5 Tips for Conquering Your To-Do List

Shirt and Vest (a gift from my sweet mother-in-law - she must know me well ;) - J. Crew Factory / Jeans - J. Crew / Booties - TOMS / Bag (similar) - Coach Factory / Watch - Wristology / Necklace - BaubleBar

Do you ever feel like your to-do list is a mile long, and there's no way you could ever get to the end of it? I'm trying to play catch-up from being out of town last week (and honestly, because I wasn't budgeting my time well before I left), and I feel like I've been running and running non-stop with no end in sight. Of course, it doesn't help that I scheduled a couple of dinners for restaurant week and my company is having a big end-of-year party tonight (yes, we recognize that it's January, but it's our end-of-year). I'm not sure how to squeeze it all in, but there are a couple of steps I take when I have a lot on my plate to keep me from feeling overwhelmed/like my head is about to explode: 

1. Take a deep breath. 

Usually when I have a lot on my plate, my mind starts spinning, and the anxiety starts rolling in. It turns into a dangerous spiral, to the point where I'll start thinking there's no possible way I could get anything done. Instead of letting the anxiety take over, take a step back and take a breath. The time it takes to take a breath helps you to clear your head and put things in perspective. Yes, you may have a ton of work to do, but you've done it before and you will do it again.

2. Write it all down. 

For me, there always seems to be so much more to do until I write it all down. Somehow, seeing my to-do list on paper usually makes it look smaller and more manageable. Writing your list down also lets you prioritize, as well as feel accomplished as you check things off of your list. I'm really motivated by crossing things off, so for me just having the list is a good reason to power through. 

3. Conquer something small. 

Because I'm so motivated my crossing things off of my to-do list, I usually start by finding something small that I can quickly accomplish. That way, I get to check something off right away, making me feel like I've done something and leaving me excited to get to that next check mark. Anything to make that list a little shorter! 

4. Stop Multi-tasking.

Okay, okay, okay. I love multi-tasking. I typically find myself constantly flipping back and forth between working, checking email, looking at my phone, picking music, etc. throughout the day, and whenever I'm at home the tv is on in the background. All of the technology in our lives has made our attention spans really short, making multi-tasking the norm. That being said, whenever I stop multi-tasking I notice how much easier and faster it is to get stuff done. If you have a lot on your list, close out of your email tab, turn off the tv, put your phone away, and focus only on the task at hand. You'd be amazed how faster you'll work! 

5. Realize the sky isn't falling. 

Anxiety is often my biggest issue when I'm trying to get a lot done, so sometimes I'll just have to remind myself that if I don't get everything done in the time I allotted myself, the world isn't going to end. Sure, a deadline is a deadline, but I'm not a rocket scientist or anything. If it takes me a day longer than I said it would to turn a project around, nothing terrible is going to happen. There are no lives at stake. I put a lot of pressure on myself, but realizing that you don't have to check off every box on that list always helps! If you can drop something, drop it. If you can push something back, push something back. Just know that the sky isn't falling and that there are less busy days ahead! 

So tell me - how do you deal when there's a ton on your plate? Any tips to help me get through the week??  

Shirt and Vest (a gift from my sweet mother-in-law - she must know me well ;) - J. Crew Factory / Jeans - J. Crew / Booties - TOMS / Bag (similar) - Coach Factory / Watch - Wristology / Necklace - BaubleBar

Previously on KDTI - more layered stripes!!

 

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Vest Season

Shirt - L.L. Bean / Vest - J. Crew Factory / Jeans (similar) - Madewell / Booties (similar) - Target / Bag - Sole Society / Watch - Wristology / Necklace - Stella & Dot

Who else is super excited for vest season? Okay, just about everyone? I was in line at the outlet mall over the weekend and every single woman in front of me was wearing one. It may be super #basic, but hey, it's warm and cozy and adds a little more interest to an outfit, so I'm going to keep at it ;)

Speaking of vests, I'm currently in a vest arms race with one of my male coworkers. He had one more than me, but then I picked up this white beauty so we were tied. Then he managed to score a Patagonia vest through work, so now he's winning again. I may just let him pull ahead though, because he said last week that if he were to be paid entirely in vests he would be happy. And, you know, I prefer the dollar dollar bills.

So tell me, are you all in on vest season?

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Plaid & Herringbone

Shirt and Vest - J.Crew Factory / Jeans (similar) - Madewell / Bag - Sole Society / Booties - Toms / Necklace - Stella & Dot 

Jeff's college friends think that my blogging career, and especially Jeff's typical role as photographer, is hilarious. They talk about it all the time, follow me on social media, send my photos to each other, you know, the usual. Since we got engaged, they also like to refer to Jeff as "Jeff does the Internets" or "Mr. does the Internets" ;) One of his friends stayed with us over the weekend so that he could run the Chicago marathon, and was very interested in trying his hand at doing some internets with us. So big ups to Mike for taking these photos!!

So anyway, this vest from J.Crew Factory. Do you own it? I feel like at this point it's in just about everyone's closet. It has been around for several years now but still manages to feel fresh every fall. If you don't have one yet, then you're in luck because they're way marked down this year! I spent $65 on it last fall during a big sale, but this year it's been marked down even lower. Just a note - I always size way down for these vests. I'm typically a large but am wearing a small here. Since I'm curvy on top, a larger vest sits way too far away from my body to be flattering. The small hugs my side and back, making the layers much more streamlined instead of bulky.

Are you all about the vests this season?

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Previously on KDTI - the vest:

 

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Distressed + Stripes

Shirt - J. Crew Factory / Vest - Old Navy / Denim and Bag - Gap / Booties (similar) - Sam Edelman / Necklace (similar) - BaubleBar (gift) / Watch - Wristology

 Don't tell my mom, but yes, I did in fact buy my jeans this way. I've been searching for the perfect pair of distressed denim for a long time. I maybe was a little too picky, but I wanted distressing without too many or too big of holes, and a lot of the pairs I tried on had knee holes that didn't line up with my knees which just looks silly. This pair though is perfect. I'm in love and I don't care who knows it. It's silly, but they just make me feel cool. And as a person who is constantly tripping or falling or spilling something, feeling cool is kind of a tricky thing.

Of course, today winter finally hit, so I'm not sure when I'll be pulling these out again - as much as I like feeling cool, I much prefer being warm! Suffering for fashion is so not in my wheelhouse.

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Previously on KDTI - Black Vest:

 

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Vest Weather

Sweater (similar) - LOFT / Vest - J. Crew Factory / Denim (similar) - Madewell / Booties (similar) - Target / Bag - Kate Spade / Necklace (similar) - BaubleBar

I'm not sure how it's been in your part of the world, but here in Chicago it's been weirdly warm for the last week or so. Like, don't need a coat warm. Except for when I thought I didn't need a coat over the weekend and then went to an outdoor mall (seriously Chicago, this is Chicago, down with outdoor malls!) and tried to eat a milkshake and absolutely froze. (Okay, maybe the milkshake part was my fault.) Enter, the vest. For me vests don't usually replace outerwear, but with sixty degree temps (is this December?) they've been called up to the majors.

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Previously on KDTI - the vest:

 

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More Stripes, More Vests

Tee - Loft / Vest (similar) - Old Navy / Jeans - Gap / Boots - Bandolino / Necklace - ℅ Lovelywholesale.com

Are you all just as sick of your winter clothes as I am? I feel like I just keep rotating through the same combinations over and over - stripes, vests, boots, and repeat. Now that it's March I'm hoping to be able to break out some of my spring clothes soon!

 This week has been pretty busy for work, our whole sales team is in town and we're all staying downtown for the rest of the week. Lots of meetings and lots of parties. On top of that, we had a meeting last night with our minister for the wedding - it's exciting to finally be planning the ceremony!

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