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Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. I found this dress the other day while doing our round-up of fit and flare dresses for the office, and while the striped waist details made it more of a “fun” dress than I was including in the roundup, I still really like it. It's the kind of dress that feels a bit more casual to me, but still appropriate for a casual office or casual day — and it just looks so flattering. Love the scoopneck, the sleeves, and yes, the fun stripey waist detail. It's machine washable, and available in sizes 4-12 for $138. Marc New York by Andrew Marc Scuba Fit & Flare Dress Here's a plus-sized option, as well as a more affordable one. Seen a great piece you’d like to recommend? Please e-mail tps@corporette.com. (L-4)Sales of note for 10.24.24
- Nordstrom – Fall sale, up to 50% off!
- Ann Taylor – Friends of Ann Event, 30% off! Suits are included in the 30% off!
- Banana Republic Factory – 40-60% off everything, and redeem Stylecash!
- Boden – 10% off new styles with code; free shipping over $75
- Eloquii – Extra 50% off a lot of sale items, with code
- J.Crew – Friends & Family event, 30% off sitewide.
- J.Crew Factory – 40% off everything
- Lo & Sons – Fall Sale, up to 35% off
- M.M.LaFleur – Save 25% sitewide
- Neiman Marcus – Up to 30% off on new arrivals
- Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
- Talbots – 40% off entire purchase, plus free shipping no minimum
- White House Black Market – Buy more, save more; buy 3+ get an extra 50% off
And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!
Some of our latest threadjacks include:
- What to say to friends and family who threaten to not vote?
- What boots do you expect to wear this fall and winter?
- What beauty treatments do you do on a regular basis to look polished?
- Can I skip the annual family event my workplace holds, even if I'm a manager?
- What small steps can I take today to get myself a little more “together” and not feel so frazzled all of the time?
- The oldest daughter is America's social safety net — change my mind…
- What have you lost your taste for as you've aged?
- Tell me about your favorite adventure travels…
NOVA
Any recommendations for house cleaning services in the NOVA Arlington area? Just for the kitchen and bathrooms. Thank you!
A Nonny Moose
Purrfectly kleen. Terrible name, amazing housecleaning.
Oops
I accidentally reported your comment – so sorry!
Anonymous
Perfect Touch cleaning. We’ve had the same 2-person cleaning team for a number of years there.
NOVA
Thank you all, will you let me know what you pay and how many bedrooms is your place? One lady quoted me $85 for a 2 bedroom apt.
Wildkitten
I was told $70 for a two bedroom, but we only have one bathroom. $85 doesn’t seem far off.
Anonymous
Wow, we seem to have a deal – we pay $105 for 2 cleanings per month for a SFH of ~ 1,800 sf with 2 full bathrooms and 3 bedrooms.
A Nonny Moose
We pay a lot– $135 for monthly (it’s less to have biweekly visits). Our place is pretty big though– 2 BR/2 BA, plus a dining room. It’s worth it to me because they do such a great job. It is three women working for about 2 hours. We had several services before but they really just weren’t good and many we found out later damaged our place– chipped wood furniture when vacuuming and never mentioned it.
New Tampanian
Try Handy. They’re great. I’ve used them both in the Boston area and now in Tampa.
handy.com/r/BOBBI-SUE9418
L
I had a terrible experience with booking on handy. The cleaners were fine, but the service was a pain.
New Tampanian
That sucks. I’m sorry. I have always been super happy with them. Then again I’ve not ever needed to call / email customer service.
Anonymous
Thank you so much for the link! Just scheduled a cleaning with them. Thanks again!!!
AIMS
I can’t behind any “scuba” knits, especially for work. This does make me want to get a wide, striped belt to wear with my black dresses.
Mpls
+1
Wanderlust
I don’t get scuba knits either. Don’t you get hot? I thought the whole purpose of scuba-type material was to keep you warm in cold weather.
Wildkitten
I am cold at work every day so I’d be shocked if I got hot in scuba. Isn’t scuba just heavier ponte? That is a great fabric to smooth out my shapes. It’s not the most formal, but it’s the most comfortable and flattering for me, I think.
anon-oh-no
my scuba dress (Cynthia Rowley, who I think is known for this material) is actually neoprene. I love it. but don’t consider it work appropriate.
M pls
I was also thinking neoprene (polychloroprene), which this one isn’t. Some searching indicated scuba could also just be a double knit (thicker, fairly stable), so would be inline with ponte.
tesyaa
Even if ponte isn’t a natural fiber, it usually has a cottony finish, while scuba seems like more of a stretch nylon.
Bonnie
I think scuba knits are fine for casual wear but not for work. AIMS, I have a black and white belt and use it all the time.
Shopping Challenge
Just back to work from maternity leave and trying to cheer myself up with pretty things. I would love to find some decent quality, conflict-free diamond studs (tiny is fine!), for under $500? Any suggestions? Maybe an etsy seller? Thanks in advance!
AIMS
Check out Brilliant Earth dot com. I think I first saw them through an ad on this s*te but they should have something that meets your requirements. Another idea is to check out vintage jewelry shop. I’ve found some really lovely art deco diamond jewelry that way at very reasonable prices.
Anne
I had a great experience with Brilliant Earth – excellent customer service and beautiful diamond.
Green skittles
I have several pieces from Brilliant Earth and love them all! Amazing customer service as well.
Wildkitten
I don’t know if you want other suggestions, but I think a nice non-diaper work bag would make me more excited about going back to work in that situation.
Shopping Challenge
sure, suggest away! Thanks :)
EmilyG
Is there any utility to a plain black suiting jacket that I found on sale at Brooks Brothers that doesn’t have any available bottoms in the same fabric? Corporette opined in an earlier post that trying to make a “suit” out of different fabric/same color items is a fool’s errand and you should only mix items that look intentionally different (https://corporette.com/2013/04/18/can-you-mix-different-black-fabrics-to-create-a-suit/). But all my pants that I wear with miscellaneous blazers are… black. I ordered it because I thought a nice fitted black collarless jacket would be a handy thing to throw over any old outfit, but now I’m wondering if it would work with anything I own other than jeans! I wear a lot of dark, plain garments so I’m trying to picture black jacket + a bottle green skirt or dark red pants… and then what under the jacket?
Context: I’ve just gotten a new job in a more formal (but not BigLaw type) environment on the East Coast after being in a super casual West Coast organization for a few years, so I hit the recent online sales hard and am now sorting out the results and trying to get the most bang for my buck on versatile outfits. I spent a lot, so I’d like to return either this jacket or a J. Crew suit where the jacket + pants cost about the same as the BB jacket–the J. Crew pieces don’t fit as well, but it’s two items rather than one… Ordinarily I think I’d return the lot since I’m not overjoyed with them, but I’d already be stretching to have 2 weeks worth of outfits.
Scarlett
I’d return all of it since you don’t love any of it. I’ve made the mistake of rushing a wardrobe and I always end up hating and giving away the things I don’t love from the outset. A week’s worth of clothes will probably take you further than you think and for variety in the meantime, I’d get a few different tops and accessories.
EmilyG
“mistake of rushing a wardrobe” — Yes, that’s exactly the knifepoint I’m balanced on: having nothing to wear vs. soon-to-be-regretted purchases. I think the comments here have persuaded me to return the JCrew stuff for sure.
NYC tech
Return all of it, and order some new things to fill out gaps in the wardrobe. Otherwise you’ll just be donating them a year or two from now when you realize you never wore them.
EmilyG
Thank you for the comment, this is helping me make a better plan. Yes, I have been guilty of donating things all too soon… My usual sin in thinking something fits well enough, and then in the long run, no it doesn’t.
bridget
A fitted black jacket is a great thing to throw over any old outfit… if your clothes fall into the “any old outfit” category. I would wear that with light brown or charcoal skirts and pants, or maybe over a not-black sheath dress… but if your wardrobe is a lot of black pants, then you should probably get a fitted jacket that is not black.
EmilyG
Thanks for the ideas. I do have a blue sheath dress with nothing to wear over it when it’s not hot and one pair of charcoal slacks that may be viable (I’m trying to resurrect some older clothes from two jobs ago…). I’ll try it on with those.
LilyS
I have a plain black blazer (BR Monogram, something silly like 75% off in the sale) which I wear either on Casual Fridays with jeans or with other solid-coloured things, especially dresses.
rosie
I’d return the suit that does not fit you well, unless you are willing to get it tailored (and the issues can be fixed by tailoring). Doesn’t matter if it was a good deal, if you do not feel good wearing it, don’t keep it.
Assuming the black blazer fits you well, I think it could be worth keeping, especially if you can throw it over a dress (some blazers work for this–I think longer suit jackets do not) or a skirt–maybe a black/white patterned skirt. I think it could work with more colorful bottoms, you will just have to see if you are comfortable with it.
Meg Murry
I wear a lot of camel, charcoal or light gray pants, and I think a black jacket would work well with those, and then you can wear pretty much any colored top. I also have a workhose black jacket that I wear with my colored (or patterned with black in them) dresses either to make them more formal or so I don’t freeze. My basic formula for 3 piece dressing is: Black, + color + gray, camel or blue denim. Does the black jacket work with any of the pants you have from your less formal life to dress it up to your new workplace formality level?
Another option is something like this – the birdseye pattern is black and white, but it reads as grey from a distance. And you can’t beat $39 pants if they fit right.
http://www.jny.com/The-Sydney-Birdseye-Seasonless-Stretch-Slim-Leg-Pants/27416395,default,pd.html?variantSizeClass=&variantColor=JJ3WWXX&cgid=22962161&prefn1=catalog-id&prefv1=jonesny-catalog
Have you checked out the JNY going out of business sales to fill in your wardrobe? It’s $7.50 for return shipping, but so much of it is so cheap its worth it even if you only keep a few things, like their $99 suits they have on sale right now.
Last, I’ll agree with everyone else that if there is something else about the jacket that you don’t like (the fit, etc) besides just the color, or if you can’t find something else to wear it with in a week or two, I would return it, and keep your eye out again in the fall when you are more likely to get some wear out of a black jacket.
EmilyG
I am very petite so I don’t see anything on the JNY sale that would likely work but your color combo ideas are really useful! And actually, combining this jacket with less formal things to dress them up could really work. I have two pairs of slim J Crew pants in chino fabrics that don’t seem formal enough on their own, but if I paired them with this jacket maybe they’d work. I definitely have at least one pair of camel pants in the back of my closet, so if the moths didn’t ruin them during my casual years, that could work. I will try the jacket with a bunch of this stuff this evening and see if it looks right.
century ride
Id keep it depending on how it’s cut. If it’s wearable with coordinating (not same color/matching) skirts/pants/dresses– then I’d get a ton of use of it. I often add a suit jacket to coordinating separates to go to court. I over wear my blazers, and they start to show more wear and tear than my pants/skirts. But, oh well.
Bonnie
I primarly wear my black blazer with prints e.g. a black and white patterned skirt with a colored shirt or a patterned shirt with a skirt that also pulls out another color. Definitely don’t keep the jacket if you only wear dark colored pants.
Favorite Drug Store Lipstick
I am looking for a new lipstick and want something cheap that has decent staying power, but doesn’t get that caked look after a few hours. Suggestions?
Scarlett
Someone on here recommended the Burt’s Bees crayon and while I was skeptical (seemed a little too Chapstick for my personal tastes) I tried it and it’s a winner for about $8.
WJM-TV
Revlon Super Lustrous lipsticks. I also have good luck with the Rimmel/Kate Moss lipsticks, but they have a stronger scent.
Jules
Late to the post, but I love love love Maybelline Super Stay 14-hour lipstick.
Labellion
NYX butter lipstick. It’s got fairly good staying power and never looks cakey on me. It’s also vegan, which is a nice plus. I use it with the NYX lip primer and love it.
Anonymous
I just paid off over half my law school student loans with an inheritance from my grandmother who never got a chance to go to high school. Happy and poignant moment.
Wanderlust
Congrats! It will be a nice memory that your grandmother contributed to your legal education.
Senior Attorney
That’s great. Grandma would be pleased, I’m sure!
Anonymous
This is so awesome. Congratulations and I’m sure your grandmother is so proud of you!
Sit booboo sit
I have the worst posture sitting at work. I can’t sit straight and usually end up with my legs crossed or sitting on my knees and all sorts of terrible for your back positions. I can’t afford to buy a whole standing desk setup yet or one of those fancy exercise ball chairs. Has anyone tried just a regular cheap exercise ball? Or any other suggestions to spare my knees and back?
Anon
I use a normal exercise ball. It requires you having some core strength as visitors to my office always try to sit on it and inevitably fall off. I love it because of the constant engagement
Anonymous
Can you sit on this comfortably wearing a pencil skirt?
Anon
Yep, the important thing is that the stability ball is the right size so you can put your feet flat on the floor
Anonymous
I have a standing desk, and I really wish I could get an enormous exercise ball tall enough to reach my desk, and just put a stool for my feet. No idea how I’d get up there and it’d be disastrous if I lost my balance, but it sure would freak out office visitors :)
Bonnie
This really helps with my posture while sitting at my desk: http://www.amazon.com/InteVision-Cushion-Quality-Non-Slip-Nylon/dp/B00EN9W3UY/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1434559399&sr=8-9&keywords=intevision
It makes siting much more comfortable and takes pressure off my back.
anon
I had an exercise ball chair from gaiam at a previous job that was great for forcing me to have good posture. It was really good and the chair base made it high enough to use my desk correctly. They are only $80 last time I looked.
anonymous
I recently found out that someone who officially reports to me (though that I didn’t hire), makes more money than I do.
We’re also currently facing a budget crunch, so I’m not sure how to broach this topic with my boss.
The more junior employee is also (shockingly) male and slightly chummier with the department head than I am.
TIA!
Anonymous
No advice on approaching your boss. Maybe this guy negotiated for more when going into the job. Or he was offered more…there is research that shows that sometimes guys earn more because of negotiating or simply being offered more. It’s also worth finding out if the company has some kind of salary scale. At your next performance review you could ask for a raise. Or you might consider leaving for a different company in future. It feels bad I’m sure. I would also be upset
CountC
I agree that your best bet is to ask for a raise at your next performance review or to separately ask for a raise using concrete and measurable value adds and achievements that show you are worth the raise. This totally sucks, but I don’t think you can approach it with your boss in another way that isn’t going to cause issues.
Coach Laura
Use Salary dot com (or other salary surveys) to build a case that you are paid below market and make a case for a higher salary at your next review based on your performance and successful completion of x, y and z projects. Don’t link it to the junior employee’s salary or infer that you are miffed (though I would be in your case), just present the facts. Also, if your employer has a salary range for your title/classification, find out if you’re (a) in the right classification e.g. manager versus line employee and (b) find out your percentile rank in the classification and (c) where the junior employee ranks on the salary percentage scale and his classification.
Ellen
Yay, Kat! This is a nice dress, but the contrast seem’s to highlight our hip’s and tuchus in the back, so I am not to sure about it. But it is cute for women with smaller wastes and tuchuses.
As for the OP, I say FOOEY to that! If there is a man who report’s to you, you should be makeing more then him. At my firm, they wanted to bring in a new guy in my class a coupel of year’s ago at a salary more then me. He had worked in a big firm and did not want to take a cut. Fortuneately, he turned down the job. I found out from Lynn that they offered him MORE then me, and he was NOT that smart — tho he did go to some school that had a good repueatation (I think Cornell or Columbia). But I told the manageing partner that it would NOT be fair for him to make more then me if he did come, but he didn’t.
Now that I am a partner, I vote on all compensation decision’s for the associate’s, so I know what they all make. Even Mason, who is a schlub, makes alot of money b/c his family is freindley with the manageing partner and Margie.
We women need to stick together when we learn of financieal injustice meeted out on us just b/c we are women. If the HIVE agree’s, we should figure out some way to make those schlub’s pay for being doofuses! YAY!!!!
Anon
A couple of years back, a peer became my manager. He had access to my salary information and came to know I made more than him. He made my life so terrible (belittling me in front of the team, cutting me off when I am talking something, excluding me from my meetings, assigning my work to others without informing me etc etc) and I had to leave the team. He told me during our last meeting before I left that team that I made money than him and his tone was as if he deserved more. I work in tech and it is totally normal for a manager to make less than his/her direct report. Manager is just a job role with certain responsibilities just like an engineer’s role comes with some responsibilities and there is no rule that manager should earn more than his/her direct reports. It also made me feel less privileged/valued because he had access to my salary information and could go to management to negotiate for more, however I didn’t have access to his salary information to make the same case if my salary was lower than his.
I know this doesn’t help you but I am just giving the perspective from other side and being a manager doesn’t mean you get paid more than your direct reports.
SH
I agree with the advice to advocate for yourself for a raise, using concrete examples as to why you deserve it.
That said, it happens fairly regularly (but not commonly) in my company for the “junior” (on the org chart) people to be paid more than their managers. Those “junior” people are SMEs that bill high rates, and we can bill almost 100% of their time. Managing people and processes is important, but for us, it’s not a billable activity. The more non-billable things you do, the more you become “overhead,” and are managed accordingly. As an in-house attorney, I can say that it sort of s*cks to be considered as overhead. But the P&L doesn’t know any different. If this is the case for you, that the junior person is very high-performing, then he may be worth it based on the profits derived from the work he does, independent of his gender.
Just another perspective.
Victim of the Open Office
What is the female equivalent of khakis and a button down?
Anon
Ankle-length pants in a casual fabric (I like chino fabric but not in khaki color), a blouse or button down or shell, and a casual blazer with the sleeves rolled. Flats.
Victim of the Open Office
So my casual dress, fun blazer, and low peep toe heels right now are too much?
Wildkitten
No that’s fine too. We have more choices than the men, and either of those choices are equivalent.
Meg Murry
I think it’s fine, but as someone has pointed out here, a lot of men don’t “get” dresses, and so a dress automatically reads as “dressed up” to them – especially if the women in their life only wear them for dressy occasions (weddings, church and nights out, for instance). Same thing with heels – for some women that is also a “dressed up” only thing. I think yo u sound absolutely fine against khakis and a button up – if you wanted to make it a touch more casual a cardigan might take it down half a notch compared to the blazer, and/or if you swapped out heels for ballet flats.
The only way I could see this as being “too dressed up” would be if you worked in an role where part of it might involve getting dirty or having to bend, lift or crawl on the floor – for instance, if you were in IT and part of your job could involve crawling under someone’s desk to plug in network cables – you wouldn’t want to do that in a skirt. Same thing if you have to go out on a factory floor, to a construction site or in a chemical lab – dresses and heels aren’t conducive to those things. But for a regular, sit behind a desk in an air conditioned office job – you sound fine, and I wish I had your outfit myself today :-)
(Former) Clueless Summer
Or a skirt and blouse, or skirt, cardigan and blouse. Also a casual dress with sleeves alone (so not suiting fabric). I think the blazer has to be very fun and very casual to be equivalent to a button-down and khakis, but being slightly overdressed is also fine. You just need to hit “office casual” not “garden party casual”.
Anonypotamus
Anyone ever deal with irritable earring holes? I got the holes in my teens (am now late 40s) and basically wear earrings very rarely (now not at all) because the holes get very irritated, itchy and red whenever I wear earrings(I’ve tried hypoallergenic, pure gold, etc…, same reaction). No pusing though. I’d really like to wear earrings more, so my questions are (1) are the holes even infected, or do I just have some weird sensitivity and (2) since my holes have more or less closed up at this point, is it worth it to get it repierced, or am I just going to go through the same issue again?
Anonymous
How about putting plastic sleeves over the posts? I used to do that. I’m OK with pure gold but get itchy oozy ears with other types (esp nickel).
anonymiss
I’d suggest going to a good piercing shop, and (if they think it’s a good idea) get them re-pierced with a needle rather than a piercing gun.
Asideralis
Try putting clear nail polish over all the posts. It really helps me as I have a metal sensitivity.
As for re-piercing, I would indeed recommend it, but go to a an APP member (http://www.safepiercing.org/).
Coach Laura
I have a terrible nickel allergy that causes irritation and used to cause pus and infections. Most likely that’s what you have. I’m told it was from getting my ears pierced with a non-gold post (e.g. nickel plated). For years I’ve had terrible soreness which I avoid by 1) not wearing posts, only wires or French hooks with the hinges and 2) wearing only surgical steel, hypoallergenic or sometimes sterling silver earrings of high quality. I’ve wanted to try rhodium plated or platinum earrings but haven’t yet.
M pls
Also, try cleaning the earring posts, your lobes and hands before putting the earrings in, to see if that helps remove anything that might be getting transferred. I rarely think to clean my earrings on any regular basis.
First Year Anon
I dealt with this issue recently. They got hot and itchy because the holes were so small a normal post was stretching them. I resolved to just stick it out basically and wear earrings for 2 months straight. I started with posts that I knew were a bit smaller and suffered through few days. it got better over time. now i can wear earrings no problem (2 months into my experiment).
Anon
I dealt with this issue recently. They got hot and itchy because the holes were so small a normal post was stretching them. I resolved to just stick it out basically and wear earrings for 2 months straight. I started with posts that I knew were a bit smaller and suffered through few days. it got better over time. now i can wear earrings no problem (2 months into my experiment).
century ride
I had this issue, and cleaned all of my earring posts really thoroughly with rubbing alcohol and it helped a lot.
TBK
I have a nickel allergy and oftentimes gold is made with a nickel or nickel-related alloy and therefore doesn’t work for me. I’m okay with metals in the nickel family (e.g., my wedding set is palladium and I’ve had no issues) but some people with nickel allergies can’t wear anything similar. Maybe you just haven’t found a metal that’s far enough from nickel?
Anonymous
+1 to what everyone else said about metal allergies. But I would also consider that heavy, dangly earrings may not work for you. I can only wear studs now, despite the fact that I used to wear big earrings when I was younger. When I try to wear heavy earrings now, my holes get red and swollen, even if they aren’t nickle. But studs of pretty much any metal are fine.
Anon
Anyone have suggestions for an August trip of about 2 weeks, not super-expensive. I am based in Boston and was thinking of Nova Scotia or maybe up the coast of Maine? Or is it just nuts bc it’s August? I am new to the East Coast and want to go on trips that are longer than I could do in a weekend from Boston.
Alternately, has anyone been to Alaska in August?
Anonymous
Nova Scotia and PEI. Amazing in August, really not crowded at all (unlike Maine). Classic East Coast experiences.
New Tampanian
There are some cruises out of Boston too!
Anne
We did Acadia in Maine in August and it was surprisingly uncrowded. I think a lot of people just drive up or do tour buses, so the awesome hiking trails were pretty crowd-free.
Anonymous
August is a great time for Alaska. We did 2 weeks there last year in late July and early August – 1 week in Katmai, Denali and Kenai Fjords National Parks and then 1 week on a Glacier Bay cruise. It was an incredible trip. Katmai really needs to be done in July or September if you’re just going to Brooks Lodge, because the bears aren’t there in August, but everything else on our itinerary would be great in August and there’s tons of stuff you could add. It’s incredibly expensive though.
I’m also very partial to Acadia and Bar Harbor, having been many times. August is peak season and you will see crowds in Bar Harbor (and appropriately high hotel prices) but agree with Anne that the trails in the park itself are not too crowded. And August is peak wild blueberry season!
Edited to add that since you’re in Boston you might want to think about Acadia as a long weekend trip. It’s only about a 5 hour drive. Bit long for a 2 day weekend but if you will have any 3 or 4 day weekends, it’s perfect for that, and you might go somewhere farther away for a whole week off.
Another anonymous Judge
OMG you will love it and two weeks is enough time to do both and maybe PEI. We are from the Maritimes and honeymooned in Maine – there is nowhere nicer than the entire East Coast in August – lots of festivals and great dining everywhere and the weather is usually great. And, the blueberries! You will see some of pretty New Brunwick on the drive too. So many of us do Boston as a bit of an exotic trip it seems only fair you should do the converse.
anonymiss
Has anyone who’s dealt with tiredness/fatigue figured out the problem — and it turned out to NOT be thyroid problems, vitamin D deficiency, or anemia? Or, maybe your doctor couldn’t find a single cause but you improved how you felt through eating better, or exercising, etc.? (Also looking for stories of people whose thyroid issues were difficult to diagnose/discover.) Thanks!
Anonymous
Turned out I was over 30.
APP123
So much this.
Scarlett
Are you getting enough sleep? I need a lot more than most people admit to (8-9 hours a night to feel rested). Once I figured that out and committed to getting it, fatigue/ exhaustion etc. stopped.
K120
Things that have helped me include exercising regularly, cutting out caffeine, eating a protein heavy breakfast, and being at a healthy weight.
Meg Murry
Have you had a sleep study? Could it be sleep apnea? What about blood sugar levels – I am pre-diabetic/insulin resistant, and eating a diet with a limited number of carbs per meal (and preferably carbs from fruits and vegetables with fiber, not simple carbs like pasta and juice) has helped smooth out my blood sugar spikes and dips and helps with my overall energy levels. Do you feel any more fatigue at certain times of the day (for me there was always a huge drop at 1-2 pm to the point where I could actually fall asleep while typing)?
I’ve fallen out of the routine now, but when I get in a routine of exercising 3-4 times a week to help physically wear me out, and keeping my bedtimes to within the same hour daily (including on weekends) I feel 100x better. I read an interesting article that said that staying up late on weekends, even if you slept in to make it up, was like the equivalent of being jet-lagged every Monday and Tuesday, and just when you snapped out of it by Thursday or so it was the weekend. It makes me feel so old to go to bed at 10 pm on weekends, but I feel so much better the next week when I do.
AIMS
My mom had this and it turned out to be a vitamin b-12 deficiency. She now gets monthly shots. The first one she got, she said she felt like she was ten years younger.
She’s also had lifelong thyroid issues but this was unrelated.
anon
Getting regular exercise does help you sleep better, so it seems like that’s a good thing to try.
Carrie...
Oh yes…. Being tired is so so common and probably for most of us there is not a “medical” cause that a pill/supplement will address (thyroid/anemia). And often, there are multiple contributors.
I agree that you have to be honest about how much you are sleeping, and how regular that sleep is. Most of us need more than we get, and we need it to be undisrupted and on a regular schedule. Even on weekends!
It is well established that exercise improves quality of sleep and improves daytime fatigue. Also regular sleep improves bad eating habits (ex. decreases binging), and certainly eating habits can interfere with sleep (ex. caffeine late in the day, heavy meals late in the evening, foods that cause reflux in the evening).
So yes… sometimes just exercising and improving your diet can improve fatigue…. most likely by improving your sleep and improving your mood.
Depression is a frequent and underdiagnosed cause of fatigue. Exercise can also improve depression, as can sunlight exposure.
Sleep apnea is also horribly underdiagnosed – especially in women. While men with sleep apnea often complain of excessive daytime sleepiness and snoring, women do not. More commonly, women complain of fatigue, morning headaches, insomnia, and mood changes. Don’t assume that because you aren’t a 50 year old obese male that you can’t have sleep apnea.
Bad restless legs syndrome can also disrupt your sleep, and is very common.
Also agree with checking B12 – especially if you are vegetarian and you absolutely need to take a supplement if you are vegan.
lsw
How do you check your b12? does it come up on a blood test?
Anon Oversharer
I work in a demanding job, and both I and a coworker in my group with whom I am friendly are interested in moving to the client side at some point — she is totally burned out, I have maybe a year or two left in me. I received an email from a recruiter today about a job that I thought my coworker might find interesting, so I forwarded it to her. I am also thinking about applying for the same job, but I am not decided because I don’t think the timing is right. I thought it might be considerate to share the opening and that it might engender some goodwill. I have since been told that it is strange and a bad idea to share an opening with a potential competitor. What do you all think? I am curious.
Anonymous
Dumb! It’s great to do if you aren’t interested but sharing leads for jobs you want is epically moronically stupid. What goodwill are you looking to get here?!?!
Senior Attorney
It does seem odd to pass it along if you think you will be applying. From her point of view it’s like you’re giving with one hand and taking away with the other. And from your point of view, why on earth would you make the competition stiffer if you actually want the job?
cc
Strange on two fronts- if you do apply and get it over her its kind of a slap in the face to her. If she gets it over you- well why would you have made more competition for yourself? You should have looked it over, decided whether you wanted to apply, and if not, forward it on to her.
Hollis
I’m just like you – I like to help anyone and everyone. However, this kind of thing will come to bite you in the b-tt. If she applies and finds out that you have applied, then she’s going to wonder why you suggested that she apply, only to get in her way. Nothing good can come of helping someone in this manner. Just find a good job for yourself. You can hire her later to work under you.
WestCoast Lawyer
As I read your post you decided not to apply and then passed along the email. I think this is great networking and good karma. If your friend gets the job, they are likely to think of you in the same situation. You will also have made a friend of the recruiter, who will be happy that you helped them fill a position which will make them want to keep in touch with you about future opportunities. Unless you are planning to compete for this position, I think what you did is a win-win!
ETA – reading fail. I agree that it’s a little odd to pass along the email if you are also going to apply, but since you have already done so, I would just be honest about your intentions. When I was in BigLaw I knew several colleagues who were looking at the same time I was and if one of them had won a job I was applying for I would still have been happy for them.
Anonymous
+1. I think it’s fine to pass along, especially if you are not going to apply and especially if you are friends with her. I think it’s rude not to pass it along in that instance.
If you decide to apply, just be up front with her.
Anonymous
AAM answered a similar question this morning.
New Tampanian
Runners: Ever since moving here, I want to get my a$$ in gear and run more but it’s hella hot and humid! (who knew?) Since I’m only doing short runs, I figure it’ll be best to use a handheld water bottle as opposed to a full on fuel belt (those are so annoying). Anyone have recommendations? Right now I’m looking at the following:
1) Amphipod’s 16oz hydraform in touch thermal
2) Ampipod’s 20 oz Jett Lite thermal
3) Nathan’s SpeedDraw plus insulated
All are around 16-20 oz which is perfect for the length of my runs.
Anonymous
I actually prefer to just carry a regular plastic bottle. I freeze it overnight so it’s actually cold for the first 30 minutes or so–it’s usually melted and warm after 45 minutes, but by then I need a refill at a water fountain anyway. I prefer the regular bottle because the plastic molds to my hand and is easier to carry, and if I ever get sick of carrying it (like in a race once I get to the point of the course where water stops are frequent enough), I don’t mind just tossing it.
I’ve tried the Nathan’s speedraw and an Ultimate Direction handheld, and I felt like I was always conscious of having to grip the bottle, and the adjustable buckle hurt my hand.
Bonnie
I have a Nathan bottle and find it comfortable enough. If you pull the straps tight, you don’t really have to do much to hold it. I also like having a zippered pocket for longer runs when I want to bring a gel or beans.
Anon
I use one of these and find the pocket very convenient.
Betsy
I just got the CamelBak Quick Grip handheld water bottle a month ago, and I love it so far. I find the strap really comfortable and I don’t feel like I need to grip the bottle at all. I had looked at the Amphipod bottles too, but ended up finding an older model of the Camelbak on a super good sale so I went with it instead.
century ride
I have this one and use it often. you don’t have to grip.
Asideralis
Not from Tampa, but lived in a desert.
How long are your runs? I’ve found that if I’m not out for more than an hour, I don’t need water. If I do go out for longer runs, I like to have a waist belt like: http://www.amazon.com/Hydration-Belt-Running-Smartphone-Adjustable/dp/B00SSLDP6E/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1434566519&sr=8-5&keywords=running+waist+water+bottle&pebp=1434566524387&perid=0HJSCY8A3GPH6HM2PBEB
New Tampanian
I’m doing low mileage right now but I’m new to the heat – was in Boston previously. So I find myself really needing water much more frequently. I have a fuel belt but that seems excessive
Maddie Ross
I’ve always hated carrying water – even when marathon training. Can you stash on your route? Or do a route that includes a run by a park with water fountains?
mascot
I couldn’t get comfortable with a handheld bottle so I just planned routes with water sources or even stops back at my car/house/etc. Running with something in your hand can throw off your form, so you might want to look at the belt or a hydration backpack for longer runs.
gee
Any ideas for an interesting women’s marketing event for a Midwest firm’s female clients?
NOT wine tasting, wine and painting, etc.
Emily
whiskey tasting? manicure night? soul cycle + refreshments,
L
I have no idea if this is appropriate or not, but some of the best networking events I’ve been to have been charity driven. Packaging meals, making backpack kits, etc. People feel good about it, it’s something different and memorable. Maybe you can figure out a way to incorporate a charitable angle into the event?
Anonymous
I really like this. Women’s events that do stereotypically female activities – shopping nights, etc. – get made fun of in my male-dominated industry.
CountC
Oh, I like this!
CountC
What’s your budget? Because getting Brene Brown to come speak would be a super amazing event, but I am guessing that’s out of the realm of possibilities here.
If I am going to a networking event, women’s or otherwise, I want it to actually be useful, not just another excuse to remind myself I am a woman. I am a life-long East Coaster, so that may not be a mindset that is common where you are located. I really don’t know. Can you get a female speaker who can speak on a relevant business topic?