One of the many benefits of working from home is the lack of a dress code. You get to wear whatever you want, whenever you want. You don’t have to worry about wearing uncomfortable heels all day or pants that might be too snug after eight hours of wear. Working at home means you can wear pajamas or workout gear all day if you want to. But have you considered the benefits of implementing and following a work-at-home dress code? An at-home dress code isn’t for everyone, but here are some ways it can make you a better at-home professional.

Increased Productivity

When you’re dressed professionally, you become more productive because your mindset will reflect your dress. You’ll be able to focus better on the tasks at hand. Sometimes when you wear pajamas or loungewear as you work, your mind will think it’s time to rest or relax, ultimately decreasing your productivity. If your productivity is fine while wearing pajamas, then don’t worry about making the switch. However, if you’re looking for ways to improve your work, output, or productivity, wear an actual outfit and see if it helps you reach your professional goals.

Increased Opportunities

Do you have a client who prefers to see you when discussing projects and expectations? Dressing professionally allows you to use programs like Skype or FaceTime without hesitation. Adding more professional options to your services can integrate a variety of clients into your daily workload. This will please both current and prospective clients, and it will increase your professionalism within your chosen industry.

Opened Up Availability

What if you’re working from home and you get a call from a potential client? They want to meet in the next twenty minutes at a place across town. Maybe that is the only time they have available. What would you do? If you’re already dressed and ready for the day, you can simply stop your current work and head for the door, assuming your children are taken care of or in school. Or maybe being ready beforehand will give you enough time to drop the kids off with a babysitter before meeting with your client. Ultimately, dressing professionally makes your schedule a little more flexible, allowing you to fit in more during your work hours.

But don’t think that dressing professionally means you have to wear dress suits or slacks every day. What’s appropriate and professional depends on your industry and how you want to portray yourself. In some industries, wearing nice jeans and a blouse constitutes professionalism. One of the perks of working from home is comfort and familiarity with your surroundings, and there’s no need to give that up. Set your own dress code based on your business needs and industry standards and see if it makes you a better, more streamlined, more focused work-at-home professional.