For the last two years, many of us have been working from home. We traded the 9-5 in an office for the 9-5 in our spare bedrooms, kitchen tables, or if we are lucky, a designated home office. This change in schedule also altered our daily routines for personal hygiene and showcasing our personal style. Here are some ideas for how to feel good when working from home and parenting that aren’t overwhelming but help you feel your best.
Note that some of the links in this post are commission-able links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Create your definition of feeling good
When our change in schedule happened, I don’t think any of us has had time to think about what makes us feel good. In some ways, we are all just surviving. I miss the ritual of getting ready, putting on a fun outfit, and pulling myself together. I’m also relieved that I don’t have to do this long routine every morning anymore. I didn’t want to stop feeling like I am pulled together so I had to create my own definition for what feeling good looks like. Here’s what that looks like for me:
- Glowing skin
- Hair is lightly styled
- Clothes feel comfortable
- Polished look from the waist up for my on camera Teams calls
- Good outfit even if it’s just yoga pants and a sweater.
Refresh your basics
It is tempting to wear the same yoga pants, house slippers, sweatshirts, and pullovers day after day. No one sees you up close and it’s easy to get away with not putting a lot of effort into our appearance. One way I make sure that I feel good is to update my basics regularly. Sure my old comfy clothes feel nice but I also like feeling pulled together even if I’m in athleisure wear like yoga pants. So, if something is looking rundown, I replace it even if I’m the only one who really sees it.
Focus on the neck up
Since we are talking about amending a routine, why not focus on the part that’s on camera the most? My daily uniform usually includes Lululemon ultra high rise Align legging and a series of more polished tops. It’s amazing how pulled together I feel when the top half of my outfit is pulled together.
- Favorite leggings – I like the ultra high rise Align legging in 28″ for a polished look that comfortable.
- Fancy sweatshirts – Frame always has a fun selection
- Cashmere sweaters – Everlane is a great price point
- Oversized button downs – The classic Ralph Lauren is a favorite of mine
- Breton stripes – These are a bright way to change up your look (I’m wearing the Picasso Rouge in this photo. Read the comments on sizing. I got a large, washed it, and it shrunk to fit)
- Well structured hoodie – I love the Scuba hoodie from Lululemon because it’s casual, comfortable and very polished for on camera.
Engage your senses
For me, I need a clean and clutter free space. It’s hard when that space is a home that becomes a daycare, an office, and a site for home school. When I feel frumpy, sometimes I really just need to refresh my space: move some furniture, clean off my desk, add some flowers, ask our cleaners to come a week early, change the bed sheets, or light a candle.
Also, I really enjoy burning a candle or wearing perfume that I love. I find that no matter what I’m wearing, scents always picks up my mood. My favorite candles and perfumes are
- Frasier Fir
- Dyptique Baies
- Capri Blue Volcano
- Votivo Red Currant
- Byredo Gypsy Water
- Chloe original scent
Continue with your routine maintenance
Maybe you love not having to keep up a weekly maintenance schedule. But if you’re feeling sluggish, try bringing back some of your regular hygiene rituals. Sometimes this kind of pick me up is what you need to feel great for a couple of weeks.
- Manicures/pedicures
- Facials
- Hair masks
- Waxing
- Professional blowout
- Skin lasers (I actually started these during the pandemic and saw a marked improvement in the quality of my skin.)
Set a new morning routine for getting ready
Perhaps you don’t need the same effort for makeup and hair now that you’re working from home. An abbreviated routine is a great way to feel your best without having to spend as much time getting ready. It’s hard to justify a lot of effort when your day is spent in front of a computer at home, but a little effort always makes me feel better.
Here’s how I focus on hair and makeup (and I included my products for you to try):
- Even out skin tone – At a minimum, I try to use a tinted moisturizer or a light foundation to make sure my skin looks bright and even. Personal favorites include:
- Revision Intellishade
- Westman Attelier Vital Skin Foundation
- Or try a moisturizer of your choice and mix in Jones Road Beauty in Dusty Rose for a nice glow.
- Use a highlighter – Highlighting your skin gives it that fresh, healthy glow, especially on camera.
- Westman Attelier Lit Up Highlight Stick – Easy, fool proof, and gorgeous glow. My must have for pandemic makeup routines.
- Jones Road Beauty in Dusty Rose is technically a highlighter but the consistency is sticky. That’s why I suggested to mix it with moisturizer to even it out.
- Find a really great mascara – Good mascara always makes me feel great.
- Chanel Le Volume – This is the best in the business, in my opinion.
- Learn how to give yourself a blowout – While I wash my hair less frequently, I do find that unkempt hair tends to make me feel the most unhappy about my appearance. Styling my hair is also really hard to do everyday when I’m not going anywhere. So I try to give myself an at home blow-out twice a week. A good blow out sets my hair so that I only need to maintain it for the rest of the week. Since I’m not going anywhere, I’m okay if it starts to fall flat after 2 days. And, at least 1 day is spent with my hair pulled back. It’s minimal care for maximum value. Here’s a list of the products I use. Honestly, the trick is to use salon quality shampoo and make sure you learn how to blow out your hair properly.
- Virtue hair products – My stylist recently introduced me to this hair care line and I’m loving it.
- Revlon Dyer Brush – This tool was all the rage in the early days of the pandemic. It provides a quick way to style your hair with little to no effort.
- BaByliss Flat Iron – If all else fails, this flat iron works magic in a cinch. When I add this to a blow out, my hair is set for days. Avoid using the highest setting, it can burn your hair.
These are a few of my favorite ways to endure what’s been a long, long two years during the pandemic. For those of you who are working from home, best of luck. Let me know if you have anything else that you would like to add.