We’re constantly told that we can have it all. By that, I mean career, relationship, family, and fun. And it’s true, we’ve never had more choices. It’s all up for grabs but anyone with a career knows that in reality, it’s not always that simple.

The trick is to prioritize and whenever possible, make things as easy as possible. One area I would like to tackle today is your wardrobe. How can you systematize getting dressed and actually make it easier in the morning so you don’t waste time. As career women, we know how important it is to present a professional and polished appearance. We also know how miserable it is to pick out what clothes to wear when you are in a rush and have an important meeting that day. This can be a challenge when we’re juggling several other things in our lives.  Because let’s face it, do you really have the time to shop?

With a little bit of planning and few tricks we’ve learned that getting dressed in the morning can be easy and fun. So let’s dive in.

How To Make Getting Dressed Easier Every Single Morning

1. Plan Ahead on Sunday Night

Like everything else, our wardrobe works best when it is planned in advance. Each weekend, make a mental note of your outfits for the week. Tailor them to the work day, meetings, and after-work events. You can then ensure that everything is clean in advance. Items that need to be dry cleaned can be done ahead of time. This will allow you time to plan different outfit combinations and keep your work wardrobe fresh and interesting. Key an eye on your clothes and take care of them and make a system to regularly stop at the dry cleaners so you aren’t doing it last minute. For example, set a routine so that every other week on the way home from work on Thursdays, you stop at your local dry cleaner. It’s so much easier when this is all planned ahead on Sunday night.

2. Keep Makeup Simple

If you have little time in the mornings, keep your makeup as simple as possible. I like to keep the basics on my bathroom counter so I can quickly grab what I need and do my makeup in the morning. I also have my daughter running in and wanting to use mama’s makeup so it’s important that I get it done as quickly as possible. It’s important to get the basics right, and everything else will follow. For example, invest in a good foundation that complements your skin tone. Use a concealer that is a shade lighter for an even coverage. For the most part, finding the right concealer is a relatively simple process. No makeup is complete without brows.  This will ensure a polished and well-groomed look.

Wherever possible use makeup that has a dual purpose. For example, lipstick that can be applied to eyes and cheeks. This will save time before you leave the house. Catch up on your favorite makeup tutorials and learn the techniques you need. As you get used to the techniques, you will become faster and able to apply makeup like a pro. Also, make sure you brush a layer of translucent powder over your face once you have finished. This will set your makeup and make it last longer.

3. Prepare For The Unexpected

We’ve all been there. You have a meeting in fifteen minutes and manage to spill your morning coffee down your blouse. These things always happen when you least expect them. That’s why it is important to prepare for the unexpected by keeping emergency items at the office. This should include a spare blouse, sewing kit, extra tights, etc. Also, remember to keep an umbrella in your handbag. You don’t want to get drenched in your work clothes, believe me!

4. Limit Your Clothing Options

My preference is always to keep the least amount of clothing in my closet as possible. I limit the options so I have less decisions to make. When I walk into my closet, I actually get excited by the clothes to pick from, instead of how I used to dread my clothing options. When I moved into my new apartment, I took pictures of all of the combinations of outfits in my closet. I got rid of the clothing items that didn’t lend themselves to multiple outfits.  I only kept what I wanted out and stored the rest in boxes in the back of my closet.

Of course, I missed a few things that I had to go digging for but the most important part is that my closet is no longer cluttered. It’s only what I really want to wear. I am a big fan of limiting your options and taking pictures of all of the options you can make with your clothing so that when you are deciding what to wear, you can just hop on your phone to pick out your favorite outfit.

We know that it’s our ability to do our jobs well that really counts. Putting a few simple steps in place will help you save your most important decisions for your work, not your outfits each morning.

What are your getting dressed tips?