A few days ago, a blogger I follow, Jon Acuff, posted “The Life Changing Power of Pants.” Jon worked from home before all this, so he shares some tips. The number one tip to working from home? Pants.
For the past few weeks, a lot of us have had to work from home and we’re missing some of the usual routines that tell our brains that it’s time to be productive. Jon makes the point that our commute, coffee, etc tell us it’s time to focus, pajamas tell us it’s time to relax.
Today, I got ready as if I were leaving for work. Yesterday, I stayed in my gym shorts. Today, I worked efficiently, stopping at a normal time. Yesterday I worked lazily all day.
It’s more than just a productivity hack. Our clothes signify something to our bodies. It’s why we dress up for Mass and other special occasions. Our body informs and shapes our souls, so what we put on our bodies does the same.
If we wear leisurely clothes all day, it’s hard for us to have proper leisure. When we dress up for work and then change into leisurely clothes, it sends a signal that it’s okay to relax.
Good routines make good habits. When we have the pressure of getting to school/work on time, we’re forced to make routines. When we don’t have that pressure, we don’t make routines. We even avoid routines in the name of “freedom” or “flexibility.”
If you’re working from home, work on a routine that helps you form a good rhythm of life. This will improve your work and prayer life, and maybe other things like sleeping, eating, and exercising as well.