Shoes and Shirt (and Pants) Required
When what we wear affects how we write
“Put your pants on, and come with me!” In good fun, this is what my father-in-law said he’d say if he ever caught me in bed with his daughter before we got married. Turns out, it’s great advice for writers. In a hobby and profession that lends itself to comfy clothes and couches, sometimes the best advice is to put on an actual pair of pants.
Today’s Covid world is getting a taste of the writer’s life. Daily showers, business wear, and shoes are a thing of the past, and in many instances, clothing is optional. All one has to do is turn off the alarm, roll out of bed, and log on.
As a measure of professionalism, one’s physical presentation has been replaced with zoom conduct (you’re on mute, you’re still on mute), and if there is video interaction, it’s from the waist up. So while some are still required to be business on top, it’s all casual down below.
Admittedly, this is one of the perks of being a writer. Sure, there’s the occasional face to face interview or the rendezvous with your skinny mocha and favorite lounge chair at the local coffee shop.
But the majority of writing can be done at home, alone, in your pajamas. And until recently, writers held sway in this corner of the market where quality output came with a clothing optional clause.
But at what point does clothing optional start to work against us?
I wonder if the haziness we experience in our mind, a bout of writer’s block or lack of inspiration, comes from the idleness we portray on our bodies. Does what we wear and how we present ourselves, even when no one is around, have an effect on the quality of our work?
The mind-body connection within the brain is complex. Think about what happens when a person you’re attracted to walks in the room. Your heartbeat ramps up and your breath quickens. Your focus narrows and whatever you were thinking is now in the past.
All your mental energy is centered on that one person, and while the world around you may be a blur, you’re also fully present and attentive. This and more from just one look.
So that begs the question, what are we telling ourselves as writers when we stay in our pajamas all day? If the interconnectedness of mind and body is such that one affects the other, perhaps the lackadaisical attire of our body is communicating futility to our mind — communicating that it’s not, in fact, time to write.
And if we still do so, do we risk not having a fully present, attentive, and focused mind? This not only affects our production rate, but the product itself.
Here, though, is where “put your pants on and come with me” stands as a rallying cry for motivation. The simple act of putting on a pair of pants made by someone other than lululemon or Hanes, a clean shirt, and dare I say a pair of shoes, may be the kick start our mind needs to get in gear and focus.
With our outward appearance, we’re communicating to our mind the seriousness of what we’re about to do, namely write, and that it needs to take it seriously too. Throughout the day, every look down or glance in the mirror at our body reinforces this seriousness to our mind.
And just like looking at the person we’re attracted to, our whole self becomes present, providing the focus we need for the task in front of us.
I’ll admit that putting on a proper outfit when I know I won’t be seeing anyone feels silly. Add to that a pair of shoes or boots while just sitting around the house, and it seems comical.
Especially when comfy pants, a sweatshirt, and slippers are more than acceptable. And if you’re the type of writer who’s able to be proficient in such home attire, more power to you. Keep doing you.
But if you ever find yourself in a funk, grasping for words and ideas that prove to be absent, perhaps putting on an actual pair of pants is the first step needed to make those words appear. You might be surprised at how good it makes you feel and how well your mind begins to work.
