First, let's consider the advice to "shower and dress neatly before sitting down at your desk." If this works for you, great. It doesn't for me, and it may not for you either.
There's no need for guilt.
I'm not a morning person. What I really mean by that is: I want to be left alone until around 10:00 or 11:00am. Why? Mornings are actually my most creative and mentally alert moments. I accomplish more in those hours, business-wise, than I can accomplish throughout the entire rest of the day.
During my most prized effective time (mornings) I can't see wasting that precious brainpower on taking a shower and getting into "decent" clothing.
I will get up, start working, and stay in my 'jammies until the creative and mental juices start to slow down. Only then will I take a shower, get dressed, and eat breakfast (usually turns out to be brunch). I don't want to waste the best time of the day.
OK, this can cause complications. The FedEx courier delivers in the morning, and so he sees me unshowered, disheveled, and in my 'jammies. Oh well. It started a conversation, and he now understands what I do. Of course, he thinks he's waking me, so he'll leave the package at the door without knocking first. He used to knock to alert me to the package. It's actually been a long time since I've seen the courier because he understands what it is I do.
If you find your most productive time is in the morning, perhaps waiting to shower and dress would be best for you, too.
Often times, we find ourselves doing things simply out of habit or because it's expected of us. And this includes showering and getting dressed first thing in the morning.
I schedule most appointments for later in the morning, or in the afternoon. That way, I can make the most of my productive time, then shower and dress, then go to my appointment feeling very fresh.
Now, what to wear?
OK, most days I choose to simply put on a pair of CLEAN pajamas. But, at least they are clean, and so am I.
