Dressing for work?
By Kowgirl
@Kowgirl (3490)
United States
December 30, 2007 1:20pm CST
OK , I have read some funny things on the net but
this one was supposed to be serious.
It says that if you have an on-line business that
you work from home you should treat it as if it were
a brick and mortar business that you have to get dressed to
go to. Even if it is just for a few hours.
Do what you would do if you had to leave home to get to your job.
Like take a shower, put on your work clothes ,eat your breakfast
all before you go to your work area.
They also said that the work area should be set up like it
was your private office. Away from the kids and/or anyone else
who lives with you. Your friends should call before coming to see
you. And if you have more than one business or even if
it is just an affiliate business. You should work them one at a time.
After reading that I was wondering if anyone really does this?
It does sound like a good thing to do if you take your online business seriously.
Do you do any of these things?
2 people like this
16 responses
@inked4life (4224)
• United States
30 Dec 07
I think all of those are a good idea. If you have gone to work your entire life and have switched to working from home then I think it would help to have that same type of schedule and organization that you are used to. I've read that Stephen King writes for the same period of time every day and even has a time clock that he uses to punch in and out.
@Kowgirl (3490)
• United States
30 Dec 07
It thought it was a little funny because the big money makers are always saying they are working sitting on the beach, or in their underwear and /or pajamas or sitting around their pool..guess they really don't do that.
Some of the programs even have this in their salesletters.
"Work at home in your pajamas" well, at least we know better now.
Sure sounds like a reasonable idea, after all it is a business.
So we need to treat it as one.
@dream2night (624)
• Latvia
27 Feb 08
Maybe only eat breakfast:) hehehe - just kiddind. I do work at the office and at home in the same time. Work at hoem is ussualy during evenings. And I am happy when I can take off my business clothing and slip in my home clothing.
@tigerdragon (4297)
• Philippines
27 Feb 08
i guess it's taking it too seriously. though, those are true if it were a different offline business. Like i am into now, working with my partner setting up an ioofice outside of home. we have to dress our part to present ourselves to possible clients. but i do not think this would work on affiliate work online. maybe , the discipline of managing our time is a must.
@I_LUV_U (2519)
• India
31 Dec 07
That's a neat idea, no wonder if somebody is already doing it.
There are a lot of special characters in this world, someone might have been doing it. I'm not being so disciplined.
But really, that has a lot of meaning, those words. We really need to respect each work we do without discrimination as important and trivial. That's the message in it.
I only take a hot bath at times before involving in any online work, but about the dressing part, no I wear only what I feel comfortable.
@girlgonefishing (2174)
• United States
31 Dec 07
I take my online business seriously in my nightgown until around 11 or so and then I take it seriously in a tank and shorts. That's what I love so much about working from home, I'm comfortable. LOL
@badbooti (4)
•
31 Dec 07
It sounds like it may encourage you to be more disciplined. Those who WFH may be a little lax in their appearance and structure. But if you are doing the same amount of work as you would do in a office and your quality is just as good...... Who Cares? If it ain't broke then don't fix it.
@SViswan (12051)
• India
31 Dec 07
Well, I don't have an online business. But I feel the things you mentioned does make sense. And I probably would do it that way (except getting dressed like I was going to work - I'd probably wear something comforstable). The private work area helps you to concentrate on the work without any disturbances; it helps to keep you focused. Working on one business at a time also makes sense. You tend to get confused when you are trying to do too many things at the same time and end up not doing any well enough.
Or probably, I'm just too much of an organized person and will do it that way just to make my life easier. Some people probably work better in an unorganized setting and doing things as mentioned in your discussion would drive them crazy.
So, bottomline, I guess you should do what works best for you and each one has to make their own choice.
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
31 Dec 07
I do think it makes a good point about taking your at home business seriously and I do like the seperate work area idea, but seriously, how practical would that be for many people. They work from home so they can keep their kids home too...staying away from the kids all day would totally defeat the purpose (not to mention it would be pretty unhealthy for the kids). Also, one of the benefits to working at home is that you don't have to get up bright and early to shower and dress and everything else.
@drknlvly6781 (6246)
• United States
31 Dec 07
This is good practice, but it doesn't work for everyone. It simply is creating a mindset of work. You should have reminders that you are working towards a goal so you can direct your attention to it. For some people it may be the routine of going to a traditional workplace. For others, like myself, it may be more of a distraction because they feel it confining. Its all about what works for you and gets you the best results.
@SheliaLee (2736)
• United States
31 Dec 07
Good Morning! I work at home as a medical transcriptionist but I have to admit I don't dress up since I do stay home. In fact, if my kids are out of school and I don't have anywhere to go I have been known to have my nightgown on still at 12:00 LOL! I take my work very seriously but I just don't feel the need to dress up since I stay home most of the day. Great discussion!!!
SheliaLee
@eyewitness (1575)
• Netherlands
31 Dec 07
I don't have an online business but if i do i would start working in my pajamas i think.
I mean if you run a website there's no one who will visit you right and you don't have to visit others.So i always thought that it's great to have a job at home because you don't have to get dressed for it.It does make sense that it's good to be dressed for it because it's a business and it's serious,but there are two sides of it i think.
@chicospagal (180)
• United States
31 Dec 07
I have to admit, I don't always get dressed when I work from home for my J-O-B. Usually that's because the reason I'm workign from home that day in the first place is I had a hard time getting out of bed in the first place! LOL. Seriously though, I do think it is a good rule to follow.
As for working affiliate type businesses, organization is key, and I sometimes find myself getting sidetracked because I have so many. So, on that note, I recommend settling on 2 good programs that you really believe in and focus on marketing those. Setting time to work on each one would be good too, except that sometimes you can actually promote both at the same time.
@cupid74 (11388)
• Pakistan
31 Dec 07
Hi
well its look funny but i think that you must have seperate place for work even u r operating from home. u should have proper timinmg and decent dress. it will give professional look and make proper work environmenmrt
take care
@betsyraeduke (2670)
• United States
31 Dec 07
I think that some of that is a good idea. Keeping your work space organized is a good idea because it would beneficial to both you and your business to do so. Eating breakfast, or whatever meal applies depending on what your work hours are, is a good idea, because it is easier to focus if you are not hungry. Not having interruptions from friends or other people is a good idea because people usually work better without distractions; however, staying away from your kids is often not practical, as well as defeats many people's reasons for working from home in the first place. I don't think it matters how you dress or when you take your daily shower or things of that nature when you work from home though. As long as you are comfortable and able to do your job, those things, I think, are safely left up to preference of the individual.
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
30 Dec 07
I think if you are serious you should set aside a certain time you do you work and it could not hurt to have a set schedule that includes showering and what not (most people feel better and are more awake if they do something like that int he morning). Having a organized work place I am sure works very well, that way you are not distracted by the mess.
When I worked from home I did have a neat and clean desk. I would get up in the morning and have breakfast but I usually worked for 2 or so hours before showing and getting fully dressed.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
30 Dec 07
LOL--oh, yeah, sure. I do work from home, but what my schedule is, is like this. I can't stand to be coped up all day at home, so when I get up, have breakfast, get dressed and go out to do whatever errands I have for the day. Then come home, and change into my sloshing around the house clothes which consists of an over-sized tee-shirt, and barefoot. I really don't think anyone who works at home and in front of a computer "dresses up"...think a lot might actually putter around in their PJs--LOL
