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Time-saving tools and products we’re really into rn.

🗃 It’s time to go full Ocean’s Eleven at the office and invest in this compact, all-in-one organization vault. Director Steven Soderbergh himself would look at its sleek design and compact versatility and yell “Action!”

🛋 Next time someone mentions the amazing British procedural they’re bingeing, make a note of it in Sofa and avoid a “TV+series+England+detective+2021+rainy?” Google doom spiral later.

Learn to move on from the L’s with as much grace as you celebrate the W’s. Memorize these tips on what to do when you don’t get the job.

“TikTok was a window into myself I didn’t know I needed. And I think that seeing people react well to what I had to offer really inspired me to lean into who I knew I was.”

Eric Sedeño, better known as @ricotaquito on TikTok, is an online personality, art director, and illustrator based in New York City. Widely regarded as everyone’s internet bestie and TikTok’s prime expert on tie-dye DIYs, Eric’s spontaneity and contagious laugh have made him a standout in the creator community.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Leaving his 9–5: “I left my job earlier this year to see where life takes me. But for all of last year, I was balancing a full-time job as an art director plus being a creator online. So this year is a little bit more relaxed—which actually stressed me out, because I’m used to being stressed out…I never considered that losing that stability would really affect me. And as soon as I had free rein to deal with whatever I wanted, I was like, ‘What am I doing?’”

Explore your interests: “I’m a huge advocate for having personal projects…Even when I was working, I had personal projects, and TikTok became mine last year…I think if there’s one thing anyone should take away, [it’s that you] should always be exploring your interests, what you want to make, and what you want to do. Even if it’s just putting a cool outfit on that day, you should explore your creativity in your own way.”

Setting goals: “I’m still figuring it out. I’ll be honest, I kind of spiraled after I quit my job because I’ve had a job since I was 16. I’ve always had a boss…There’s always been someone telling me what to do. And so to not have that, and to kind of be in charge of myself is new….I was stressing out about numbers. No matter how well I was doing, I never felt like I was doing well enough, because there was no one who could tell me ‘You’re doing well.’”

Finding balance: “I really like separating things. So you don’t really see me hanging out with my friends when I’m making content…My boyfriend is not a big social media person either. And I think that’s been really healthy for me because I don’t make videos when we’re out together. I don’t go on TikTok. I don’t go on Twitter…But now that I don’t have a structured ‘You start at this time, you’re done at this time,’ it’s harder to know, when am I content creating and when am I not? I’m an earth sign, babe—I need to be grounded. There’s a part of my brain that’s the serious creative art director and then [there’s] the stupid funny personality. I’m trying to meld them now, but for a long time, I’ve just kept them so separate.”

Avoiding comparison: “I love that [saying] that goes like ‘Comparison is the thief of joy.’ I think it’s very true. Because you can’t be happy for yourself if you’re jealous of someone else. And so I try to really root for people. And if I can’t root for them, I try not to think about them…I’m sure people probably see me and they think I have something they don’t.”

Building an audience: “I always say I make content for me…And I think you have to be proud of what you’re posting, regardless of whether it does super well or super bad…My whole persona on the internet is just me. I think that’s why I take things a little personally sometimes, because it truly is me being me. But I think confidence is the prettiest thing you can wear. If you’re just confident in who you are and make stuff for yourself, people gravitate toward that.”

Growing pains: “All of last year, I didn’t do many brand deals, because I was like, this isn’t my life. I’m an art director. And then I had a call with this management company I’m with now. And it kind of opened my eyes. They’re like, this isn’t a little deal. So after that call, I was like…Maybe I should just be open to it. And then once I’m open to it, more things will happen.”—MW

Your punch list for when you punch out.

Read: “If you present yourself as too Latina or too Black in the workplace, that could be a turnoff for your white colleagues.” Damn. This article in the Harvard Business Review explains the one-two punch of sexism and racism that’s keeping women of color from returning to the office.

Make: As you spend more time outdoors this summer, consider tapping into your inner Snow White and make a DIY birdbath for the neighborhood blue jays.

Drink: Fill up the kiddie pool and mentally transport yourself to a tropical beach resort with this virgin piña colada recipe. It’ll have to do until you can take a real vacation.

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Burning questions of our time.

Your thoughts on cocktails in the conference room:

As someone who doesn’t drink for personal reasons, the culture of the workplace revolving around alcohol has annoyed me at times. I think all workplaces should try to be inclusive of people who choose not to drink, because there are so many reasons (religious views, alcoholism, pregnancy, medical problems). My coworkers have regularly agreed on activities that include nonalcoholic options, and I’ve always been appreciative of that.—Brooke

Can I hold my liquor? Absolutely. Does free beer make me want to hang out with people I work with? Nope. There is no amount of booze that makes that appealing—full stop. I have kids and a spouse and friends who aren’t tied to my income. I’d rather save that time to spend with my family than drink beer and have uncomfortable conversations with coworkers.—Liane

Lost in (office) translation:

Once upon a time, phones were dumb, office gossip happened in whispers, and information traveled via email. Then, as time passed, a new kid named Slack arrived on the block, leaving those who still swore by email communication feeling out of the loop…and even a little angry!

Neither platform is flawless. Slack can be distracting (the pings haunt us in our dreams), and a skillfully crafted email requires time, which is in short supply for lots of us. They both have upsides, though. Slack is instantaneous, informal, and inclusive, while email is precise and less likely to get lost in the shuffle. When it comes to internal communication, are you team Slack or team email? Reply to this email and let us know which side you’re on, and why!—MW