Not a perfect newsletter (if that's what you're looking for)
+ how harmful is social media really? + a case for crying at work
Hi friend,
Sometimes when I write to you here, it feels like I need to have the most perfect words on the most perfect topic to deliver you the most perfect newsletter.
Like every time I have to one-up myself and make something better than before.
Something that will get you to keep reading, keep scrolling, keep growing your expectation of me.
It’s the little perfectionist voice in my brain that yells, “This is the one. This is the one that’s going to be so unrelatable and uninteresting that no one will read it.”
(She’s really mean, that perfectionist brain voice.)
Honestly though, I know I won’t always have the words. Like today when I wrote and deleted 3 drafts of this intro letter.
I know you reading an issue or not often has very little to do with me or however catchy I try to make the subject line.
So, when I’m sitting here trying to find the perfect words, what I really need to be telling myself is that the opinions I’ve constructed in my mind are not reality.
Whether this resonates with you or not, I may never know. But you don’t deserve for me to put words in your mouth just because I’m struggling to admit that perfect doesn’t exist.
This isn’t a perfect newsletter. These are far from perfect words. But I hope you find some solace in them today.
And if you don’t, that’s totally okay. I’m still going to write imperfect things because it brings me joy.
I hope you can tell the mean voices in your brain that you’re allowed to do things that bring you joy too. Regardless of what anyone else thinks.
with warmth + love,
N
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📚 The Click Throughs
Long-form reads for the marketing geek + content creator
The New Yorker: How Harmful is Social Media?
We’ve seen the documentaries and the articles and the warnings about how social media is bad for us. Generally, we know it promotes negative mental health and addiction among other things. But has anyone recently dug deep on what makes social media so harmful? This piece does.
Mashable: Instagram seems to have completely stopped caring about its users
Instagram is typically my comfort app. If I’m looking to find content that’s unproblematic, inspirational, or just a general time filler, I go to Instagram. But after the latest annoying IG Stories glitch, I can’t help but also feel like it’s not as great as it once was.
Teen Vogue: Young Journalists of Color Say Twitter Is a Tool for Networking and Industry Info
Twitter has always been a hot bed of journalists and news. Some people I know only get their news via Twitter (not the best idea, IMHO). But every so often, how Twitter fits into journalism is debated and student journalists are left out of the conversation. This op-ed from one young journalist discusses the benefits of how Twitter has helped their career.
Vox: One Direction fangirls created the internet as we know it
I’ve been seeing Atlantic writer Kaitlyn Tiffany’s new book everywhere lately, which means I’m definitely due for a read. This piece is an interview on the book, but mostly covers the details within the book: fandom and how it shaped the early days of social media.
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🧘🏼♀️ Mindful Moment
One actionable thing to get you through this week
Let’s get back to one of our classic breathing exercises. Ready? Here we go:
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🔗 Link(s) in Bio
Things I’ve been loving that have absolutely nothing to do with marketing or business
Protocol: It’s OK to cry at work – I’m glad there’s an article on this, because I’ve been doing it for years but at least now I have a documented piece to validate my feelings.
Confession: I’m kind of obsessed with productivity videos on YouTube and TikTok. I can’t explain it, but I find something really comforting in seeing how others work. Feeling super inspired by these examples of digital “second brains” and might just need to make my own soon. Do you find this interesting too? Or just me?
Harvard Business Review: How to Overcome Your Fear of the Unknown – We’re wired to fear uncertainty, but even knowing that doesn’t make it less uncomfy. So, this article has tips.
Thrilled to report that, if you’ve been following along with the Twitter stuck bowl saga, the bowls are finally unstuck. Can’t wait for the internet’s next hyperfixation moment that joins us all together.
Smithsonian Magazine: Beginning in Mid-July, Dial 988 for the Mental Health Hotline – This is just really cool (for friends in the U.S. only, unfortunately).
The Atlantic: Mindfulness Hurts. That’s Why It Works. – I didn’t want to hear this, but I needed to hear this. Even if you love mindfulness, it can feel like a chore to prioritize. But it’s so important.
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💭 Content Calendar
Ideas for you to take into your week ahead as a content creator
When was the last time you played with content?
I don’t mean going a little bit off script or going with a different hue of your brand colors.
When was the last time that you truly played around with creating content?
If it’s been awhile, I highly recommend it.
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👋 The (ring) Light at the End of the Tunnel