It Might Be Time to Ditch Your Emotional Support Hoodie

I write this while cocooned in my favorite hoodie, a beloved garment that has tenure in my wardrobe. At this moment, one with my couch, I am flirting with the idea of an afternoon nap. Sometimes I work from bed. I'm not exactly the poster child for productivity. But on the days I swap my emotional support hoodie for, say, a sweater, I sit up straighter at my desk. My emails are crisper. I act like a functional adult. Clothes are psychological armor, and the hoodie is an invitation to dissolve into sentient fleece. It’s the sartorial equivalent of a Do Not Disturb sign. Studies support this: A 2023 paper published in the Academy of Management Journal found that employees who dressed better than usual experienced higher self-esteem and productivity. Another survey from 1999 reported that casual workwear policies were linked to increased tardiness and absenteeism. The hoodie encourages you to clock out. NBC/Getty Images Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporti ... Read full article.