Dress for Success! Tips to Stay Focused at Work

This suit reminds me of the amazing and talented Diane Keaton Her style is absolutely timeless as she has been wearing suits since the early 1970’s. I try to best utilize my time when Otto is at daycare to get as much work done as possible so that when he is out of daycare I can close the laptop and enjoy my time with him and Joe. Juggling all these jobs and responsibilities I thought I would share some of my favorite tips for staying focused and on task when you are burning the candle at both ends.

outfit details: I’m 5’4 and 175lbs for size reference
Jacket: Madewell M
Pants: Madewell 12
Shirt: Atlantic Pacific L 
Shoes: Jimmy Choo 40  Or these on sale for $40!

the first thing that I do when I sit down to get started for the week and day (after I order my coffee of course) is make a list categories and do a brain unload into the categories. Typically I’ll have a list for Work  Store  Blog  Personal and then under each title write anything and everything that I could possible need to and want to get done this week on those pages. As tasks get added or things come up I add the tasks to the appropriate category. I know there are a million apps out there that do this for you but I think there is something about writing it down on the page that commits it to memory. It’s also highly satisfying to be able to cross items off the list.

The next thing I do is prioritize the items that take the most brain capacity. You know what I mean, the deeply analytical tasks that need me at the top of my game. I am most productive in the morning so that is when I typically answer as many of my emails as possible and do any editing and design work. Things that require me to focus all get done in the morning.

Since I tend to be less focused in the afternoon I save the physical tasks like photographing things, making deliveries, visiting stores and more to the afternoon. While it still requires focus, it does not require sitting still. It also gives me time to answer my voicemails while i’m driving from place to place.

The weeks where I feel a bit overwhelmed i find that if I take the time to get ready, dressed professionally and go work at a quiet coffee shop I take myself more seriously. Sometimes if i’m dressed “comfy” in leggings I tend to mentally relax too. Does anyone else ever get that way too? I was raised on the old school “dress for the job you want” but I think for me, it’s “dress for the productivity in your job that you want”. I have more hustle when I’m dressed up and inspired. Plus putting a creative outfit together in the morning gets my creative juices flowing.

what some of the things that you do to stay productive and focused during a busy week? Share them with us below!

ps see how else I wore these pants here.