What I Read in June 2020
Another solid month of reading for me! With starting to see my friends a bit more, it wasn't quite as high as April and May's tally of twelve books each, but I still managed to read eight books this month, or two per week. That brings me to 53 books read this year, which is 3 books ahead of where I need to be to hit 100 books in 2020. I think this is the first year I've ever been ahead at the halfway point! I feel good about keeping the momentum up, though - the more I read, the more I crave time to read, so I've been trying to carve that out for myself as a hobby I thoroughly enjoy. 5 stars: Tiny Imperfections, by Alli Frank, Asha Youmans: Loved this light novel, and appreciated that it's by a black author and touches a bit on race and privilege. For those who love women's fiction to get a break from everything going on right now, this is a nice compromise to give you an easy read that still makes you think a bit. 4 stars: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, by Suzanne Collins: This came out so long after I read the original Hunger Games series that it was hard to remember some of the connections (was Lucy mentioned in the original Hunger Games? I couldn't recall). … [Continue reading]
Links I Love: July 5, 2020
Want to stay in bed longer? Here’s what I’ve been loving, laughing at, and getting intrigued by all week long. Now cozy up with your laptop/tablet and enjoy :) CAREER / BUSINESS The Amazon Effect Is Making Customer Service Reps’ Lives Hell. (Medium) On Running an Office Like a Factory. (Cal Newport) In the Covid-19 Economy, You Can Have a Kid or a Job. You Can’t Have Both.. (New York Times) Our Ghost-Kitchen Future. (New Yorker) France Has Millions of Unsold Face Masks After Virus Crisis. (US News) The new corporate swag: Branded masks, sanitizer spray bottles and Zoom vanity light rings. (Washington Post) Malls Are Following Online Stores' Lead With Virtual Sizing Experiences. (Morning Brew) A Pause for Influencer Marketing. (Morning Brew) How the Roomba Became the Pandemic’s Unlikeliest Winner. (Medium) E-Bikes Are Having Their Moment. They Deserve It.. (New York Times) PRODUCTIVITY / SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY Break the Monotony to Spark Inspiration. (Evernote) Why Google Sheets Should Be Your To-Do List. (Zapier) I have done this for years and love my system! 4 time-saving Gmail settings you didn't know you needed. (Zapier) Floyd, … [Continue reading]
Weekend Recap: Not Alone but Lonely
This was supposed to be a social and fun weekend, but I ended up feeling pretty isolated and alone :( My Friday kicked off in a weird way. On Tuesday, I woke up with my left eye really puffy and swollen - but not at all red or itchy. To be honest, I kind of ignored it for a few days, thinking it would go away on its own, but by Thursday evening, when it was still as swollen as ever, I realized I needed to address it before the weekend. My optometrist opened at 7am on Friday (amazing?!), so I went for my morning run, then gave them a call before I headed down to my gym to do some strength training. They asked if I could come in immediately, so I skipped the rest of my workout in favor of the doctor. The verdict? A stye - I'd need to treat it with antibiotics and wear glasses for ten days, and that should clear it up. I wasn't thrilled about not being able to wear my contacts, but it was good news that it wasn't serious! I was really glad I had taken care of it before the weekend. My day progressed fairly uneventfully; I knocked out my morning meetings, then drove up to the mountains in between conference calls. (Well, in between video calls; I also took a few phone calls on … [Continue reading]
Links I Love: June 28, 2020
Want to stay in bed longer? Here’s what I’ve been loving, laughing at, and getting intrigued by all week long. Now cozy up with your laptop/tablet and enjoy :) CAREER / BUSINESS Rising Seas Threaten an American Institution: The 30-Year Mortgage. (New York Times) C.D.C. Recommends Sweeping Changes to American Offices. (New York Times) The End of the Girlboss Is Here. (Medium) Hey brands, this is why your customers are unfollowing you. (Fast Company) Not So Vain: C.A.R.L.Y.s Love Crocs, Memes and Social Justice. (GQ) Fireworks Before the Fourth: Conspiracies, Revenues, and More. (Morning Brew) PRODUCTIVITY / SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY How Switching to Remote Work Can Double a Worker’s Effective Hourly Rate. (Danielle Morrill) Instead of Finding the Perfect Work Setup, Try Moving Around. (Lifehacker) Finding a Balance Between Solitude and Loneliness. (New York Times) Oof, not easy... I am struggling with this. The key to be more impressive...Stop trying. (Patty Azzarello) How to Know if You're an Overachiever. (Lifehacker) This sounds pretty straightforward, but there were some good insights in here. With COVID-19, I've had to rethink my coping … [Continue reading]
