Morning Brew - 💻 MVD

Working through what feels like the end of the world has left most of us feeling burnt out and exhausted.

There’s the terrifying effects of climate change, increasing instances of gun violence, and of course the raging pandemic.

But, just as we were starting to lose hope, in strolls the MVD, or Minimum Viable Day. The concept of the MVD is simple: On workdays when you’re feeling particularly blah, aim to only get your most important tasks done (think, answering emails from your boss and attending meetings) and save any less important tasks for tomorrow...or the day after that. 

The term was coined by product director Rebecca Pendleton (who got the concept from her boyfriend), and she wrote the guide to creating your own MVD adventure. Some essentials:

• Prioritize what’s time-sensitive, and postpone the rest. Taking an MVD doesn’t mean half-assing your work for the day. It’s identifying exactly what you will and won’t be accomplishing.
• Judge the success of your day by a different standard. Once you make your way through your to-do list, celebrate simply getting to 5pm. 
• Think about why you need to have the MVD in the first place. Has it been a while since you took any PTO? Have you been working overtime and then some lately? These are both valid reasons why you might be feeling more exhausted and are good signs that it may be time to make some lifestyle changes.

As Pendleton writes: “The MVD is not a replacement for proper time off. Rather, it’s a remedy for when you wake up feeling blah and a bit anxious and need a bit of an energy top-up to get you through the week.” 

Everyone deserves “back-to-school” supplies. Some of our favorites: 

• Keep track of your syllabus, homework assignments, and other paper clutter accordion style.
• The university library might not be open for late-night group study sessions, but hours is. (Maliah here, and I also love using hours for working remotely with friends.)
• Join the pen-loving elite (it’s a growing community) and get a pack of refillable Pilot G2 gel pens.
• These aren’t just any highlighters, they’re cool (and colorful) highlighters.
• Learn how to use the MacBook Air your parents got you for graduation with genius tips from TikToker @mac_hacks.

Read: In Own Your Morning (out tomorrow!), Liz Baker Plosser, editor-in-chief of Women’s Health, shares how to start your day strong. Thankfully, her advice doesn’t involve a 5 am. wakeup call. 

Listen: Inspired by Samson the Goldendoodle, we’re channeling cottagecore vibes and hitting shuffle on this “Autumnal Jazz” playlist. 

Watch: Turns out, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows with Bob Ross. A new Netflix doc reveals that underneath his signature hair and confident brushstrokes, there’s betrayal! Greed! All by family members who are accused of exploiting his name.

Time to watch out for something new. 

Zodiac’s new collection of Swiss-made Limited Edition watches are reimagined from their 1970s archive, and they’re perfect for jetting off to a brand-new part of the world. Bali, sounds nice tbh.

And the timing is no coincidence: Zodiac’s designers decided to bring these watches back this year as the perfect accessory for indulging in all of our built-up wanderlust. 

These righteous wrist treasures have impeccable functionality, with universal GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) movements inside. The watches in Zodiac’s collection even have special bezels which display 24 time zones represented by cities around the globe. Which basically means you’re a time traveler.

Check out Zodiac’s new collection of classic timepieces.

Checked off everything on your school supplies list? Now, shop these back-to-school lunch ideas. 

• “Cool beans” is more than a catchphrase. It’s also a plant-based lunch, ready in just three minutes. The gluten-free frozen wraps come in lively flavors like tikka masala and spicy chipotle...if you can handle the heat.
• All you need to enjoy PB&J guilt-free as a grownup is strawberry chia smash jam. 
• If you’re sick of tuna salad, try chickpea salad. Even kids will heart it. 
• The highlight of any brown bag lunch: a homemade Fruit Roll-Up. 
• Toss the week’s leftovers in beeswax food wraps. They come in bee-utiful patterns and keep food fresh, all while reducing single-use plastic.