with Britt Reints
Forget the 9 to 5; Full Time, All the Time is a blog about the mobile working life - when you have the freedom to work from anywhere and the responsibility of always having your smartphone turned on. Britt Reints works as a freelance writer while traveling fulltime in an RV with her husband and two kids. She explores balancing real-life bills with an unconventional work life, and finding time to maintain relationships with family and friends.
You can also find Britt at InPursuitOfHappiness.net.
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I refuse to spend my day in sweatpants.
Even when I’m working at home.
I have no dress code when I go into the office - which is obvious if you take a look at some of my co-workers - and yet I shower, do my hair, and put on makeup almost every day. And I wear jewelry.
I’m amazed how many women don’t do this. I’m even more amazed at how many women are proud of this!
Listen, I don’t want to be that girl, but when did looking like a slob become a sign of success? Why is the ability to “work in our underwear” supposed to be the ultimate level of professional achievement?
Ladies, take a shower.
Put on real pants.
And a bra.
Even if no one else sees you all day, doesn’t it make you feel better to be put together? I find that I am much more productive when I feel like I’ve officially started my day by getting dressed for it. I’m also much better prepared for surprises that might show up throughout the day - like the UPS guy.
I’m not saying we have to go back to the days of pearls and poodle skirts, but taking the time to take care of yourself is a daily reminder that you matter. Recognizing that your physical appearance is a part of that is both realistic and good for the soul. Really. I bet Oprah said that at some point and everything.
What about you?
Do you feel better when you put on real clothes, or are pants a ridiculous idea?
Hi Britt-
Loved your post…
You’re right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Man oh man you’re right…
I am an executive who dressed up for sooooo long that now on my home office days I look somewhere between someone coming from “working out” and a homeless person.
I just posted about the need to bathe - - -
…it’s TIME!!
You’re leading a national trend!
Kate
Kate | January 28th, 2009 at 9:30 am
I’m home full-time with two children under five, and when the baby was about one, I got serious about looking better-dressed and more put-together each day, even if my day only involved doing laundry, playing blocks on the floor, and wiping up milk spills. I agree that it is a huge confidence-booster. I do feel better, in general, when I look nice for my “work”–and when I look presentable for the preschool run. However, since most of the time I do put on “real” clothes and do my hair and make-up, I fully enjoy the occasional (maybe 1 x/week) day when the girls and I have got nothing going on and I decide to hang out all day in yoga pants, a ponytail, and no makeup. As long as I’m usually pulled together, it’s nice to have an occasional break from good grooming!
Shannon | January 28th, 2009 at 11:31 am
When I worked from home full-time, I always made sure I was showered and dressed for work. I didn’t always put makeup on, but I always had “real” clothes on, even if they were shorts. I always figured I’d be less likely to act like it was the weekend if I wasn’t dressed like it was the weekend.
Finn | January 28th, 2009 at 11:41 am
I am so in your camp!
It’s a snow day today and my daughter is sick, so I am working from home. But I put on makeup, jeans and a funky tshirt, and even some jewelry — I feel sooo much more put together when I do this.
When I was younger I remember my mom saying to me that on days when I don’t feel well or am in a bad mood I should dress up. It stuck with me and I think about this when I am at home — it’s just a pick me up.
(Added bonus — I notice when I am dressed in stuff other than sweats I sit up straighter!)
Nataly | January 28th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
I work at a Large Midwestern University, so I often feel a need to dress up to distinguish myself from the students. While they are romping about in hot pants or with Juicy on their butts, I’ve got a put together look.
Even if I am wearing dark jeans (which is a lot of days), I try to wear some jewelry and always be ready for an impromptu meeting.
One thing that is much different here (vs. my govt job in DC) is that I rarely see cute pointy-toed heels. So, my feet are very happy now that I wear black flats or clogs most of the time.
Jennifer W. | January 29th, 2009 at 10:18 am
I went to the doctors office on a casual Friday and the staff were all wearing weekend type clothing. The doctor and I chatted about it and she stated that while she likes to give her staff a break on Friday that their production level was not as high as on other days. Clothes do make a difference.
Ruth | January 29th, 2009 at 11:00 am
Ok - I look like a slob, and I am not proud of it. I do wear a bra, however.
I work, like, all the time. I’m just at a phase in my career where I have to do it. I shower at night before bed and I make sure that I have presentable clothes when I go into the office (plus a little bit of makeup and some jewelry - but I gave up taking care of my hands in manicures a while ago).
Most of the time, I am simply beating the clock. Not showering/dressing during the day saves me anywhere from 15 minutes - 1 hour (that I spend with my son before and after school). This is just where I am right now. Hopefully, sometime in the near future, I will not have to work so much and will be able to free that time up (by the way…I rank the time as 1) family before and after school is non-negotiable, 2) work, 3) working out, 4) all else - dressing, etc., fits into the work category when I have to go into the office twice a week). Otherwise, it’s in the all else category.
Mary | January 29th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
I read this at the perfect time. Just yesterday a man in my department yelled out “What? Did your makeup fall off?”, when a book fell off my desk and made a loud noise. By no means do I wear a lot of make-up, so I shouldn’t have let it get to me, but it did. I am one of a couple of women in my department that get “dressed” for work. Because we don’t deal with the public they feel they can come to work in the same state that they woke up in. Like you, I feel ready to work when I’m dressed and confident in my appearance. The man’s comment got to my (sometimes) low self esteem. Your article really cheered me up. Thanks!
Pamela | January 30th, 2009 at 9:15 am
oh I so agree with you. Most of the days I dress up as though I am going to work. But there are some days, I am very tired, I may spend the day working in my bathrobe. Those are not my best days.
So yeah, making a point to shower, get dressed is great. If you have to go out for whatever reason, you are ready.
vera babayeva | February 2nd, 2009 at 8:38 am