Morning Brew - 🛢️ Greasing the wheel

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

If you’re guilty of picking up fresh produce only to go out for dinner five nights in a row with your work frens, you need these reusable whiteboards. Use them to track what’s in your fridge, your to-do lists, or leave notes for other household members.

Decision-making after hours with roomies or your family is a breeze with the Chwazi app. Everyone in your group places a finger on the screen, and the app randomly selects a winner (or a loser to do the dishes) or splits the group into teams. It’s like flipping a coin, but fancier!

As the cultural backlash against grind culture continues, choosing rest has become a statement . Read all about the #RadicalRest movement and how to put it into practice in this Mic article.

A head start on your hustle.

It’s not unrealistic to expect at least a little satisfaction from the work you spend doing 40 (or more) hours every week. So when your expectations don’t line up with reality, feelings of stagnancy can settle in hard. If you’ve found yourself experiencing the Sunday scaries (or the Monday mayhem or the Tuesday terrors…you get the picture), you may already be there.

Sidekick spoke with career coach and career development professor Uzoma Obidike and California-based life coach Katie Seaver to get the tea on career ruts and how to break out of them for good. Here’s what they had to share:

• Identify your rut. It’s possible to be in a rut without even realizing it, so step one is really recognizing how you feel. As Seaver explained, “You probably notice it more when you slow down, which a lot of people don’t do. But if you have a moment of quiet, where you’re alone and unstimulated…you might come to face that.”
• Self-reflect before making big moves. Seaver said, “People will often try to make really grand gestures. I get a lot of clients coming to me [and saying], ‘I need a new job,’ ‘I need a totally new industry,’ [or] ‘The reason I’m in this rut is because this thing is wrong for me.’ And that’s not always the case.” Obidike also recommended running through these questions before taking any action: “Why are you feeling the urge to make a move? Why right now? What’s the push that’s making you want to leave right now? And what do you want to do next?”
• Seek out new opportunities in and outside of work. So you decided to stick it out at your job after some self-reflection. That’s OK! There are ways you can make your day-to-day more exciting. Find a skill you want to learn for work and dedicate time to it at least once or twice a week. Obidike also recommended starting a passion project or picking up a hobby outside of work—do something that can become a side hustle or full-time business later while also helping you build a skill set.
• Prioritize career management on a regular basis. Many times Obidike sees clients that don’t think about their careers until they’re experiencing a layoff or an incident at work that makes them want to abandon ship. “If you’re actively managing your career and making it part of your daily routine, you can catch those moments when you might be falling into a rut and do something about it right then,” Obidike said. “Always create goals [to] have at the forefront. Because then you’re more likely to put yourself into situations where chance opportunities are likely to happen.”
• Recognize that ruts are a normal part of life. “Life is a constant process of breakdown and rebuild…We have to be constantly readjusting and growing [because] we weren’t ever meant to be on autopilot,” said Seaver. Above all else, though, pay attention to how you feel at work versus how you want to feel, and always set goals that prioritize your happiness.—MW

Tech tips and tricks.

Facebook and Instagram are having a midlife crisis since the WSJ dropped its exposé on The Facebook Files (which may partially explain why your IG feed seems like a lame TikTok FYP). When even the Kardashians agree the new feed is trash, something needs to be done. 🫡

Here’s the quick fix back to seeing photos of your friends instead of a bunch of random reels: Click the Instagram logo in the top left corner of your screen on the app and select Following or Favorites to see posts from people you know.

You can also snooze suggested posts on your main feed. When something you don’t like pops up, tap the three dots in the top right corner of the post and select Not Interested. Then click Snooze all suggested posts in feed for 30 days, and you’ll have a semi-decent feed…for a month.—SS

Burning questions of our time.

Workday Zzzs:

Remote work has afforded us a slew of luxuries like wearing pajama pants to meetings, getting extra cuddles with our furry friends, and munching on snacks all day long. But another, more taboo WFH benefit is becoming an issue: midday naps on the clock. While some employees swear they’re a necessary part of getting through the day (*ahem*), productivity-tracking employers are not keen on the idea. But what do you think? Is it OK to take a quick snooze during the workday? At what point does that affect your sleep hygiene? Hit Reply and let us know in the Inbox!—SS

And now, your thoughts on company retreats:

“I’ve been one to cringe at ‘forced fun’ company activities, but then I realized I missed them when they were gone [during the pandemic]. Even if you’re just commiserating, odds are you interact and get a little more comfortable with at least one coworker. Take advantage of the time, especially if you hope the company isn’t just a one-year stop on your résumé. If you are ambitious, it’s a great time to interact with leadership or establish good connections with people in other departments. While it may not be your definition of ‘fun,’ you may find you really do like Tom from Legal when he isn’t tearing up all your contracts.”—Kristin

“No forced fun! Better to do something shorter, at work, and not too often. A quarterly potluck, a catered lunch—even just pizza—things that let staff interact as they wish [offer] a break from routine and make people feel valued, [which] is much better. Things that take people away from home on their off time are not helpful.”—Elizabeth

Your punch list for when you punch out.

Read: Changes in technology and culture influence our speech so much that it can be hard to keep up. Ever wonder how words change over time in sign languages? This New York Times explainer covers that and more.

Watch: Iris Apfel is an icon—nay, an institution. To commemorate her upcoming 101st birthday, we’ll be revisiting Albert Maysles’s documentary that explores her countless contributions to fashion, culture, and creativity.

Follow: Even if you’re dedicated to self-care, we all need a little motivation boost from time to time. Follow the @tinycarebot Twitter bot for gentle reminders to do something good for your soul.

Plan: Want personal finance help that’s actually, well—personal? Check out Money with Katie’s Wealth Planner to see how you can still budget this season. Yes, even after this summer’s spending. Shop now, and thank your wealth-building best friend later.