by Solange Lopes | Aug 31, 2017 | Working Mom & Woman Tips
Transitioning for the lazy, carefree and unstructured days of summer with late nights and later mornings, to back to school, can be a serious challenge. Especially when you’re the chronicall late mom in your whole neighborhood country…
Every year in my household, we all have to go through what feels like a complete back-to-school brainwash. Getting back in the groove of going to bed, rising early, and getting ready in the morning, is a process! It’s like your brain goes through summer withdrawal, and refuses to consider anything remotely connected to schedules, order or alarm clocks for that matter…
For years, we’ve had to go through painful back-to-school transitions, filled with morning crisis, late school tickets, and leaving my brain on consignment between home, school and work… After a few traumatic starts to the school season, we’ve finally started learning… the hard way! The last thing you want is to have tired, stressed out and frazzled kids head back to school with limited focus and lots of resistance. Oh and parents looking for their phones while they’re speaking on it…
Here are 6 tips to go from the crazy days of summer to the structured schedule of back-to-school, as painlessly as possible:
1. Set goals with the kids
It helps to start with having a conversation about the upcoming change in schedule and structure ahead of time. Kids of school age will better adapt to the back-to-school transition when they know what to expect.
Starting a few weeks before school to talk to them about returning to school, and the changes that will happen may help make the transition smoother.
2. Start with fire drills
I don’t know about you, but in my neck of the woods, we need fire drills to get through certain transitions like back-to-school. A couple of weeks before school starts, try to set earlier bedtimes.
Start changing the routine progressively over the few weeks before school starts. It will help make it easier for both kids and parents.
3. Prepare the night before
I’m a veteran of what I call “working mom chronic lateness”. I’m from a long line of chronically late working moms. For years, my mornings have been the perfect image of chaos, complete rushing around trying to find backpacks, lunches, and matching socks.
The antidote to morning craziness? Preparing the night before. Trust me, it took me years of frantically scrambling in the morning to finally get it. From laying clothes out (down to the socks, because these little things will play with your fuzzy mind in the morning) to preparing backpacks and important documents the night before, getting ready ahead of time will make a world of difference.
4. Set a drop-off and pick-up zone in the house
If you’ve ever driven back home twice in the same morning because you forgot the kids’ lunch form, your cell phone and the baby’s left shoe, you know how important it is to have a pick-up and drop-off zone in the house. That’s the area where you drop off anything that you must take with you in the morning.
This includes backpacks, important forms, shoes, and pretty much anything that may skip your mind in the morning. I’m looking for one where you can also park your brain, but apparently it may still be in production…
5. Set an early time
No, you will not get up right on time and magically get ready in 15 minutes! No matter how much your tired brain tries to convince you that you can sleep for 5 more minutes, don’t do it! Instead, set your alarm extra early to give yourself enough time, in case your lens refuses to connect with your left eye, or the right side of your hair insists on remaining frizzy….
6. Give kids time hints
Give the kids a break! It’s hard to understand the concept of time, or that we only have about 7 minutes to get the hair done (I’m talking about kinky-curly-resistant-to-any-brush hair), swallow the cold breakfast and get strapped up in the car.
I used to start yelling like a sergeant general about 10 minutes before the bell rang (at school, while we were still home). Instead, give the kids hints about how much time they have left throughout the morning. This gives them a better sense of time, plus some hints as to when Mom is going to start losing it now…
How to do you help your kids transition from summer to back-to-school?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | Aug 31, 2017 | Career
Workwear: Floral Suit – Photo credit: whitehouseblackmarket.com
Our Workwear feature presents various pieces of work-appropriate attire at different price ranges and sizes.
Freshen up your traditional suit with this all-over floral print blazer and coordinating pants from White House Black Market. Bold print patterns are actually coming back in style this Fall, and can be easily sported at work with numbers like these. I’m usually reserved when it comes to all-over florals, but the black canvas on this floral pant suit actually brings it all together in a stylish yet work-appropriate way.
I also like the coordinating pencil skirt, if you prefer a skirt suit.
Workwear: Floral Skirt Suit – Photo credit: whitehouseblackmarket.com
What pieces of workwear would you like us to feature? Email us at corporate@thecorporatesister.com!
This post contains affiliate links and The Corporate Sister may earn commissions for purchases through links in this post. Thank you!
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Aug 30, 2017 | Career, Find Your Purpose
When you’re in college or even in school, no one really teaches you about finding your own career path. Not the one that pays more money, or that requires less years of study, or even seems to be the most comfortable to take…
When I decided to graduate in Accounting in college, it wasn’t the promise of cracking down numbers all day long that kept me going. Instead, it was what just about everyone else told me about it: “It’s a great field!”, or “You’ll make good money”, or better, “You’ll never lack of a job.” For all these reasons and the prospect of not having to live on Ramen noodles so I can buy more shoes, I did what any reasonable student would do.
What no one tells you about finding your career path is that it doesn’t have as much to do with how much money you can make. Or how much job stability you can get. Or even how many weeks of vacation you can score. It has to do with YOU! Surprised?
After all, it’s been proven that most people are financially satisfied after reaching the $75, 000 salary cap. So if money is not really the ultimate denominator of career satisfaction, and finding your own career path has little to do with making sure that you’re chained to a desk for the rest of your life, what is everyone not telling you?
Here are 6 things to stop doing in order to find the career you want that no one is telling you:
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STOP ignoring yourself!
We tend to listen to everyone else but ourselves! Everyone’s opinion is not worthy of being listened to or even considered. What motivates others is different from what motivates you! Instead of heeding everyone’s advice and ignoring your own, start listening to yourself more!
What motivates you? What excites you? What sets your soul on fire? Those signals from your soul are not to be ignored. It doesn’t mean you have to ditch your 9-to-5 to start a career in pottery. What it means, however, is that you have to integrate these signals into your daily life, whether it’s in your work, as a side hustle, or just as a hobby.
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STOP ignoring your personality!
Do you notice how every time you try to go against your personality and the way you truly are, you’re setting yourself up for disaster. Or at least for some serious disappointment and heartache along the way…
If you’re asking yourself how to figure out what really motivates you, and where your strengths, skills and interests lie, stop settling for the status quo and take action instead! Take a personality assessment to nail down those characteristics that set you apart.
[Related: 30 best Personality Assessments To Find the Career You Want]
There are a number of personality assessment tests, from the traditional Myers-Briggs test to other variation of it, to help you to identify your ideal careers and workplaces.
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STOP thinking you can’t start over!
One of the biggest obstacles to finding the career we want, is the false belief that once we’re established or have started in a certain field, we must continue in it! Actually, many successful people have reached optimum success and performance by being willing to start at the bottom again…
A great way to figure out your ideal career is to start interning. An internship can teach you things about a job, field or industry that a formal or informal interview cannot. Even if you’re already working full-time, you may be able to secure a part-time internship to help you find out more about the right career for you!
[Related: I have a job, but I want to work on my calling]
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STOP trying to do it all on your own!
It takes a village to build a successful career. This doesn’t only mean that you must have the support of your loved ones, family and friends. It also means that you must have the necessary career network to inspire and push you to succeed.
Look around you and identify someone in your desired career or field whom you admire. Ask them to be your mentor.
Seek sponsors in your current or desired environment, who can help open doors and bring about opportunities you couldn’t otherwise aspire to.
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STOP failing to plan!
When you fail to plan, you plan to fail. As cliché as this may sound, it’s the truth. Not planning and mapping your career path, even in spite of the changes and detours can deter you from finding the career you want.
Map out your career plan in light of your strengths, skills, talents and desires. Whether it’s making a lateral move, expanding your network, or starting from the bottom, have a plan to get to your career destination.
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STOP thinking of your career as a straight path!
Newsflash: your career is not a straight path! Actually, the straighter it may be, the more boring and un-challenging it may be for you! Instead of looking to turn your work into the most predictable and routine thing ever, don’t be afraid to face changes and challenges!
Dare to start over! Face the fear of starting a side hustle, creating a business, or even making a career transition to a brand new company or industry! Your career was never meant to be a straight path. The more detours you take, the richer, more compelling and more exciting your experience.
Have you been facing these things lately?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Aug 30, 2017 | Career
Workwear: Topshop Raw Ruffle Crop Jacket – Photo credit: nordstrom.com
Our Workwear feature presents various pieces of work-appropriate fashion pieces at different price ranges and sizes.
With Fall approaching, it’s time to get back to our blazers and jackets. This Topshop raw ruffle crop jacket is as original and sassy as it is Fall-ready. The peplum hem, bell sleeves and frayed edges all add a serious touch of originality to this fun, yet work-appropriate jacket.
In a smilier style, this Topshop bell sleeve peplum jacket is also a fun additional to your workwear.
Workwear: Bell Sleeve Peplum Jacket – Photo credit: nordstrom.com
What pieces of work fashion would you like us to feature? Email us at corporate@thecorporatesister.com!
This post contains affiliate links and The Corporate Sister may earn commissions for purchases through links in this post. Thank you!
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Aug 29, 2017 | Career |
Please note this post may contain affiliate links.
With back-to-school in full swing, I’ve been indulging in my obsession with planners. I’ve discussed in a previous post how much I love anything having to do with office supplies (read more on: 28 Best Sites for Office Supplies).
As I’m going from one office supply store to the other, both online and offline, here are 12 of my favorite picks when it comes to planners for working women.
[Related: Download your FREE 30-Day Dream Planner]
12 Best Planners for Working Women
I was very curious about Erin Condren planners after hearing so much about them. The colors and patterns are absolutely unique and gorgeous, not to mention the included motivational notes and quotes.
The line offers the famous Life Planners, along with monthly, academic, teacher’s lessons, and even wedding planners. The Life Planner is my personal favorite, as it offers the option of a customized cover, layout, and even coil options in black, rose gold, and platinum. You can also choose between the 12 or 18-month format.
Back in 2010, girlboss Whitney English couldn’t find a planner that would fulfill her needs, so she created Day Designer. The result? A streamlined planner that eliminates all the clutter and helps you focus on what’s really important to you.
We can’t talk about planners without thinking of the classic Moleskine planners. Created back in 1997, this classic line of daily, weekly, and monthly planners is as chic as it is timeless. Whenever you use one of these, remember that geniuses the likes of Pablo Picasso, Van Gogh and Ernest Hemingway have also used them!
Limelife Planners’ modern and clean design will win your hears, and conquer your schedule. I love the contemporary design and uncluttered format. It’s easy to use, clear to read and organize too.
These fun Brit + Co planners from Target come with monthly and weekly calendars, to-do lists, activity pages, and blank pages if you just feel like doodling away. The best part? Target also carries a line of accessories that you can mix and match your planners with!
The Designs by Planner perfect is a fun, eclectic and effective line of plan books, goal books, and other stationery products. They’re perfect for the busy mom on the go, or the career woman in need of planning help.
Anthropologie has a pretty cool selection of planners and calendars. One of my favorites is the Happiness 100-Day Planner. What I love about it is that it focuses on positive thinking and personal progress. It’s a great tool to reflect and set your goals.
The Passion Planners come in both dated and undated formats, and even offer an academic planner option. Additionally, each one of these amazing planners start with a compelling prompt to set your short- and long-term goals. You are then encouraged to break these goals into actionable plans to accomplish them. Pretty effective for a planner, right?
Why not add style to your planner? The Kate Spade Cameron agenda is as effective as it’s stylish. Its petite size fits in most handbags, and the zip-around structure protects it to last longer.
The Start Planner is great for entrepreneurs, as it includes sections for budgeting, holiday planning and monthly shopping. In general, everyone can use it to set and accomplish goals.
The Daily Action Planner is perfect if you need to have all your priorities in one place! Whether you’re a busy working mom, an entrepreneur on-the-go or an executive, this planner will help you set goals one month at a time.
Considered as one of the most stunning and comprehensive business planners, the Daily Greatness Planner is perfect for busy business and career women. It encourages you to develop great thinking habits with a focus on personal growth and organization.
[Related: Download your FREE 30-Day Dream Planner]
Please note this post may contain affiliate links.
What other planners would you add to this list?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
