Now that my deadline for Once Upon A Twelfth Night is done (get your copy here!), I can once again participate in the Romance Writers Weekly. I’m an inconsistent blogger, you know this, but I really do enjoy getting away from story crafting to writing blogs. 😊
This week’s question comes from Leslie Hachtel.
Since it’s a pandemic and we’re mostly staying home, do you stay in your pj’s every day or dress up? Do you put on makeup and do your hair?
Since the onset of Safer At Home, not much has changed for me. My job as an emergency services operator is considered essential, so I have been going to work for the same schedule and hours I was before the pandemic hit. I still wear my uniform, which is a half blessing, half annoyance. Blessing because it saves me a fortune in buying work appropriate clothing, and annoyance because, well, it’s a uniform.
Since I only work three days a week, that leaves me four days to do whatever I need to. With nowhere to go, I now spend the majority of my time in front of the computer writing, only leaving the house to go grocery shopping.
With so little time spent around people, it’s easy to get caught up in “stay in pajamas all day” mode. With no one to impress, no one to get fancied up for, why not stay in pajamas all day?
For me, it’s a two-part answer.
One, it’s psychological. If I stay in my sleeping clothes all day, all I want to do is crawl back into bed. But I’m trying to build a career with my writing, as such I have to treat it as a job. Part of that is dressing the part. Even if I only change into yoga pants and a tank top, it’s still clothing I would wear in public.
Two, it’s physical. I have to shower upon waking up or else I am half asleep for the rest of the day. If I change clothes when I wake up and don’t have my morning shower, my brain is muddled and I can’t focus like I should, and no amount of coffee will change that. There’s nothing like dousing myself in cool water to clear my mind!
As for the rest, I’m pretty low-key, pandemic or no pandemic. I haven’t changed my routine in this regard. I opt for a short skin care routine of toner and lotion, and eschew cosmetics for the most part. On the rare occasion when I do wear make-up, it’s a bit of concealer, some brightly colored eyeliner, and a swipe of pressed powder.
My hair is even easier. The month before the California lockdown I had my hair permed into loose, beachy curls. Now “doing my hair” consists of running a palmful of mousse though from scalp to ends. I think of it as wash n’ wear hair. 😉
My Haute Ton Reader Society sister, Clair Brett, has a new book coming out soon, Courtesans Secret Desire, and it sounds fantastic. You can find out all about it and preorder it here.
To find out how Clair Brett dresses during the pandemic, hop along and check out her blog.
Until next time,
