the sparkher 3/18

Hey Besties, welcome back!

WHAT’S INSIDE

• The daunting to-do’s

• ICYMI, brainfeed, and things to send to the group chat

• Upcoming events & deadlines

• Her hustle & coffee: Ariana Nathani @ Drinks First

LEVEL UP

Oh, the ever-growing, somewhat terrifying to-do list that stares back at me with more intensity than a caffeine-deprived barista on a Monday morning. It's that list which, ironically, seems to get longer the more I stare at it, hoping it might just complete itself if I give it enough disapproving glances. Yes, that list. It's the bane of my existence, sitting there, judging silently as I oscillate between wanting to conquer the world and just wanting to conquer the next episode of that binge-worthy show (current watch re-watch: Jane the Virgin).

Every now and then, getting caught in this low-energy phase is not just a part of life; it's a sign. A sign that maybe, just maybe, it's time to hit the pause button, take a step back, and breathe – easier said than done, I will admit. The world won't end if you decide to spend an afternoon doing absolutely nothing related to productivity. It's in these moments of stepping back that we often find our clarity and energy zapped back into us, as if by some magical force that's been waiting for us to just chill out for a second.

Getting past this slump? It's a journey of understanding that it's perfectly fine to be burnt out. It's okay not to be a perpetual motion machine of productivity. Sometimes, the best way to jump back into the fray is by acknowledging that you're human, and part of being human is needing a break. It's about finding that balance between pushing forward and knowing when to recharge. Try setting micro-goals, change of scenery, physical activities, and social accountability. Some tools to leverage include:

• The Pomodoro Technique: Work for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break. Tools like TomatoTimer or Be Focused can help you implement this strategy.

• Trello or Asana: These project management tools are excellent for organizing your tasks, setting deadlines, and tracking progress.

• Forest: This app helps you stay focused while also planting real trees.

• Evernote or Notion: Use these for note-taking and organizing your thoughts and tasks.

• Mindfulness Apps: Apps like Headspace or Calm offer guided meditations that can help reduce stress and anxiety, improving your overall well-being and mental clarity.

• Spotify or YouTube for Background Music: Listen to lo-fi beats or classical (pop) music.

BRAINFEED & SHAREABLES

• ICYMI – Have y’all noticed that “Sierra Mist” doesn’t exist anymore? It’s been re-branded to Starry. It’s all because PepsiCo wanted to be a little petty. They sent TikTok influencer, @cierra_mistt, a cease-and-desist for her account. She looked into the trademark, realized it was expired, and filed for the trademark instead. Literally Uno-reversed.

• ICYMI – Kate Middleton is gone??? No-one has seen her since December in the flesh, and the Royal family keeps trying to cover it up (and doing a really poor job of doing so). A photo-shopped picture was recently released that was supposed to be proof of her well-being, but now it’s being retracted, so what is really going on? I get sucked into conspiracies, so watch this video / TikTok series of theories.

• 🎧: I love making Spotify playlists. If the NYC half marathon inspired you from this weekend, try out my running playlist!

• 📖: Bernie Sanders proposed a 32-hour workweek recently, so read about a start-up who moved to a 4-day workweek and would never go back.

• Is anyone else obsessed with watching Glambot videos? If anyone knows how to rent them for a party, let me know.

• This week, I taught PPT basics (with a checklist, tips, and most importantly, examples) and thought I would share with all of my lovely subscribers (thank you for being here).

• Once upon a time, I wanted to be a doctor. A long time ago. But, now that I’ve …heavily… pivoted, I’ve settled for watching heartwarming Match Day videos.

• With allergy season coming around, I’ve been feeling a little under the weather. A natural remedy that I found (not sure if this pushed my cure): (1) zinc supplements, (2) vitamin C supplements (3) hydration (4) an odd concoction of smashed garlic, a little bit of apple cider vinegar, squeeze of lemon juice, and some room temperature, warm-ish water.

• What’s hot 🔥: Taking time for yourself, fuzzy blankets, yellow light

• What’s not 🙅‍♀️: TikTok (even though my newsletter cites it a lot), poor spending habits (@me), the term “pookie”

• 🔝High of the week: I ran my second half-marathon – the United Half! Another race counting towards my 9+1.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

• 🗽: Still I Rise by Miss EmpowHer (March 28th): Connections, speakers, conversations on strategies to increase your net-worth and building your network. Learn more.

• (High school) : The School of The New York Times: Summer Academy Application 2024 is now open.

HER HUSTLE & COFFEE

I love finding new coffee shops and meeting other female founders, so I started a series to share stories of female entrepreneurs at coffee shops around New York City.

Ariana Nathani, a NYC local and graphic designer at J&J, started a dating podcast and now events company, Drinks First.

Check out the full video interview here, or highlights from our conversation below.

Tell me about the story of why you started this.
“I just noticed that everybody has a really hard time dating and meeting people in New York City. Even for people from here, it’s tough. At the time, I was listening to a lot of podcasts, thought I’d come up with a different channel for people to meet.”

Can you give some advice on starting and growing a community?
“Just do it unapologetically and authentically.”

📍Outro nyc: 7/10 – Really friendly staff, more on the expensive side, lots of space + outdoor space too

A reminder: Find peace in unexpected places, breathe deeper, slow down. Life doesn’t have to be a race.

xoxo,
Prasiddhi
thinkers, founder

Sponsor us!