What I Wear to Increase Billable Hours

Billable hours. Every day, I track my work time in six-minute increments. Out of a 9-hour workday maybe 7.5 hours is billable time. So in order to make my 1900 hour billable requirement, I need to work between 9-10 hours per day. And this, of course, assumes that I do not feel unwell, have a child who is unwell, and that I manage to maintain my focus through all of the many distractions and complications of being a part-time housewife.

Recently, I learned that I am 130 hours behind where I need to be to finish on time for the year. This is not an insurmountable burden, but it means a lot of late nights and weekend days in my future.

Don’t get me wrong, I have an incredible boss and I work at a fantastic firm. Nothing bad will happen to me if I just miss my hours while completing my job assignments. But nothing good will happen to me either. Being on partner track, as well as eligibility for bonuses and raises depends on meeting my number. And as a goal oriented person, I can’t bear the thought of not meeting my goal.

In my prior career, I often encountered stressful seasons like this at work. Hell, the entire Montana Legislature only lasts for 100 days. We go from 0-110mph and never slow down. The close of any campaign season felt like this. Those busy weeks during the appropriations season when I was a House staffer and billions of dollars needed to be allocated in marathon, late night markups. So I am not unpracticed at running a gauntlet. This is just the first time that I have done it with a toddler, and whoa, different.

So what does one wear when you need to move at speed, with no distractions, in something that resembles professional attire, but is also comfortable?

First off, I cannot wear an uncomfortable bra when I am working. Cannot. Will not. Nothing distracts like pinching.

This b.tempted bra from Wacoal has no wire, but is still supportive. The scalloped edge makes it invisible under any top. And you can adjust it to be a standard bra or a racerback. It also appears to be 50% off today, so lucky us. I am a 36C and I am at the top of the medium size.

These Spanx Ponte Wide Legs are the pants for days when I need to run from the House of Representative to the Senate 72 times. They’re also the pants for the days when I need to sit in my home office and grind. And the pants for when I fly to SLC for an in office day and don’t have time to change prior to arriving at the office. Simply put, they are THE pants for comfort that looks work appropriate. I also have the matching blazer.

The science may be undecided on whether blue light glasses help those of us who stare at screens all day, but anecdotally, I find my eyes feel less fatigued and I get fewer headaches when I wear mine.

Through much trial and error, I’ve found that Quay makes the best ones. So many blue light glasses feel flimsy and cheap, these don’t. I own these ones in black and tortoise, and these ones in clear. I wear them every day. If I don’t, I feel it.

In 2020, I listened to a podcast where the host talked about how he and his partner had trained themselves to work when certain scents were burning. Basically, they were stuck at home during the pandemic and struggling to focus. So when they lit this particular eucalyptus candle, they both did nothing but work. Over time, their brains just accepted that if they could smell eucalyptus, it was time to be productive.

I started burning this Voluspa Goji Tarocco Orange candle when I really need to work, and amazingly, now when I burn it, I’m not as easily distracted.

So when you really need to be on your a-game what do you wear or do? Leave your thoughts in the comments.

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