Working From Home #WFH

Fun Fact: The Working From Home situation is something I did for 16 years before I started at my current position. My office was in my house and my staff would enter through the back door and get going like any other office. So my definition of WFH really meant that I still woke up and got ready for work just like any other person, minus the commute.

My perspective of what to wear while WFH is a little different. Now we’re a world where we have video conferencing calls and no where to go. A lot of my instagram and FB posts used to be about what I wore to work. Funny enough, people used to get a kick out of me posting. There were times when I would be on the phone with someone and before we got down to business, they would mention that they liked my wardrobe posts. It was a fun way to connect with colleagues.

Growing up with a Vietnamese mom meant that I was taught to not wear shoes at home, to change into “home clothes” out of “street clothes” & to always be presentable when I was accompanying my mom anywhere. A lot of that carries on to my own lifestyle choices. I have shoes at the front and back door of my house, as well as in my closet and other storage spaces. I change when I’m not “working” into more comfortable clothes while at home and I still look presentable when I’m out with my mother.

My Work From Home choices signals to my brain that I’m doing something different. I only wear exercise clothes when I work out. As a result, when I’m going on a run or doing an at home workout, I signal to my brain that I’m focused for that amount time to exercise. Part of the reason why I like going to the gym and my work out classes is that I know that I’m not going to dial it in. Not having a place outside of my home to focus my attention towards my workouts makes me feel like I’m scattered.

I still need to feel my professional when I work. So that means I’m wearing clothes that I would normally consider attire for a casual Friday or when Congress is out of session. Most people would still say that I’m too dressed up. I’m totally fine with that because I’m dressing for me and what makes me feel good about myself. When I was in grade school, I didn’t wear jeans until the 6th grade to school. Why? Because I chose what I wore and that mainly revolved around skirts and dresses. The best part? My mom made all of my clothes!

With more video calls, I’m either moderating a panel, teaching a webinar or a panelist so that means I gotta bring my A game to what you can see in the little box on the screen.

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Then there are the occasions where I want to feel like I made an effort! My birthday was in early April and I celebrated at home. I put on a dress & heels and threw back champagne. When Easter arrived, I brought the pink. Wear what you want when you want to feel most like yourself. If anything, the quarantine has made me lean more into who I am so that I can gather a semblance of control.

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Don’t even get me started with what I wear when I’m heading somewhere for travel. Los Angeles MXM is very different from Nantucket MXM 😆.

Stay safe everyone and let me know what you’re wearing to feel most like yourself!

MXM