Can I Work from Home in My Pajamas?
To wear pajamas or not to wear pajamas? That’s the question for many who work from home and aren’t certain about how exactly to dress during the workday. There’s a certain comfort involved in climbing out of bed, making a cup of coffee, and settling into work without the stress of getting dressed as you would if you were headed to an office or other professional environment.
It turns out there are pros and cons involved in wearing pajamas while you work. For some people, it may be the perfect way to jump right into everything that’s on the agenda. And for others, it may be necessary to get ready in a way that’s dressed up without overly corporate. Some may prefer to strike a fine balance between the two. There’s no right or wrong answer, of course, but here’s how to figure out what’s right for you if you’re torn between working in your pajamas or putting on a women’s blouse and pants.
Wearing Pajamas
What’s the argument for wearing pajamas while you’re tapping away at your laptop? It’s all about comfort. For many, comfort is conducive to relaxation, and that can correlate to greater productivity for those who find there is nothing better than sitting back and getting everything done without thinking about things like which suit to wear for the day. The beauty of working in pajamas is that it really captures one of the genuine advantages of working from home. So long as you’re getting the job done and it doesn’t impact your ability to perform and stay on your A-game, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t remain in your comfy clothes — even if it something that you wore to bed.
But there’s also something to be said for swapping the actual pajamas that you wore to bed for a pair of “daytime” pajamas. Maybe you plan to shower in the morning but have no desire to get “dressed” in the traditional sense. For some, there’s no point in doing that if you have no intention of going out. If that’s the case and you still want to wear something that you could conceivably wear to sleep too, try a pair of women’s sweatpants and a sweatshirt. It’s just as relaxed as your pajamas! Another reason to stay in your PJs if that’s your preference is your schedule. If you only work for a half-day, for example, you could choose to knock everything on your schedule out before showering and relaxing.
Getting Dressed
In some instances, it may actually be necessary to get a little bit more dressed up than you might normally for a day spent in your home. It’s a good idea to put in some extra effort if you need to hop on video calls throughout the day. Whether you’re virtually meeting with your boss, your clients, or your co-workers, you’ll feel a lot more polished and confident if you aren’t wearing the exact same shirt that you wore to bed. The good news is that it’s easy to look subtly dressy without sacrificing your comfort.
It’s really just your top that’s visible, so if you swap the T-shirt for a short-sleeve women’s shirt and add a light necklace, you’ll instantly look dressier. It doesn’t matter if you’re wearing those tried-and-true joggers or yoga pants underneath—no one is going to know! But you’ll easily project a more authoritative vibe when you dress up for a day that calls for people-facing situations.
Best of Both Worlds
There’s also an argument to be made for getting a little bit more dressed up for the workday but still remaining true to your love of pajamas. Bear in mind that when you work from home, there’s no reason to feel like you have to get ready in the way you would for the office or another professional setting unless you absolutely want to and simply feel like you get more done that way. Otherwise, some variation of casually comfortable attire is one of the best ways to take advantage of your work-from-home lifestyle without sacrificing your comfort.
Work from home outfits are ideal for living the remote lifestyle with some semblance of style. In fact, there’s no reason why you can’t look fashionable while you’re working from home — and you never once need to think about wearing pencil skirts, tailored pants, or sheath dresses. Traditional work from home attire runs the gamut from loose-fitting dresses and ballet flats to open-front cardigans and joggers. There’s a certain ease about these types of outfits that’s perfect for helping you feel a little bit more pulled together to face the workday, yet still relaxed enough to take advantage of working from your own home.
The Advantages
Both wearing pajamas and getting ready have their advantages. It truly depends on what you have planned for the day. When you work from home, you have options! So you should make sure that your wardrobe is prepared for the little changes that might arise. Expect to have occasional meetings? Make sure you have a stylish blouse on hand. Even a women’s cotton sweater accented with an understated necklace is perfect.
For some, slipping out of pajamas is an easy way to create some separation. Working from home tends to blur the lines a little bit. When you remain in the same clothes that you wore overnight, you might feel like it all becomes one long stretch of time. But if you simply feel your best in your PJs without any question, then stick with it. Only you can determine what’s right for you and your comfort!