February
24
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Productivity Prescription: Get Ready
We all know the old saying, “Get Ready, Get Set, Go” and you’re probably wondering how this applies to being more productive. Well, this old saying, which signals kids to get ready before they engage holds a lot of wisdom for us, especially for people who set our own schedules and more importantly our own dress codes.
I used to work from home in my pajamas. Yes, everyday. I would just roll out of bed, go to my desk and and start checking my emails.
But after a short while, half an hour tops, the desk no longer seemed necessary. I would move to the floor, then almost immediately back to my bed.
Once in bed, that was really it. I would work some and progressively sink lower and lower till I was laying down. And you know how much work I would do once in that position. The laptop being there basically did nothing but wake me up from my nap every few minutes. When I was up, I would check my email and then you guessed it, sink lower and lower and just repeat the pattern again. Even on days when that didn’t happen, when I would not nap at all and even when I was out of bed the whole day, somehow being in my pajamas slowed me down.
When you’re in your pajamas, you’re just too relaxed. There is definitely something to be said for being a little uncomfortable while you’re working, it definitely at least reminds you that you’re working.
Plus, there is something about getting dressed that signals to our brains that its time to engage. It’s the “Get Ready, Get Set” signal that our brains need to know that there is something important to participate in. This is super important all the time, but its even more important when you’re working for yourself and the only person holding you accountable is you. I know that one of the best things about working for yourself if flexibility, but its also really dangerous. Missing opportunities, losing time and just letting things slip behind schedule is a great way to lose money and maybe even more importantly lose momentum.
No one is ever going to care about our businesses, and really our lives, as much as us. If we send the signals that its not important to us by letting things slip, than it won’t be important to anyone else.
I didn’t want this post to be too long, so there will be a separate post dedicated to getting ready and one coming up very shortly about getting ready in record time.
Until then, Get Ready, Get Set, Go.
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workingtoworld 
I love this post. As someone who works at home as well, I am definitely more productive when I get ready before starting my day – you put your finger on it – there is definitely a brain shift when you get out of your pajamas and into ‘work clothes’ it says this part of my day has ended, this new part has begun.
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Well said! I also think the bed is part of the problem. For me, sitting upright (versus lounging) has an even greater impact on what I can accomplish at home than my clothes (which are also important).
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To an extent I agree. Part of the point that I’m trying to make is when you’re super relaxed, like in your pajamas, you’re more likely to lose motivation and just adopt a relaxed attitude and you’re more likely to end up in bed. You’re not likely to end up in that position if you’re wearing more professional clothes. And when you have deadlines that are set by others or at least when you owe something to someone, its not as likely that you’re going to be allowed to lose motivation, people will hold you accountable, but when you set your own timelines and your own goals and no one is there to hold you accountable losing motivation and momentum becomes a much bigger issue. Also, when you’re dressed, you can take advantage of opportunities as they come up because you’re ready to take them on, which your not in you’re pajamas (e.g. you learn that there is an important industry meeting in 20 minutes that you just found out about, or someone you’ve been needing to network can do lunch downtown in an hour, etc.). So while I agree that the bed is a part of the problem (check out my last post in the “Productivity Prescription” series about getting out of bed), I don’t think its bigger than clothes.
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