How To Maximize Your Work Day

Let’s face it. Many of us have found ourselves so crammed with work that we don’t have time to enjoy our lives and families once we head home for the day. Here are some tips to tackle that disorganized workload.

  1. Make a to-do list the night before

This quick list can help you gain perspective for projects and assignments that will need attention the next day.

  1. Prioritize

Look at that to-do list you made the night before. Does anything have an upcoming deadline? Do your most important or time sensitive tasks first! It’s best to get these items out-of-the-way, so you won’t have to play catch-up.

  1. Prioritize some more!

This time, you will want to assess which items will require the most time. Do tasks that will take the longest amount of time first (unless of course it is an ongoing project). Smaller tasks that will take no longer than 5 minutes are the tasks you can be more flexible with.

  1. Time Block

Once you know which items top priority are, and which ones are not, it’s time to organize. Allot each item its own special time frame to be completed during the day. Creating your time blocks on paper or on a spreadsheet will give you the ultimate visual tool to help you feel on top of your tasks.

Just by following these tips, you may find that at the end of the day there is no work to take home! You can finally take your pup to that fun dog park or join your best bud at the movies. Everyone is happy, including you.

What Is Business Casual?

You’ve made it! You crafted your job-winning résumé, successfully passed all the hurdles involved in the recruitment process and now your first day is quickly approaching this Monday. You are already envisioning the new job site and the work that comes with it. A smile rises on your face, you have succeeded. So, what’s next on the list?

There is one aspect of your job you failed to envision: the dreaded first day outfit.

Your new company operates on a business casual dress code but you’re stuck between business and casual. You wonder how it is possible to dress for a business…casually. Business casual wear is less formal than the suit and tie but more professional than the blue jeans you wear on casual Friday.

While there are many options, we recommend a nice blouse without overbearing patterns or a plain button up paired with khaki pants for the ladies. Women can also add a cardigan or blazer to complete the look with an extra layer of professionalism.

Men, it is impossible to go wrong with a button up or a professional sweater paired with slacks. You can even dress your outfit up with a blazer or sports coat!

Some examples of unacceptable clothing choices would be strapless shirts, sweatpants and items with discriminatory or offensive language or pictures. While footwear for both genders is flexible, we also suggest to avoid wearing sneakers, flip-flops and overly bright or distracting socks or shoes.

Although these are the typical business-wear practices, always check to see if your company has a dress code policy which can give you more insight on what is and is not acceptable at the workplace.

What are your tips for business casual wear?

Ladies Night At Cooper’s Hawk

The Astyra Ladies
The women of Astyra love to wine and dine, especially together! 
 
We all met at Cooper’s Hawk last week for an evening to unwind with the same people we work alongside daily. The night began with indulging in a wine tasting before being sat down by the waitress for a savory meal.
 
“This just reiterated that Astyra is like a family and I love that,” Ashley, our newest Astyra lady, said.
 
This was Shaila’s first ladies night also and she said getting to know who she works with outside of the office is a nice feeling.
 
Although we aren’t quite sure when this tradition started, we plan to continue having ladies nights!