All dressed up and no place to go.

For most people this is the end of week two of isolation. I got ill quite early in the process. This is the end of week four and boy am I beginning to feel it now. And yet, I am luckier than many as I have space. I am located far from the madding crowd. Even so, I have noticed I’ve started to pace around the house.

To make the situation more bearable I have been trying to create a regime where I get up as if I’m going to work at the normal time. I wear something smart casual rather than slouching around. I try and have regular breaks throughout the workday. Initially I worked the same hours as I would do in the office. As workload increased that soon fell by the wayside. I am fully aware that having no defined start and finish times is not a good way to work in the home. It seems easy to fall back into your old ways very quickly. I think once we are given the all clear, after a few weeks we will mostly fall back into our old routines and habits. 

On the plus side I am losing weight and have to keep hoisting up my trousers. Gone are those temptations and lazy options of instantly available coffees, sticky buns and ready meals. Or, it could be down to the constant pacing.

I’ve read several pieces from business advisor types who advocate dressing for business to get into the right frame of mind. I understand that. I’ve always thought it important to dress in an appropriate manner to the business you do. And, importantly for the people you interact with. Mirroring is a proven successful tactic. However, business is somewhat different at the moment.

Which brings me to the business end of this overblown comment. (See what I did there?) Today I saw a TV advert for a well known high street bank. It showed the staff in their slouchies, working in their homes. The advert stressed the “business as usual” mantra. Don’t get me wrong its reassuring that banks are still operating. Somehow the sight of those handling my finances in their t-shirts and surrounded by dubious wallpaper and object d’art didn’t exactly fill me with confidence. I know it’s a superficial thing but I’ve grown to expect those who look after my finances to be dressed a certain way and it just didn’t feel right.

And while we are on the subject of TV… I’m amazed that the broadcasters aren’t trying to pull out all the stops whilst they have a captive audience. Surely now is the time to up the ante if they want people to subscribe to their services once this period of isolation is over? For me, the ability to scan the channels more often than usual and the realisation that repeats are happening daily and continuously for weeks has actually had the opposite effect. I’ve cancelled some services and paused sports whilst there is none!

And that’s just it… while we are in isolation we actually have, for once, the time to think and assess our personal situations, habits and immediate surroundings. It will be interesting when isolation is lifted to see what happens. Will there be a shift in the way we go about our daily tasks? Will attitudes change? I know it should make no difference whether a financial advisor is wearing a business suit or skin hugging Lycra but conditioning and perception is a powerful thing and I wonder if that will apply to all things. 

I truly hope that people will question and challenge the status quo and not just return to their old ways. Particularly in the work environment and the way we undertake our work. But for me I need financiers in business attire, I’m banking on it.