OG Tuesday Issue #266

🥺 Why being “too sensitive” is actually your superpower.

🛑 Block pop-ups and ads before they ever reach your screen.

📝 Hiring? Make it easier on yourself.

🎁 What top companies use to keep teams motivated.

You know the feeling.

The dread that creeps in every Sunday night. The pit in your stomach when you open your laptop. The quiet thought you keep pushing down: I hate this job.

Yet you stay.

Because leaving feels scarier than staying, and that little voice whispers, what if I don’t find something better?

But here’s the reframe that changes everything:

What if you’re not avoiding risk…you’re avoiding opportunity?

Instead of asking, “What if I don’t find a better job?” ask, “What if I’m missing one right now?”

That’s the real opportunity cost: joy, growth, mental space, and peace of mind. Every week you stay stuck, someone else is interviewing for the role that could have been yours.

Research shows that staying in a job you hate can seriously affect your health.

Build the Courage (and the Plan)

• Start small. Update your resume, refresh your LinkedIn, and explore what’s out there. Having options makes leaving less terrifying.

• Build a buffer. If you can, save enough to cover 3–6 months of expenses. A little financial freedom = big emotional relief.

• Borrow courage. Talk to people who’ve left toxic jobs. Most will tell you their only regret was waiting too long.

• Set a deadline. Give yourself a timeline to act. Without it, “someday” can stretch on forever.

• Detach your worth. One woman who finally quit said, “A career does not define you. A job comes and goes, but your mental health stays with you forever.”

• Trust your gut. If something feels off, that feeling is data. Listen to it.

You’re not quitting on your career; you’re protecting your well-being, your energy, and your future.

So the real question isn’t “what if I leave?”

It’s “what if I stay?”

What We Actually Use to Keep Our Sh*t Together

We’ve tested a lot of project management platforms, but monday.com is the one we keep coming back to. It’s flexible without being overwhelming, visual without being chaotic, and customizable in a way that actually supports how modern teams work.

At The Assist, we use it as our central hub—from first brainstorm to final deliverable. Our editorial workflow lives entirely in monday.com: we kick off with a shared board for content ideas, tag teammates to build outlines, assign deadlines, and move each piece through custom statuses like “drafting,” “under review,” and “ready to schedule.” Everyone knows what’s happening, who’s responsible, and what’s coming next.

It’s also how we track campaign launches, sponsor deadlines, cross-functional planning, and internal OKRs. We use automations to send nudges, switch owners, and update timelines so nothing falls through the cracks. Plus, views like timeline, Kanban, and calendar let us toggle between the big picture and daily priorities.

It’s the reason we rarely ask “who’s doing what” anymore—, why we’re getting more done with less stress.

We pulled together a guide based on our real-life setup—brainstorms, deadlines, deliverables, and all—so you can skip the trial-and-error and get your team up and running fast.

“My biggest challenge right now is returning to work after maternity leave. I’m trying to figure out how to balance my role, my energy, and being present for my new baby.” — Olivia Hrynko

Returning to work after maternity leave is one of the toughest transitions new mothers face. You’re navigating sleep deprivation, physical recovery, emotional adjustment, and now the demands of your job.

Here’s how to manage your role, conserve your energy, and stay mentally present:

Plant Yourself Where Your Feet Are

You can’t be in two places at once (even though your brain’s trying).

When your mind wanders (baby during meetings, work during bedtime), use a grounding reset. Try the 5-4-3-2-1 method: notice five things you see, four you touch, three you hear, two you smell, one you taste.

If that feels too extra, even pressing your feet into the floor and taking three slow breaths can calm your nervous system and bring you back to now.

Keep a “brain dump” list handy for all the things bouncing around in your head. Writing them down frees up space to actually think again.

Get Caught Up Through Communication

Trying to quietly figure everything out on your own will leave you overwhelmed. Lean into transparency about where you are in the catch-up process.

Create a document or questionnaire to gather updates asynchronously. Ask targeted questions like “What should I know moving forward?” and “What projects or urgent tasks are needed from me in the next 90 days?”

Credit: Google AI Summary

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“’If you want to walk fast, walk alone; if you want to walk far, walk together.’ It is an African proverb, but very much applicable to professional life.” — Elizabeth Z. (Legal Officer)

Elizabeth Z., Legal Officer

💪 Creatine chews are giving strength gains without the chalky scoop situation.

🥣 These mixing bowls with lids are pretty enough to serve in and practical enough to stack.

☕️ Level up your coffee setup with this sleek syrup dispenser for café vibes at home.

💧 Plump, hydrate, and glow with this cult-favorite K-beauty serum packed with hyaluronic acid.

• The Planet Group is hiring for an Administrative Assistant (Boston, MA).
• Borries USA, Inc. is hiring for an AI EM Marketing Specialist (Sunnyvale, CA).
• Quad is hiring for an Accounting Associate (Sussex, WI).
• Pinnacle Advertising is hiring for a Paid Search Specialist (Schaumburg, IL).
• Buckingham Search is hiring for a Manager Capital Market (Chicago, IL).

⭐️ Answer to the riddle.

👉 See all of October’s OG Tuesday Riddles.

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