Morning Brew - 📺 Productivity-tainment

Welcome back, Sidekick readers. Today we’re bringing you this mesmerizing Maui sunset pic—not to make you jealous, but as a reminder to take some PTO before the end of the summer. It may not be a Hawaii trip, but at least a few screen-free days. 

— Rachel Cantor 

“I want whatever the people who run at 6am have.” I read that on Twitter and thought, saaaame. I keep coming back to it—partly because, yes, I would love to be this type of person, but I’m also fascinated by hustle culture and what I call productivity-tainment—videos of people color-coding study guides, creating elaborate bullet journal spreads, or sharing their 10-step morning routine. A recent Vox article dove into this whole corner of the internet—populated by people like Miss Excel, who dances to “Wannabe” while showing you how to use Excel’s super calculator, and “study with me” YouTube channels.

These videos are fun and addictive to watch, especially if you’re a Type A person (raises hand). They’re almost self-soothing, like ASMR, but they’re also the most idealized versions of people’s lives. You don’t get the full picture. We’re not seeing the day they slept through their alarm or wore their shirt inside out by accident. 

Productivity-tainment “thrives on the concept of aspirational labor, where the right combination of gadgets, manifestation, and rise-and-grind chutzpah can catapult anyone into the career of their dreams,” writes Vox’s Beatrice Forman. But no Gelly Roll pen, Kanban board, or motivational water bottle will transform you into a productive human being. They’re tools, but they’re almost like eating candy and expecting it to cure your diabetes...when what we really need is medicine (equitable pay, decent PTO, and less screen time). 

Forman puts it like this, “The right mixture of these tips can make us more organized and focused, but the outcome isn’t always a better work-life balance or a more structured morning routine. It’s the gamification of labor.”

• Before you close the lid on your Weber (or Big Green Egg, if you’re lucky enough to have one), bookmark our Sidekick Special on how to grill like a pro.
• While we’re on the topic of grilling, a friendly reminder that charring fruit is a thing and it’s delicious. Skip the Via Carota green salad and try out this Grilled Halloumi and Cherry Salad. It’s filling and simultaneously salty and sweet. 
• There was the summer of “Closer” by The Chainsmokers, and the summer of Dua Lipa, but now what? Pitchfork took a look at all the contenders for this summer’s #1 bop.
• The TL;DR on why Gen Zers don’t use question marks. Rule of thumb: Steer clear of the deathly “k.”
• Some of the best artists are copiers. Add Dave Grohl, drummer for Nirvana, to that list. Watch him reveal his inspo for their iconic album Nevermind to Pharrell. 

There are two types of people who have emerged from the pandemic: those who’ve embraced the digital nomad lifestyle, and those who’ve invested time, money, and energy into making their space feel like their own. If you’re in the latter camp, Carmeon Hamilton, recent winner of HGTV Design Star: Next Gen, stopped by Domino’s podcast, Design Time, to chat about how to make your rental space feel like a forever home (not including painting the walls!). 

Hamilton is all about creating spaces that reflect who you are, how you live, and what makes you feel good. Today, we’re sharing a few of her tips: 

• Bring the outside inside, and incorporate plants into your space. Her fave green friends: Pothos, ZZ plants, or snake plants. 
• If you can’t poke holes in your wall or layer on a fresh coat of paint, consider temporary wallpaper, even if it’s just for your bathroom, kitchen, or closet. Rec: Chasing Paper. 
• Always incorporate something old into your space. Hamilton says, “You want to give a space a sense of time. Having everything look brand new sometimes can look a little fake.”  

She often looks to boutique hotels for inspo. “If you’re ready to escape to these places, why not allow [them] to be your everyday spaces?” And if you want to score her Facebook Marketplace tips or learn more about her upcoming HGTV show, tune in to the rest of the pod. 

You can put all your eggs in one basket…

And your avocadoes. And your dish soap. And that lipstick you’ve been eyeing. 

With Walmart+ you can put an enormous assortment of items in your basket and receive free same-day* and two-day shipping with no order minimum. It’s the membership that saves you time and money. 

Walmart+ also gives you member prices on fuel, which means you can fill up your tank without emptying your bank account.

So whoever said not to put all your eggs in one place...now has egg on their face. 

Start filling your basket with a 15-day free trial of Walmart+ today. 

• We all have that friend who’s way too obsessed with their pup (or hey, maybe that’s you). If so, I stan West & Willow’s custom pet portraits. Their customer service team is super friendly and helps you pick out the best angle for your furry friend, so they can feel like a celeb in their own designated corner of your home.
• Devin, Morning Brew’s managing editor of lifestyle (and editor of this newsletter!), stopping by to rec Stella & Chewy's Super Beef Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food Toppers. I randomly ordered them for my puppy Molly as an experiment, when I could tell she was feeling meh about her kibble at the time. Now when I retrieve a bag of these from the pantry, she goes nuts. They've outperformed all wet food, dry food, and treats during her lil taste testing phase.
• Ryan, the Brew’s personal finance writer, saying “Hi” and sharing a fave pet purchase. My dog, Rusty, loves to plop down on the sidewalk when he overheats, and only one word, "water," will get him back on his four paws. This Lesotc doggy water bottle, fashioned with a strap that attaches to a leash, features a foldable silicone bowl, and the locking mechanism keeps water from spilling as we walk.