Morning Brew - 🪤 Don’t fall into this trap

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

• If you’ve ever hit a major goal and still found yourself unsatisfied, you need to read this.
• Show yourself some self-love with a guided workbook filled with research, writing exercises, and research-backed advice.
• Give your note-taking a digital upgrade using the Notability app, which allows users to create digital study guides, storyboards, diagrams, and more.

What’s top of mind at the watercooler.

While workers in Europe enjoy midday siestas, month-long summer vacations, and up to a year (or more!) of paid parental leave, Americans have become fixated on overworking themselves in the name of “success.” In a country where the wealthiest CEO claims that “nobody ever changed the world [working] 40 hours a week,” there is a clear expectation that people need to hustle and grind for up to 100 hours a week if they want to “make it.”

That all changed, though, with a long-standing pandemic that quickly drained the energy that once sustained people through long workdays and constant hustle. And as the pandemic continues to disrupt everything we once knew about work (and life), it has offered a golden opportunity for American workers to fight back against the toxic hustle culture that has us all feeling burned out and overwhelmed. We spoke with Dr. Kim Hollingdale, a psychotherapist and burnout expert, about not falling prey to hustle culture, while still building a strong and healthy career.

“It’s a common misperception that burnout is caused purely by being too busy—it’s actually far more complicated. Yes—we have to set firm boundaries with our work so we can have time to take great care of ourselves physically and mentally, but we also need to ensure that our work aligns with our core values, that we have a degree of control over the outcomes in our work,” Hollingdale explained to Sidekick.

If you’ve fallen victim to the grind and have finally hit a wall, all hope isn’t lost. Hollingdale shared three expert-approved steps for beating burnout for good:

• Avoid falling into old overworking patterns. “This is your chance to rewrite the norms of your working life,” Hollingdale said.
• Take control of your schedule, especially if you work remotely. This includes taking an actual lunch break, and prioritizing the things you enjoy doing after work hours are over.
• Instead of saying yes to everything, only agree to take on extra work that aligns with your interests and values. Taking on projects you won’t enjoy is an easy way to fast-track burnout.

Lastly, it’s important to remember that hustle culture and the burnout that typically accompanies it is not solely a you problem, but rather a reflection of your heavy workload and the unrealistic culture you work in. While it can be terrifying to set hard boundaries and to take time away from work, remember: No one does their best work when they’re not prioritizing themselves and their needs.

Your punch list for when you punch out.

Read: The journey to a better you begins within. Writer Rae Witte explores the process of developing a self-love practice in a recent ILY Mag article.

Play: Black Archives designed a trio of captivating puzzles that you’ll want to frame after completing.

Drink: Use the holiday as an excuse for whipping up a simple but festive strawberry cocktail on a Monday.

You can have it all. Want great beer without the day-after woozies? Athletic Brewing Company’s craft nonalcoholic beer gives you all the satisfying tastes you’re craving, no compromises necessary. Try their award-winning brews today.*

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Every early riser seems to share one similar trait: They want all late risers to know they get more done than we do. Sports columnist Jason Gay recently wrote about the joys (and cons) of joining the early bird club for The Wall Street Journal.

While early rising comes with a long list of pros, like increased productivity and not having to worry about emails and distractions, the cons, like going to sleep at 9pm every night (???), and hitting an early afternoon work slump, clearly exist. So, readers, does the early bird really get the worm, or is it possible to get work done at all times of the day? Respond to this email and let’s chat!

Getting close with your remote coworkers:

Katie: I landed a new job right at the start of the pandemic and was promptly sent home to do my work remotely. Fast forward [to] nearly 2 years later and I am still working from home. I have also relocated to another state. While it’s nice to have that flexibility to work anywhere, it is very isolating to not be able to see coworkers. Combine that with being in a new area where I don’t know anyone, [and] it’s just very lonely.

Drew: Having worked both completely remote and in a hybrid, office-optional format, I definitely miss the relationships when working solely from home. The quick smoothie trips at lunch, watching protests from the street through our windows, and decorating for office parties (which I do love) are things I sorely miss when working remotely. More work/life boundaries are rarely a bad thing, but in a time when it's hard to have and hang out with any friends in general, I'll take all the work friends I can get!