The One Thing You Should Do Every Morning to Increase Productivity

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Do you find yourself stuck in a rut, just trying to get through the day and finish everything that needs to be done? Do you feel like you can’t accomplish anything? Maybe you start one task, then go on to another without finishing the first. Wouldn’t it be great if there was a flip you could switch on your brain to throw it into Productive Mode?

Well, there’s no magical switch that I know of, but there is something you can do to boost your productivity and give you more focus, even when you spend all day at home. 

It’s very simple, and only takes a few minutes in the morning. But it makes a huge impact on your mindset and productivity throughout the day. I know it helps keep me focused and moving forward, even on mornings when I would rather still be in bed. What is this one thing every successful homemaker or work-from-home-er does every morning?

Dress intentionally for your day

If someone showed up to an interview wearing pajamas or yoga pants, would you take her seriously? Would you think she looks like a responsible, hardworking employee who will be an asset to your company? 

Not likely. You would probably think that someone who cares so little about her appearance isn’t likely to care about her job.

And you would be right. Our attire reflects our level of respect for an occasion, person, or occupation. That’s why we dress a little nicer for church, parties, date night, or important meetings.

Professionals often wear suits or uniforms to work every day, because their jobs are worthy of respect. But do you ever stop to think about how you dress for everyday? 

Maybe you think it doesn’t matter, since you work at home where no one will see you except your family members. Wait just a minute! Aren’t your family members the most important people in your life? If I respect and love my family, I want to give them my best. Part of that is dressing like a lady. 

Moreover, dressing intentionally for your job makes you take it seriously. Homemaking is an important job, and it deserves your respect.

Attire affects your actions

Did you know that the clothes you wear actually impact your attitude and thinking ability? If productivity is your goal, regardless of your occupation, dressing with intention can help. Several studies have shown that dressing in a professional manner (instead of casual clothing or loungewear) can increase abstract thinking and negotiation skills. 

How do you apply that to homemaking, exactly? I’m not going to wear a blazer or a white blouse to hang laundry and change diapers any time soon!  But I have noticed that I do feel much better on the days when I wear a dress, compared to the days when I’m still in my exercise clothes at noon.

It’s hard to take yourself seriously when you’re wearing an old t-shirt and sweatpants. So put some thought into your attire, and find an outfit that’s suited to your job but also makes you feel put together and ready for your day.

You will feel better about yourself and your role, and you will begin to be more productive as well!

How do you dress intentionally for homemaking?

Let’s be clear: I’m not recommending that you should start wearing a suit or a uniform every day. That would not be suited to your role in the home. 

I aim for outfits that are both pretty and practical. That way, I can treat myself and my job with respect. 

I feel best when I’m wearing a dress. That doesn’t happen often right now, since I have a baby and most of my dresses aren’t nursing-friendly. However, a pretty skirt and blouse or even a well-fitting top and jeans can be good substitutes.

There is no specific uniform for homemakers (thank goodness!), but dressing tastefully and neatly is always attractive.

Love those aprons!

If you’re still skeptical about wearing nice clothes for housework, let me introduce you to aprons. These are some of my favorite items of clothing, and for good reason! Aprons allow me to wear pretty clothes all day long without getting them dirty (unless your baby has a talent for wiping his grubby hands on the places an apron doesn’t cover!). 

If you get one with fun prints or trims, it can also add a pretty touch to a plain outfit. When I wear a dress and an apron all day, I feel like an old-fashioned housewife. That might not be appealing to everyone, but you can still rock an apron and jeans! I’ve done that too.

I have four or five aprons right now, all in different styles, colors, and prints. I can match them to my outfit, mood, or task. When I don an apron, that means business. It helps me to get in the mode of working steadily through my to-do list, despite any hindrances that may arise.

Of course, your attire should be suited to the tasks you need to accomplish each day. There will probably be days when it’s completely reasonable to wear old clothes for particularly messy tasks. But those exceptions don’t change the standard of neat, careful dressing which is so important to your mindset and mood.

Why does dressing like a lady make you more productive? 

You don’t need to get dressed up in heels and pearls to do the cooking and cleaning, but wearing attractive, well-fitting clothes will help you to feel more poised and confident in your role as a homemaker.

As I mentioned above, there have been a number of interesting studies about people’s responses to clothing (their own or that of others). Even if you don’t think your clothes are particularly important, there is apparently some sort of inner mechanism that pays close attention to a person’s attire. 

You may have heard the old saying, “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.” This doesn’t mean that you should wear something unsuitable for your present position; rather, it means that scaling up your dress code just a notch can boost your confidence.

I’ve heard numerous women say that they are treated better when they wear a dress. I myself have experienced this on several occasions, but more important to me is the way wearing a dress makes me feel. 

It doesn’t have to be a fancy dress for date night: even a casual dress or a coordinating skirt and blouse makes me feel more positive and confident. I tend to smile more, stand straighter, and look about me more often. I also have an easier time focusing and organizing my tasks.

Of course there are still the usual distractions and annoyances, no matter what you choose to wear, but dressing like a lady somehow prompts me to act like a lady and sail through them serenely.

Bonus Points: Hair and Makeup

Speaking of dressing like a lady, it doesn’t stop with clothing. A lady’s appearance is neat and clean: well-kept is a fitting description. If you wouldn’t go out without curling your hair (or at least brushing it!) and a swipe of lipstick, try to keep that ladylike appearance at home. 

I’m not saying you should dress up on sick days or a lazy vacation weekend, but at least on your work days when you have homemaking tasks to accomplish.

This is a hard one for me, but I do feel better if my hair isn’t tumbling out of a messy bun all day long! Taking a few extra minutes to fix my hair neatly in the morning really makes me feel put together and ready for the day.

And that’s the goal, isn’t it? We would all like to feel confident and ready to handle whatever life throws at us each day.

Last but not least, smile!

There’s no doubt that the type of clothing you wear impacts your productivity and confidence. But there’s something even more important than clothes could ever be: your attitude. 

If you’re sullen and grumpy all day, no apron is going to change that. Not even a tailored suit would! 

A cheerful countenance and positive attitude, on the other hand, starts you out on the right foot and sets you up for a more pleasant day. It sets off a chain of positive interactions with others around you, which in turn helps you to stay positive!

Now, most of us have days occasionally when we just wish we could stay in bed and not have to face the world. (Well, I have those days, anyway.) When I’m feeling grouchy and everything seems dark, it’s even more important for me to take a few minutes by myself to get ready for the day. Then I can freshen up my attitude at the same time.

So the secret to success as a homemaker is to start with a positive attitude and then dress like a lady. Make this a habit, and you will become more poised and purposeful in your home.

Happy homemaking!

~Kimberly