Comments on: Getting Past the Pajama Mentality

By: Kate Lister

Kate Lister — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:05:32 +0000

Yeah. And some of us work naked too. There was actually a study on the topic. Something like 30% of men say they work naked. I assume they were working from home. Sometimes the only reason I put pants on is so I’m not impaled by the cat’s nails.

But seriously folks, what is the hang-up with what we wear while we work. I can practically feel my IQ go down when I pull a pair of pantyhose on. And what’s with neckties? Who decided a tourniquet around an executive’s brain-stem was a good idea? Okay, I get that working naked in public has it’s limitations, but why not make casual Friday last all week?

By: Kori Ellis

Kori Ellis — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:09:54 +0000

This is always a funny topic to me. I rarely “get dressed” to work. It doesn’t make me take my writing anymore serious or get me in any different frame of mind when I put on different clothes. So, I work in my pajamas/robe almost every single day. Sure, I take a shower and blowdry my hair… sometimes, I even put on lipstick and eyeliner for fun. However, I rarely put on “real clothes” unless I’m leaving the house or someone is coming over.

If putting on clothes helps a writer be more structured and disciplined, then I’m all for it. However, clothes just don’t do it for me.. I have spreadsheets for that

-Kori

By: Allena

Allena — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:13:52 +0000

I LOVE Kate’s book– and not just because I’m in it

My opinion on the pj/bunny slippers is that my clients just don’t care. I work for one publisher that has their freelance “pack” down to an absolute science. They handle freelance work SO WELL (heck, they even send my invoice TO ME to sign and send back!) that I discern that they have been doing this for so many years that they are sooo completely accustomed to working with freelancers that nothing phases them.

By: MJ Ray

MJ Ray — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:43:41 +0000

If you think work-at-home freelancers have an image problem in some sections, then consider being a home-based tech worker co-op member…

How do you deal with this? Have you found a better approach than the ol’ “don’t ask, don’t tell” one?

By: Christina

Christina — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:13:27 +0000

I am one of those people who often work in what most would consider pajamas, but I do always shower before starting to work! I just find that sitting at a desk in jeans all day is extremely uncomfortable for me. I wear things that are more comfortable than that because if I am not worried about what I am wearing or how uncomfortable I am then I get so much more done in the day! I think that this is purely a personal preference, and I have things that I wear when working and then the lazy day lounge around the house PJ’s. I just can’t do the jeans and office chair all day every day thing.

By: Kate Lister

Kate Lister — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:12:35 +0000

When we wrote Undress For Success–The Naked Truth About Making Money at Home, we specifically asked the publisher (Wiley) to not use the bunny slipper image on the cover. They did, but I have to say, I now have a love-hate relationship with their decision. On one hand, I think it’s great that telecommuters and freelancers who work from home can wear whatever they want to work. If bunny slippers are the icon for that, so be it. On the other hand, I realize that home-based work has suffered a bad rap because of the follow-on image that those pajama-clad workers are really at home watching TV and eating bon-bons.

I’ve always felt that our culture’s emphasis on how you look and how you sound is incredibly prejudicial. I think a home based workforce is the great equalizer. No longer is it the loudest talker, or the tallest presence, or most put-together people that dominate the thought pool.

Why don’t we forget about how people are dressed (or if they are) and focus on what they can do?

By: Christine

Christine — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:58:28 +0000

Thanks for writing this! Yes, I will admit that sometimes the shower comes AFTER the exercise and breakfast, but it IS included in the day. If I stayed in my jammies I would go right from bed to computer and that would make for a very unhappy writer.

I think a large portion of those corporate people don’t give us enough credit for keeping ourselves motivated and inspired to stay productive all day. (I used to be one and thought the same way.) Not everyone can handle this lifestyle, just ask those who tele-commute one day a week. I guarantee they are up on the latest Oprah or SportsCenter highlights. Thanks for sticking up for us.

Christine

By: Kim Crystal

Kim Crystal — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:50:31 +0000

It isn’t fair to classify those who work at home as those who work in their “jammies.” After all, a lot of self-employed people work in sweats, too.