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Career building with a dose of self-care 

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Nine times out of 10 I’ll glance at my to-do list, sigh, and say to myself, “If only there were more hours in the day.” Sound familiar? The solution isn’t working more. In a recent Washington Post article, productivity experts suggest working less, with more intentional focus hours. 

Kalina Michalska, developmental neuroscientist and assistant professor of psychology at UC Riverside, agreed that we get our best work done with four to five hours of focus time in a day. But of course stress, anxiety, and push notifications all impact our focus capacity. So Borna Bonakdarpour, MD and assistant professor at Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine, added that your brain needs rest (about 20–30 mins for every two hours of focused work). 

Below you’ll find a few of Michalska and Bonakdarpour’s tips for making the most of your focus time (and read the WaPo article for even more ideas). 

• Schedule breaks first. “Put in the run, the lunch, the break. Otherwise, you’re never going to do it,” advised Michalska. 
• Protect your most creative time of day. “I’m not particularly effective from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.,” Michalska added. “So, I just schedule all my emails at that time, when I don’t have to think that much.” 
• Ditch work during breaks. Bonakdarpour goes for a walk, but he says even a convo with a coworker counts, as long as you’re talking about “things that don’t have anything to do with work.” 

Fun stuff to do outside work

AESOP.Wines / Unsplash

• The phrase “rosé all day” may be cheugy, but rosé itself isn’t. Food52 named the seven best rosé brands, and if you’re looking for an eighth, my vote goes to Whispering Angel. 
• Devin here (I edit this newsletter every week!) to gush over Yasmin Fahr’s salmon and couscous salad with cucumber-feta dressing. It’s bullish on herbs and tastes like summer on a plate. No matter how long you bake your skin-on filets (commenters favor 8–9 minutes at 400°F versus the suggested 18), layer aluminum foil over your sheet pan for easier cleanup. 
• If you’re disappointed in your homemade cup of Joe, it’s probably because you’re making one of these three common brewing mistakes. Time for this gal to ditch the cheap coffee grinder. 
• Fun to be able to plan group trips again, not so fun when your friends have Michelin-star taste and you’re on a diners, drive-ins, and dives budget. Read financial experts’ tips for setting spending expectations with your travel copilots. 
• Prepare to love these Pride month book picks. I’m just out here making your summer reading list longer, one Sidekick edition at a time. 

Exploring new skills for the sake of personal growth

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My Grandma Harriet used to say that mini bridge and canasta would teach me life skills, and as always, she was right. In the game of life, you gotta risk it to get the biscuit. And I’m here to add poker to the list. 

In the most recent episode of The Cut podcast, pro poker player Melanie Weisner explained how Texas Hold ’Em is a heavy-handed metaphor for life. At every table, there’s a winner and “losers,” but every loss is a learning opportunity. 

And when you fold (forfeit the pot), Melanie said there’s an upside: You’re preserving the opportunity to win, just like how you’re saving your personal bandwidth when you walk away from a toxic relationship or a job that’s not for you. The more you play, the more you realize what opportunities are worth sticking around for and what’s a waste of time. 

If you’re ready to bet the pot, check out Morning Brew’s poker hub to get started. And a few fave poker Twitter follows: Maria Ho, Phil Galfond, and Joey Ingram. 

Fuel up for a big summer.

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The plus? You get free delivery from your store (including groceries—same day if ya need) when you spend at least 35 bucks.

And you get members-only prices on fuel.

And you get to brag to your friends that you’re a member of a v cool, v practically beneficial club.

Join for $12.95/month or $98/year right here.

Products that just make life better

Soft Services

• A new addition to my shower lineup: Soft Services’ Buffing Bar. It’s a handheld body exfoliator that helps with any rough patches and bumps on your skin (also known as keratosis pilaris), and it makes my bathroom feel as close to a spa as possible. 
• Ryan, the Brew’s personal finance writer, dropping by to rec Modern Mammals’ shampoo alternative—or “no poo,” some call it. I put aside the regular shampoo—poo?—to see if some natural stuff would temper my eczema. A week later, my scalp feels great, and my hair doesn't feel greasy, even after daily cardio workouts (OK, I skipped one day). 
• As for body wash, I’m currently using Native’s cucumber and mint formula. I love that it’s sulfate- and paraben-free, and how sudsy it gets (even without a loofah). The refreshing scent makes me feel like I’m sipping fruit-infused water on vacation.