Morning Brew - 🚀 The digital dash

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

🖊 If you still love taking notes on good old-fashioned paper, take it to the next level with the Echo 2 smartpen, which records everything you hear, say, and write. It sounds like a spy gadget, but that just makes it cooler.

Wouldn’t it be a miracle if you could reach inbox zero? Sort through your email clutter and read the ones that actually matter (like ours ) with Spark Mail.

If you’re losing the battle against procrastination and need to get creative, these subreddit communities might just be the cure.

A head start on your hustle.

Today’s side hustle: Creating and selling digital organization products

Compensation: Varies widely

Skills needed: Graphic design knowledge, marketing, familiarity with social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest

Got graphic design skills? Make extra cash by creating digital organization products (think resume, cover letter, or planner templates). This low-maintenance side hustle requires little to no equipment or experience to get started. We spoke with two digital product experts, Molly Ho and Christina Scalera, to learn the ins and outs.

• First steps: Ho said that ebooks, templates, and planners perform well. Scalera recommends creating products based on what your customers need to get a job or organize their calendars better.
• Subject matter: If you’re not sure what to make, consider starting with your own expertise. If you’re an especially organized person (we’re jealous), try creating digital planners or goal templates. As for ebooks, the sky’s the limit: Cookbooks, how-to guides, and interactive workbooks are all popular on sites like Etsy and Creative Market.
• Building your toolkit: “I create all my digital products in Google Docs. This surprises a lot of people! It’s great because Google Docs are free," Scalera said. Ho recommends programs like Gumroad, Payhip, MoonClerk, Notion, Canva, and Trello to help with everything from product creation to project management.
• Finding the right platform: “Squarespace is my go-to for beginners, and Shopify is what I run my shop on…but it has more of a learning curve,” Scalera said. Ho told Sidekick that “marketplaces like Etsy and Creative Market…have their own customer base and foot traffic.”
• Getting noticed: Both experts suggest having patience while you build a loyal customer base. Ho prefers using “email marketing, blogging, Pinterest, and Instagram,” while Scalera loves TikTok for a strong organic reach to customers.—MW

Tech tips and tricks.

When it comes to setting schedule boundaries, this corporate baddie has the right idea: After 5 PM, consider us dead.

Clear up any confusion about when and where your colleagues can find you by making your virtual and in-person work hours visible on your shared communications platforms. On Google Calendar, go to Settings and select the Working hours and Location menu. Set your main work location in the dropdown menu, and Enable both working hours and location. Alter your schedule as needed.

BTW, this works on Slack and Outlook, too. In Slack, click Preferences > Notifications, and scroll down to the Notifications Schedule to change your hours. In Outlook’s calendar, click Preferences (for Mac) > Calendar and select Work Schedule.—SS

Burning questions of our time.

Your thoughts on whether the hybrid work model is effective:

I hope to never return to a full-time office schedule. It leads to burnout more quickly…Being fully remote allows for the most flexibility, but there's sometimes loneliness from being in a solo setting all day. Hybrid schedules provide the best of both worlds.—Andrew

My commute is 40 minutes one way. When WFH, I spend most of that extra time being productive. I also value uninterrupted work time at home vs. sitting at my desk in a huge open space at the office. It’s unfortunate that the old butts-in-seats mentality still permeates most of corporate culture.—Austin

The fixed schedule debate

Hoot! Hoot! This one’s for the night owls. The flexibility of remote work and the convergence of home and work life have led many workers to punch in for a third productivity peak in the evening. While the changes mean sometimes teams work at scattered times and are not always in alignment, many say it’s more in line with their biological clocks. Should companies eliminate fixed work hours? Reply to this email with your thoughts.—SS

Your punch list for when you punch out.

Read: Pop sensation-turned-mogul Rihanna graces the May cover of Vogue and spills on her head-turning maternity style and how she plans to run her multi-business empire after having her baby.

Watch: Tune into the latest psychological thriller to hit HBO, The Night House, which follows one woman as she starts to discover disturbing information about her recently deceased husband.

Shop: Need a midweek morale boost? Money with Katie just dropped new merch with #Rich Girl energy like you’ve never seen before. Shop the collection now.

Buckle up. The Business Wars podcast is about to take you on a wild ride through the biggest rivalries in business. Wanna know what really went down between Marvel and DC, or Nike and Adidas? Find out on Business Wars.*

^{*This is sponsored advertising content.}