You may be contemplating if you should get dressed every morning during quarantine. No one is going to see you, so what’s the point? I’m not going to sit here and act like I’m getting all dressed up in regular clothes and putting on makeup. In fact, I have not put on makeup or straightened my hair in weeks, however I do make it a point to wake up, get ready, and put on a clean set of clothes each day. My outfits just consist of leggings and comfy tops, but the act of getting ready still makes a big impact on my productivity. There is method behind this madness. The simplest reason why you should get dressed every morning during quarantine is that clothing affects your ability to communicate and can increase your confidence levels.
Clothing affects your confidence and changes your mindset
There’s something empowering about dressing “up”, but in this case, getting dressed at all makes a huge impact. It changes your demeanor and studies have shown that it influences the way we think.
We’re often able to think more clearly and efficiently when dressed in workwear because it differentiates us from a more laid back and social environment in which one would wear casual clothing. Even though there’s no need to put on workwear, getting dressed in different clothes than you slept in and getting out of those pajamas will help differentiate between the various portions of your day. Since clothing can directly impact your confidence, ensuring that you put on an outfit that makes you feel good (at this point, that might be your favorite pair of leggings) will help you start your day feeling confident. Amidst the unknown, it’s essential to partake in any act that makes you feel more confident in yourself.
Getting dressed will help you maintain a routine
I always tell clients to dress up for phone interviews because it makes a difference in how your mind processes information and in turn affects how well you can articulate yourself. In this case, phone interview or not, it’s important to maintain some semblance of normalcy amidst very uncertain times. Getting dressed will help you maintain a routine (even if it’s a very relaxed routine), and will help you start your day with an accomplishment. Even though it might seem trivial, getting out of bed, getting ready, and putting on a fresh set of clothes are all accomplishments that you can check off your daily to-do list. During a time when we’re all trying to navigate a new normal, it’s important to acknowledge even the smallest accomplishments.
Note that if you are not working right now, Clinical psychologist Claudia W. Allen of UVA School of Medicine says that it’s ideal to have a mix of things you need to do (pay bills, chores, work, etc.) and things you just like to do. This approach to your day is actually an evidence-based treatment for depression called “behavioral activation” that will also help prevent depression.
Getting dressed will help you focus on work related tasks
By staying in your pajamas all day, your mind will have a hard time differentiating between relaxing time and work time (whether it’s subconscious or not). You will most likely also have a harder time picking up on verbal cues and being productive. Many people are working from home now, and while rules are more relaxed, it’s still necessary to complete your work within given deadlines. If you spend your days in clothing in which you sleep and relax, your mind will have a harder time leaving that state and entering work mode.
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When you’re considering whether or not you should get dressed every morning during quarantine, think about why dress codes were enacted at the office in the first place. They establish a sense of formality, they command respect, and they differentiate settings of work and play.
It might sound easy to spend your quarantine in pajamas, however putting on a fresh set of clothes, even if this just consists of a new pair of sweats or leggings, will help you think more clearly, act more professionally if you’re working from home, and provide some semblance of normalcy. While most of us likely aren’t getting ready in full workwear, clean clothes can help you mentally prepare for the day.