Skirt Suit – $129.99 – macys.com
I’m usually more of a pants suit kinda girl, but this Tahari stand-collar skirt suit got me going all kinds of oohs and ahhhs…Loving the chic and sophisticated look of this suit! The stand-collar and seaming adds a touch of originality to this otherwise traditional suit.
It’s perfect for a more conservative day at the office, or even a formal after-hours event. It’s on sale for $129.99 at Macy’s.
The Corporate Sis.
morning routine – Photo credit: elev8.com
Happy Monday! Yes, it’s Monday morning, again…
And if you’ve just had a frazzled, running after the clock (and the kids), “where did I put my keys” (or my head) kinda morning, you may want to continue reading… (and if you haven’t, you can always get a good laugh)…
I happen to be a certified, family-accredited, professional specialist of frazzled mornings. If it ain’t frazzled, it ain’t right…
After all, doesn’t it make more sense to maximize sleep, hit the “snooze” button as many times as we can afford, skip breakfast and shuttle sleepy-eyed kids to school solely on adrenaline? Why honor our mornings and use them to get mentally, spiritually and physically ready for the day? Why not just treat our mornings as we treat everything else these days, as an “instant fix”?
According to researchers at the University of Nottingham and the National Institute of Education in Singapore, willpower is highest in the morning.The further into the day we get, the less motivated we are to accomplish important tasks. So much for that training you’ve been planning to take, or the career blog you’ve been dreaming of writing (ahem)! Besides, as much as we may want to think we can magically catch up on all our to-do’s, “wish-I-had-done’s”, and “will-do-someday’s”, truth remains the one proven way to jump-start our days is to treat our mornings with the respect they deserve…
1. Get fueled spiritually! My pastor always asks us as a congregation how we can afford to get prepared in all ways to face the day, except mentally and spiritually. No wonder so many of us start the day in a grouchy mood, speed on the highway, and use colorful language in the morning…Whatever your faith or spiritual practice, carve out some time in the morning to get still, replenish your spiritual reserves before stepping into this crazy world (or traffic)…
2. Do one thing you love! I do my best writing in the morning hours. That’s also when I enjoy it the most…With two toddlers, a packed schedule and big dreams, putting myself first requires quite some dexterity. Choose the beginning of your day to put yourself first and take care of your own internal engine. Whether it’s exercising, meditating, reading or writing, make the time to treat yourself first! Selfish? Nope, it’s called self-preservation.
3. Start BIG! I believe in tackling big tasks first. One, because that’s when the caffeine rush first hits my system. Second, because getting one big thing done by lunch time gives me permission to treat myself to some form of chocolate-filled snack. Alright, there are other healthier (and more logical) incentives, but my point is, the bigger you start, the saner you might end up after 8 hours or more….Just sayin’…
The Corporate Sis.
weekly news update – ratiojuris.blogspot.com
Happy Sunday! Hope everyone is having a great week-end, and enjoying the remnants of the summer. So, as you’re sipping on your cup of coffee, here is what we’re reading this week:
Happy Sunday, and happy reading! Thank you for all your support!
The Corporate Sis.
Embossed Leather journal – $28 – anthropologie.com
Loving this embossed leather journal from Anthropologie! I love journaling in all areas of my life, including in my career (check my post here). And what better than to do it in style?
This embossed leather journal has an old, cozy, nostalgic feel, and makes me think of cool evenings at home. It’s original and endearing, and is $28 at Anthropologie!
The Corporate Sis.
Slacks – $24.95 – hm.com
Loving these easy patterned slacks from H&M. They’re the perfect relaxed yet still professional slacks for work. As a bonus, they can be sported on the week-end too with an easy tee, as pictured.
These easy, breezy pants are $24.95 at H&M. Happy Friday!
The Corporate Sis.
Sabotage your week-end – Photo credit: madamenoire.com
I wrote about how your hectic week-ends are actually ruining your career. Well, the opposite can also (and does very much) happen…How many times have you ended the week on a frazzled note due to time and resource mismanagement during the week? And how often have you spent your week-end wishing you handled that project or this meeting better?
While we may think our personal and work lives are largely separate, in reality, the two just really happen to be one continuum. Hence the concept of work-life integration (which in my opinion makes much more sense than the elusive work-life balance). In other words, mis-managing one almost always results in more or less screwing up the other (put mildly)…
Blocking off some time at the beginning of the week to plan the agenda for the week is one of the most effective, if not the most effective, way to manage your work week. Prioritize the urgent tasks, plan to complete at least one full project, and set some deadlines for yourself.
Notice I didn’t say avoid multi-tasking altogether. I strongly believe women are wired to some degree for multi-tasking, and it’s part of what makes us efficient. However, too much multi-tasking can have the unpleasant effect of starting a lot and not getting as much done! So save your multi-tasking skills for more repetitive, less important tasks, and challenge yourself to complete at least one entire project during the week!
Notice management’s uncanny ability to spring up a last-minute project on you mid-day on Friday? Or how your manager will ask you a random question on a report you submitted a few days ago (and as a result, the report needs to be “slightly” edited). Yes, it happens, and no, it’s mostly not your fault. I learnt only on the art to “stay on top of management” to limit last minute surprises (which mostly seem to pop up on Fridays). Provide frequent status updates, check on submitted projects, and generally keep the lines of communication open to avoid surprises (and week-end headaches…)
The Corporate Sis.
Nico stripe skirt – Photo credit: nordstromrack.com
Black and white is trending this season, and frankly, it’s always a classic combination. Can’t go wrong with this Yoana Baraschi Nico stripe skirt from Nordstrom Rack. Love the geometric originality of this skirt that can be paired with your most basic black tee for work or on the week-ends, or your favorite white button-down blouse to up the ante.
And the elasticized waist won’t stand between you and a good (ok, healthy) lunch…This skirt is on sale for $79.97 (down from $238!) at Nordstrom Rack.
The Corporate Sis.
