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

Never get shampoo on your toothbrush again with this hanging toiletry bag. It has all the  compartments to keep all the things in place. Just unroll it and you’re ready to go!

That feeling when you think you’ve packed everything, then remember you forgot sunglasses mid-flight. Ugh! Please meet the (traveler’s) life-saving app Packr, which will help you get all your ducks in a row. And check out our full list of travel apps ahead of your next trip.

TikToker Lauren Stephany shows how to squeeze enough outfits for three months into a tiny carry-on in her packing strategies: 1) Roll your clothes and put them in a packing cube, 2) Pack multipurpose clothing (like a T-shirt can double as PJs), 3) Bring items you won’t be afraid to leave behind! Or, try these tips. (Trust us. They’re good!)

A head start on your hustle.

It’s past midnight and you’re still up putting the finishing touches on your 7am work presentation. Or it was a stressful day and you’re lying awake all night reliving that convo with your manager. Or you’ve got no reason to be up and you inadvertently watched 18 seasons of 90 Day Fiancé. (It can happen, OK?!)

All these scenarios are bad. They’re bad for your immune system, your weight, your ability to focus, and even your appearance. I’ll say it again for the people in the back: Poor sleep habits will catch up to you! To gain some insight on the impact of the late-night working sesh, melatonin use, and realistic ways to improve your sleep hygiene, Sidekick spoke with Solve Our Sleep founder Dr. Whitney Roban, and Aeroflow Sleep sleep advisor Dr. Carleara Weiss. Here’s what they had to say about catching better z’s:

• First steps: Sleep hygiene is something you must actively prioritize in your everyday life. Weiss recommends waking up and going to sleep at the same time every day—even on weekends—while Roban recommends finding out how many hours of sleep you need, and then giving yourself a bedtime that allows you to hit that goal every night.
• Cut the crap. Dropping your bad habits (like your daily 5pm cup of espresso) is so important. Roban advocates no caffeine after lunch and no alcohol right before bed. Weiss told Sidekick that our beds are only for sleep and sex—not late-night work sessions or Netflix binges. “Light is the strongest stimulus we have that tells our circadian rhythm and biological clock what time of the day it is,” she said. Staring at your screen all night will only “tell the brain that it’s time to shut down melatonin production.” Not good!
• Rethink everything you “know” about being a night owl. “Your chronotype is set genetically, but that’s not really how life will allow us to live…And sometimes it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. You think, ‘Oh, I just must be a night owl,’ instead of working on all those bad habits that are not conducive to sleep,” Roban told Sidekick.
• The tea on melatonin. Weiss believes there are times when taking melatonin supplements can be helpful (i.e., when dealing with jetlag, stressful life periods, or working the third shift), but for most of us, she said, “It’s best to invest in behavioral changes to improve sleep quality without supplements.” And because supplements aren’t FDA-regulated, Roban advised us to scrutinize the labels for added ingredients and consult with a doctor first to prevent negative interactions with other medications.—MW

Tech tips and tricks.

Whether you have plans to explore the Amalfi Coast or just master the menu at the snooty French restaurant in your neighborhood, you’re gonna thank us for showing you Google Lens. It helps you translate signs, menus, and anything else you need to read in a language you don’t know. Open the Google app and click the camera icon in the search bar. When you open Google Lens, swipe the setting to Translate and change the language up top. Now just point your camera and watch the lens work its translation magic.

P.S. Google Lens is great for finding things you can’t describe in words, too. Just swipe over to Search after you’ve taken a photo and the app finds what you’re looking for online.—SS

Burning questions of our time.

Location compensation

Living in NYC is pricey, but wages are (supposedly) a little higher to compensate. But if you took a job in Idaho, your salary would be lower—and so would your cost of living.

When the pandemic forced us out of the office and into our home offices, it also started to close the geographic pay gap. But should pay be determined by where you live? Should all remote employees of the same status working at the same company make the same amount? Hit Reply and let us know your thoughts in the Inbox!—SS

Your thoughts on hiring the formerly incarcerated:

“Hands down one of the biggest barriers to [previously incarcerated individuals] getting and maintaining jobs is the question about criminal records. I’m of the opinion—probably not a popular one—that workplaces should not put it on their applications, but have a statement on the application that says they reserve the right to ask during an interview. There are too many barriers [working against] a lot of desire to keep criminals off the streets…There has to be some give.”—Chrystal

“The argument for background checks for ‘office safety’ makes sense at face value. I can understand that people wouldn’t want to work next to violent offenders. But in practice, it perpetuates the prison system because when people can’t get jobs, they’re more likely to [violate] parole to make ends meet. Background checks are just another barrier to acquiring wealth [especially for people of color].”—Caroline

Your punch list for when you punch out.

Read: After standing up against police violence during the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020, young activist Oluwatoyin Salau was murdered. In a recent Harper’s Bazaar story, journalist Clarissa Brooks took a close look at the systems that failed her.

Watch: The always iconic Ziwe brings drag queen Katya Zamolodchikova in for a Pride-themed episode of her hit Showtime show. Click to watch her make another great guest sweat Ziwe-style.

Sign up: Meet your new PA for fun: The Nudge. The site updates you on upcoming activities in your area (think: day trips, good eats, and live music) with “nudge” texts.

Your brand, our voice: Ahem (*clears voice*). We take pride in what we put out into the world, and that includes crafting custom branded content for our beloved partners. Tell your brand’s story in new and exciting ways with the Morning Brew Creative Studio.