someone at the door if they came unexpectedly, and I can rush out at a moment’s notice if an urgent phone call came, from a family member say. But, as you’ve mentioned above, I have usually done the kitchen, put on some washing, and made the bed, mostly before 8am in the morning – but hey, that’s just how I am!
Silvia says
I have to admit I did a very few times as well, BUT seeing that I have to get up by 5pm due to Hubby , the laundry and everything else is done by 8am ,I feel better when I am showered and dressed before start working… Seems to to me more professional, but thats just me 🙂
Vickie Turley says
Fun post, Kathie.
I do work in my PJ’s quite often and, for me, it doesn’t affect my working habits.
But I must say it is embarrassing when the UPS man comes to the door. So I’ve tried to at least put on jogging pants lately. It’s much less humiliating to let them think I’m exercising as it is for them to think I just got out of bed.
Vickie Turley
http://www.EliteVAs.com
Blog – http://elitevas.wordpress.com
Catherine says
Kathie, this is an interesting post. Some years ago a study was conducted on the effect ‘casual clothes Friday’ had on the performance level of legal staff in a local law firm. It was found that staff’s billings dropped significantly on a Friday due to the casual work attitude that came with the donning of casual clothes! Needless to say, the firm revised their ‘casual clothes Friday’ policy. Personally, working in my bathrobe doesn’t work for me – but that’s not to say that it doesn’t work for others. I tend to perform & focus better when I am dressed professionally. However, I must admit that like Vickie Turley I too have been caught out wearing my pyjamas when the UPS man came to the door!
kathiemt says
Thanks for sharing about the study – I didn’t know about that, but it does make sense.
Chris says
I prefer getting dressed and treating it like I’m going to work and walking into my office
Colleen says
I’m trying to figure out how & where you all are finding legitimate,no-fee involved, home-based
positions! Help!
P.S. Yes, I’m in my bathrobe, but I just woke up. 🙂
kathiemt says
You said ‘positions’ Colleen – we’re not employees, we’re business owners. And, as with any business, there are costs involved in setting up. There’s marketing to be done, networking, registering our business with directories and advertisements – through these things come genuine clients. Perhaps that’s the start of your answer? Why not read the posts on this blog under ‘Operating a VA Business’ to give you a point in the right direction?