Morning Brew - 🤹‍♀️ A balancing act

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

If you love the feeling of jotting notes on paper, but like the perks of storing documents digitally, check out the reMarkable 2 tablet, which combines both, so you won’t have to choose.

Consolidate your files and avoid the hassle of locating images with screenshot-stitching app Tailor. It’ll efficiently store text conversations, comment threads, and leaderboard updates without flooding Google Drive with files.

Feeling disorganized and discouraged? YouTube creator Ali Abdaal’s productivity system has a tool for every need—communication, file management, and more.

“I’m going to be working probably till the day I die, because I love it.”

Jo Franco is a writer, traveler, polyglot, and host of Netflix’s The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals. She’s gone from undocumented immigrant to global influencer, making content across YouTube, Instagram, and beyond. She currently hosts the Not Your Average Jo podcast and a worldwide journaling group called JoClub, all while navigating the globe.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Morning rituals: “It depends where I am. But I’m big on trying to avoid my phone as much as possible. I love starting my day with podcasts…I’ve worked remotely and from home for the last decade, so I’ve had to trick my mind into getting into productive mode versus chill mode.”

Refocusing: “What’s cool about being a creator [is that] you have so many different sides of your business, you could always do something productive, even if it means, ‘Okay, today I’m going to organize playlists, or I’m going to create new highlight covers for Instagram.’ You could always find tasks that are less hardcore, and still be doing something productive.”

On the road: “I’m pretty hardcore with my routine…[among] the few things I consistently do, I always maintain my relationships. I’m always responding to text messages from friends and family. Number two, I always write no matter where I am; a huge routine I have is either going to a coffee shop or a wine bar and writing. I love that not only is that a routine of mine, but it’s a part of how I experience travel. And the third thing is just looking for a coworking space, to be honest. What a lot of people don’t realize when you’re a content creator in the travel space is that you still have to make the content.”

In her toolkit: “A good tip for somebody who’s working in different time zones is World Time Buddy. It’s a website and also an app…it gives you the breakdown if you’re scheduling meetings in five time zones.”

On goals: “After the show launched, I was kind of sitting in my office wondering what’s next. And it felt scary. I felt this void, because for ten years I’ve been building to get the thing, and then I got the thing. And then I’m like, ‘Okay, what do I do now?’...Once you accomplish these goals, you realize that’s not the end of it. That’s just a checkpoint.”

Engagement: “One thing I know to be sure is that you don’t need the most views to make a really good living…I would rather have a smaller amount of people watching but highly engaged, than have a channel or post blow up and no one’s connecting to me…I’ve been doing this for long enough to know that that [the numbers] are not the measure of success. If you’re really putting your heart into it, it will grow over time…because chasing the numbers, it’s not sustainable.”

Seasons of life: “On the Netflix show, it was the first time in ten years that I put the work in up front. No one knew what I was doing for a year and a half. And then all of a sudden, it’s huge promotion, a huge surge in everything, because all the work I had done for a year and a half finally showed its face on Netflix. And then the wave came and went…And then again [with] season two. I realized, ‘Oh, this is cyclical, it’s seasonal.’ And the same way it came, it’ll go, but it’ll come again, and trusting that process and not being so scared that if you go off the grid for three months that that’s the end of your career, because it’s not.”—MW

Your punch list for when you punch out.

Read: Beloved TikToker and creator of the popular phrase “Met Gala behavior” Devin Halbal talks about the realities of being trans in a world that expects perfection, and brands stealing her voice and likeness, in this recent Paper Magazine feature.

Listen: In this episode of Hidden Brain, host Shankar Vedantam talks with psychologist Harry Reis about the secret key to building relationships that can withstand the test of time.

Drink: This agua de sandia recipe is an easy go-to for those extra-humid summer days. Enjoy it with or without the alcohol, and add an extra kick by lining the rim of your glass with Tajín.

Subscribe: Hit your financial freedom goals with The Brew’s personal finance newsletter, Money Scoop. We’ve got you covered for all things taxes, budgets, and more. Sign up here.

Navigating your work life: In As We Work, the latest podcast from The Wall Street Journal, host Tess Vigeland discusses how changes to the world of work are affecting our relationships, finances, work-life balance, and more. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.*

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Burning questions of our time.

Your thoughts on the dilemma of multiple offers:

I tend to advise candidates: How would you feel if a company extended an offer to you, you resign, and a week later the company reaches out to say, “Actually, we found another candidate who we think is a better fit, so we’re going to rescind the offer”? I imagine you would not be happy! Do not accept an offer solely based on the financial package. Make sure you’re comfortable with the company, the environment, and most of all, the people you’ll be working with day to day before accepting an offer.—Cathy

Recently I interviewed for and was offered two positions. Both were jobs that were really appealing, so it was a tough decision. The one I wanted more came about a week after the first option. I accepted the first one, just in case I was not offered the second job. After I also accepted the second job, I reached out to the first one, taking away my acceptance. The hiring manager was very kind in her response and wished me the best. There were no hard feelings at all. I think it’s completely okay to take away your acceptance—our career decisions are so important that sometimes we need to do things that may seem “selfish.”—Bridget

Fair warning or TMI?

After working for some time at a company, deciding to leave a job can cause anxiety. If you have a good relationship with your boss or colleagues, you may feel guilty about possibly inconveniencing them upon your departure, or putting them in a pinch to find a replacement. Perhaps you’ve considered telling your supervisor you’re looking for a new job, in hopes it’ll ease the burden. But is giving months of notice really the right thing to do? Should you tell your employer you’re planning to leave, even before accepting another offer? Is two weeks’ notice enough time to notify your employer of your resignation? Hit Reply to share your thoughts!—SS