#ThirstyThursday Issue #235

The Assist Newsletter
May 13, 2026
An illustration of a woman lounging on a couch with a cup of coffee beside a vacuum, with text that reads, “My vacuum and I are taking a break.”

Click the image for the punchline 👆.

Today’s Checklist:

  • 10 prompts that work like a free coaching session
  • The new content strategy in the age of AI
  • Rewire your brain with these affirmations
  • Small outfit tweaks that make any look feel intentional

QUICK LINKS

🛠️ These platforms make people ops faster without adding to HR’s plate.

💻 Taking freelancing seriously this year? This one tool makes it easier.

⏳ Time blocking, explained: how to actually protect your calendar.

💰 A five-step guide to building a sales funnel that actually converts.

PRODUCTIVITY

Text reads, “These 5 AI prompts feel almost illegal… but they work,” over a woman speaking inside a car, with additional caption text about ChatGPT prompts. A play button overlay indicates a video.

10 Prompts That Turn Vague Goals Into a Real Plan

 

Takeaways:

  • Use AI to build execution plans. Try “Create a step-by-step strategy for [goal], including timeline, key actions, and mistakes to avoid” to turn vague goals into clear next steps.
  • Extract value fast instead of consuming everything. Prompts like “Summarize [book] into 5 actionable lessons for my business” help you learn and apply without getting stuck in research mode.
  • Use AI to sharpen high-stakes communication. Ask “Help me craft a negotiation message for [raise, deal, discount] with clear reasoning and tone” so you show up more prepared and confident.

Hear all of them on IG.

GRAD GIFT

Three Apple gift cards with different colorful Apple logos are displayed against a soft blue-to-green gradient background. The text “Apple Gift Card” appears above the cards.

A Graduation Gift Should Still Be Worth Something in September

 

Some gifts celebrate the moment. The best ones are still pulling their weight even months later.

When a grad is setting up their first apartment, starting a new job, or figuring out a routine that looks nothing like the one they had last year, they don’t need another decorative item. They need options.

Apple Gift Card covers the practical and the fun: iCloud storage when their phone fills up, Apple Music for the commute that’s about to become their life, apps that help them stay organized, Apple TV for the nights they finally get to sit down, Apple Arcade for the breaks in between. Products and accessories, too, plus third-party subscriptions.

Available from $15 to $200 in physical and digital formats.

👉 Click here to find the perfect graduation gift.

MARKETING

A comparison chart titled “The ‘New’ AI Content Strategy” outlines what gets cited by AI in 2026 versus what good content teams have always done, emphasizing originality, expertise, depth, and audience understanding.

The New Content Strategy In The Age Of AI

 

Takeaways:

  • Double down on depth and original thinking. Create content with real insights, like original data or firsthand experience, so it’s actually worth being cited instead of skimmed.
  • Align your content to real user intent instead of keywords. Answer specific questions clearly and structure content so it’s genuinely useful, not just optimized to rank.
  • If your content isn’t landing, the fix is fundamentals. Know your audience, speak from experience, solve a real problem.

Read about it on LinkedIn.

MINDSET

Text reads, “5 affirmations neuroscientists say rewire the brain the fastest,” over a close-up of a woman speaking, with a play button overlay indicating a video.

5 Affirmations to Rewire How Your Brain Thinks

 

Takeaways:

  • Choose affirmations your brain can actually believe. Swap extreme statements like “I’m the most confident person on earth” for grounded ones like “I am becoming someone who trusts herself.”
  • The phrasing that sticks reinforces the identity you want. “I am the kind of person who follows through” or “I can learn what I need to succeed” shapes how you act over time.
  • Pair repetition with emotion and small actions to make it stick. Say it consistently, feel it, and back it with behavior so the identity becomes real.

Hear all 5 affirmations on FB.

TEAM APPRECIATION

Illustration of five coworkers gathered around a table looking at a gift box filled with snacks and treats, suggesting employee appreciation, team bonding, or a workplace celebration.

The Snack Delivery 5,137 Companies Switched To

 

If your office snack drawer is still giving “forgotten granola bar from 2020,” your team has definitely noticed.

Simpalo delivers better-for-you snacks and fresh fruit curated by people who are professionally obsessed with finding options that actually taste good. More than 5,137 companies use Simpalo to treat their teams, with 500,000+ employees enjoying the snacks on the other end.

Why teams love it:

  • Better-for-you snack boxes plus fresh fruit delivery: real options, not vending-machine castoffs.
  • Pre-curated, fully custom, or team-choice: pick the level of effort that fits the office.
  • Flexible delivery cadence: one-time, monthly, or whatever rhythm works.
  • A personal message included with every box: the small touch that lands.

Plus, Simpalo is offering new customers an Amazon gift card of up to $200 when they try a box. The exact amount depends on the order.

👉 See the snacks, pricing, and gift card offer.

FASHION

A woman stands in front of an open closet adjusting her sleeves, with text that reads, “Small tweaks = big upgrade,” suggesting style tips. A play button overlay indicates a video.

Small Outfit Tweaks That Make Any Look Feel Intentional

 

Takeaways:

  • Finish the outfit so nothing feels accidental. Adjust small details like sleeves, collars, belts, and shoes so the look feels intentional from head to toe.
  • Proportions are the fast lane to a put-together look. Balance volume and fit, like a structured top with looser bottoms (or vice versa), so the outfit reads considered.
  • Add one intentional detail to finish the look. A belt, jewelry, or a clean shoe choice signals the outfit was thought through.

Watch the outfit tweaks on IG.

STAFF PICKS

Stuff We’re Loving This Week

 

🗓️ Free event on May 19: Learn how to rebuild a company with AI DNA. Register for your free spot.

✨ Got a pimple? These patches do their work overnight so you wake up to calmer skin.

🏋️ Add a little burn to walks and workouts with ankle weights.

🌀 This curl-define detangler brush makes wash day gentler on knots and your scalp.

JUST FOR FUN

Text reads, “Boss: What can I do to support you at work? Me:” over a reaction shot of a woman in an office setting, with a play button overlay indicating a humorous video.

COMMUNITY

📆 Upcoming Events

Smart Girl Society is our private community for women who want deeper conversations, accountability, and tools that actually make life easier. Join the waitlist to get in the next round.

💼 Browse our job board here.

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