Why I Still Get Ready Every Morning To Work From Home

 My morning routine can make or break my attitude for the rest of the day. I don't drink water with apple cider vinegar or do an hour of sunrise yoga but I do like to get ready as if I were going outside.

I used to think that working from home gave me all the freedom in the world. I could work as much as I wanted, wearing whatever I want and the best part, I could do it all from the comfort of my bed.

These bad habits caught up to me and while I was getting work done, I was dreading it. I was confused as to why this new arrangement was bringing me down. After all, I could stay in bed all day and eat whenever I wanted, all while wearing pajamas.

After a moment of self-discussion, I decided I would try getting ready every morning before I sat down for work.

The Psychology Behind Wearing Makeup To Work From Home

Experts say that putting on a bit of makeup and getting dressed can trick us into thinking we have a routine. Researchers from Harvard University studied the “lipstick effect” and the power it had in increasing our productivity.

They stated that it has been proven that higher levels of self -esteem are associated with better academic standing or better work performance.

The study focused on having different groups of people, some of which wore makeup and others that didn't. By the end of the research, it was concluded that:

“F emale students who had put make-up on received higher grades compared to those who did not. In addition, these students outperformed students with positive mood only and students who were engaged in a control activity.” — Palumbo et al., 2018

It’s Not Just About Makeup

Tara Hurster, founder of the Tara Clinic states that there are many benefits to doing things that make us feel joyous. For some people, it’s makeup, for others, it could be a hairstyle. There is no limit to the number of things we can do to make the experience while working from home an enjoyable one. When we look powerful, we are more likely to be confident and make better decisions.

There is certainly a correlation between getting ready in the morning and being more productive. Studies show that by simply putting on makeup, doing your hair, and putting on clothes you feel confident in, your productivity increases drastically.

Testing the Theory

I usually never wear makeup. Even pre-self isolation, I enjoyed the feeling of a bare face and allowing my pores to breathe. Still, I wanted to put on a bit of makeup each morning while still keeping it casual. In terms of products, I use a tinted moisturizer, lip balm, and mascara. Though it’s not much, it’s enough for me to notice a difference.

For me, my outfit is the most essential part of getting ready. I love mixing and matching clothes. While working from home, I still want to be comfortable. I invested in nice matching sweatsuits as well as baggy culottes and button-up shirts.

The simple act of putting on clothes I felt good and comfortable in made a huge difference in my overall performance. It may seem silly to get dressed just to sit at my living room desk but I don’t mind it. I was and still am willing to do anything that makes me happy while also making me productive.

I noticed that if I looked put together, it would make me more inspired to work harder.

It’s A Routine I Enjoy

Putting on makeup in the morning means my day is about to begin. Similarly, taking my makeup off at night signifies the end of the day. A simple routine such as this one helped me find the work-life balance I was struggling to reach.

Working from home is excellent at times but I struggled to put my phone or laptop down. I constantly checked e-mails and continued to do work well past the hours I would normally be working if I was in an office.

Taking off my makeup at the end of the day is the ritual that tells me it’s time to put away everything work-related as well.

Prior to getting dressed and putting on makeup, I was unable to differentiate between work and home because I was wearing pajamas all day and working from bed. I was not aware of the detrimental effects this was having on my productivity.

What I Learned Throughout the Process

Besides learning that my productivity levels increased, I learned a few other things I can take with me for the rest of my life.

Getting ready is something I do for myself

There's a common misconception that women or men wear makeup and/or dress to impress other people. By trying this experiment, I can safely say that's not true, for me at least. Putting on makeup and getting dressed is something I do for my own well-being and satisfaction. I had absolutely nobody to impress. I did it for me and that is something I value.

External judgment is unnecessary

I shared my new knowledge with certain “friends” and they were confused as to why I would “go through all that effort”. I’ve never understood the deal with feeling superior just because you don't put effort into how you look. Putting in effort doesn’t make your results less valuable. It's not goofy to put makeup on and get dressed at home. If it improves your well-being and happiness, you don't have to care what other people say.

Work-life balance

It never made sense to work from bed in my pajamas but I did it anyway. This resulted in restless nights because well, I technically spent all day resting. Having a mini routine of putting on makeup to start my day and taking off to end my day made a big difference and it helped me find my work-life balance.

Final Takeaway

After trying this technique of getting ready every morning, I can truly say my productivity has never been better. I find that I can get more done throughout the day and I can officially put work to rest at the end of the day without fearing I missed something.

A combination of getting ready every morning and having a designated workspace in my apartment has made all the difference. I find myself eager to get started on work because I thoroughly enjoy the process of getting ready.

That being said, getting ready doesn’t have to be the thing you enjoy. Trying different morning routines until you find the one that makes you your most productive self is of utter importance to improve your productivity level.