Weekender #224

💌 Work-appropriate Valentine’s ideas that are actually fun (and won’t make anyone cringe at their desk).

🧪 A major update: women can now test for HPV and cervical cancer at home.

📥 Turn Gmail into a surprisingly effective task manager.

📚 The best free and low-cost AI certifications to add to your resume this year.

I had the privilege of having the most intimate, raw, and authentic conversation with my friend who recently became a mother. She finished her three months of maternity leave and is back at her remote job, and in tears, she told me how hard postpartum is.

She told us over a couple of stiff drinks to “pick your husband well because this sh*t is hard and mine is awesome, and somehow he still annoys me for no reason.”

She’s doing all the right things. Therapy, long walks, eating well, socializing. But honestly? She opened my eyes to how long the list of symptoms is, and how chemical it all is. How much mothers need to be with their babies, and how broken family leave is in this country.

I’ve been privileged to have mom friends on various journeys: stay-at-home moms, part-time career moms, full-time career moms. But it didn’t occur to me how hard it actually is and when postpartum hits, how important it is to have support.

Luckily, my friend felt comfortable and confident enough to share with me, and I took it to heart. I asked her, “How can I better support you? How can I be helpful in your life?”

And she said, “This. Just spending time together and doing fun things.”

That’s it. Not advice. Not solutions. Just showing up.

As a single woman, it reiterated to me how important picking a solid partner is and how happy I am for her that her husband is awesome and supportive.

She’s exquisite and is doing motherhood so amazingly. I admire her so much. She’s beautiful, social, independent, fun, loving, sweet, and kind.

But it also reminded me to check in on her more. Just a text to tell her she’s awesome. An invite to meet for a walk. Plans to meet for happy hour.

What you can do

If you have a friend who recently had a baby, send her a message to catch up. Ask her how she’s doing. Ask her if she’s experiencing any postpartum depression or any postpartum obstacles. Listen and let her share whatever she’s comfortable with.

Don’t wait for her to reach out. She’s exhausted. She’s overwhelmed. She might not even know what she needs.

Just show up. Send the text. Make the plans. Tell her she’s doing an amazing job, because she is, even when it doesn’t feel like it.

We’re all in this together

Being a woman is hard. It’s beautiful. And we’re all in it together.

Check in on your postpartum friends. They need you more than you realize.

Thania (TA Content Mgr)

HR platforms aren’t interchangeable. Each one is designed to solve a different kind of problem, depending on team size, structure, and stage of growth.

Here’s a quick breakdown of four popular options and what they’re best suited for.

🟢 BambooHR

Best for: Small to mid-sized teams who need a better handle on people ops

Solves: The “we’ve outgrown spreadsheets” moment

• Centralizes PTO tracking, employee data, and onboarding
• Simple, intuitive UI—great for first-time HR teams
• Add-ons for payroll, performance, and hiring when you’re ready to scale

🟣 HiBob

Best for: Culture-forward orgs and fast-scaling global teams

Solves: Visibility + engagement across time zones and teams

• Robust org charts, people analytics, and engagement tools
• Customizable workflows that flex with how your team operates
• Great for hybrid setups and global visibility

🔵 Patriot

Best for: Small businesses focused on affordability + payroll accuracy

Solves: The “we need reliable payroll without the bloat” problem

• Extremely budget-friendly and easy to set up
• US-based payroll, tax filing, and direct deposit
• Option to add time tracking and accounting tools

🟡 OnPay

Best for: Admins juggling payroll + HR without a full-time HR team

Solves: Payroll + benefits + onboarding all in one clean flow

• All-in-one dashboard for pay runs, compliance, and documents
• Includes built-in support for benefits, PTO, and hiring
• Easy for teams without dedicated HR staff to manage confidently

If you’re stuck in tool sprawl or still duct-taping your HR systems together, one of these might be your next (and last) platform shift.

📚 Read: How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang

Thirteen years after a tragic accident tied their lives together, bestselling author Helen Zhang and screenwriter Grant Shepard are forced to confront their shared past when they end up working on the same TV adaptation in Los Angeles. What unfolds is a layered, emotionally charged story about grief, ambition, unresolved love, and the complicated ways we try to outrun who we used to be. Tender, messy, and deeply human.

📺 Watch: 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way

The new season brings a mix of fresh faces and returning couples navigating love across borders, cultures, and time zones. Expect cheating scandals, emotional meltdowns, and relationship drama that’s equal parts frustrating and addictive.

🎧 Listen: Sleepy History Podcast

Perfect for anyone who struggles to fall asleep or has exhausted their true crime rotation. The stories are genuinely interesting but told in calm, soothing voices that gently quiet your brain. You might absorb something fascinating and drift off before the episode ends.

Mental health support shouldn’t feel like another thing you have to manage.

BetterHelp makes therapy easier to start and easier to sustain, even when your days are full. You begin with a short questionnaire, then get matched with a licensed therapist who aligns with your goals, often within 24 hours.

Sessions are flexible by phone, video, or live chat, and you can message your therapist between sessions. Care stays consistent without needing to rearrange your life around it.

People use BetterHelp to:

• Work through stress and burnout
• Navigate career or life changes
• Build healthier coping habits
• Get support without the friction of traditional scheduling

This is private, ongoing support designed to meet you where you are, not add pressure to “have it all together.”

Right now, TA readers can get 25% off their first month to make starting feel more accessible.

👉 Find your therapist and take the next step at your own pace.

Upcoming Events

• Thurs 2/12 @ 9AM PT: Dynamic Coaching (SGS Only* | Join the waitlist)
• Fri 2/20 @ 10AM PT: Automation Workshop (SGS Only* | Join the waitlist)

* 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.

🐶 Pet of the Week: Meet Remi

Remi is a sweet 9-year-old cavapom (Cavalier King Charles Pomeranian mix). Hates dog food, loves people food. He adores kids, loves being close to his humans, and is truly the best companion you could ever ask for.

Have more feedback? 💌 Reply to this email and tell us.

✨ P.S. Want more inspiration and positivity to kick off your week? Sign up for our Motivational Monday texts (U.S. only).