When you work from home, the day can start in the same clothes you slept in and end in them too. Nobody sees you, so nothing makes you change. Yet getting properly dressed can give the morning a clear beginning. It says: this is where the day starts. You do not need a suit. You only need to change out of what you wore to bed into something you would be happy to answer the door in.
Make it a simple routine
Lay out the clothes the evening before, just as you would for the office. A comfortable pair of trousers, a clean jumper or shirt, a pair of proper shoes or slippers you keep only for indoor work. Keep them where you can find them without hunting through the wardrobe. Choose things that are pleasant to wear all day, since you will be sitting for a long time.
Build a short sequence around it. Wash, dress, make a cup of tea or coffee, open the curtains, and sit down at your desk. Do it in the same order each morning, so that you need no decisions. Some people like to take a short walk round the block before starting, as a substitute for the commute. Others open a window and listen to the street.
Mark the end of the day too. When you have finished, change into something more comfortable, or at least take off your work shoes. Put your laptop away in a bag or a drawer, and tidy the desk, so that it does not stare at you all evening. A tidy desk is a clear signal that work is over, and the home is a home again.
Be flexible on days that are different. If you have no calls and a great deal of writing to do, a soft jumper is fine. If you have a video meeting, you will want a shirt that looks tidy on screen, and you can keep one hanging ready. On a day off, stay in your pyjamas if you like: the point is that you choose, and that the days for working feel different from the days for resting.
