VARSITY READER: issue #7
five great reads, settling into 2024, and traveling with friends
It’s January 10, and the window to wish someone a Happy New Year has passed (at least according to Larry David). 😉
It feels like I’m hurtling through this week—as I’m heading to Argentina on Friday. I’m going to Buenos Aires, Mendoza, and Bariloche with one of my best friends (also my former roommate). She’s pretty much my sister…so we know we can tolerate each other for long periods of time. (P.S. Any recommendations are welcome!)
If you’re planning a trip with friends this year, my three top tips:
Be the instigator and make it happen. I’m 30, which means that my friends are in vastly different life stages. Some are single, some are married & have kids, and some are in serious relationships. With every passing year, I know that the window to take long, international trips with friends is closing 😔. So if you want to travel…pitch it to your friend group and take action! Or go solo!
Make sure you & your friends can withstand the stresses of travel. I have dear friends who would never want to travel with me (and vice versa). And that’s okay! Either way, make sure you’re surrounding yourself with the right travel companions. Ideally, everyone on your trip can keep it light, speak candidly about they actually want do vs. saying “whatever” under their breath, and exude positivity (even when things go awry).
Allow some wiggle room in the budget (within reason!) Hear me out on this one. I’ve helped plan a few bachelorettes, and on many occasions, there’s been one person griping about an extra $20 spent here or there. And yet, these ladies took no part in the planning and were aware of all costs upfront. Everyone’s on a budget. But I’ve been shocked to see how costs of ~$40 elicit such anger—and how some fail to see the bigger picture of being on a group trip. After all, you’re with a *group*—there’s gonna be compromises!
My favorite articles of the week (not shared anywhere else!)
As a varsity reader, I run through articles like athletes run marathons. There’s no way I’d be able to share every article I read (and adore!) on social media each day. Here’s five more, just for you:
We Don’t: The Bridesmaid Burnout (Glamour Mag): This six-article series about wedding culture is a must-read. The post-pandemic wedding boom has created unreasonable expectations for everyone involved—insanely expensive venues, multiple events, and more. It’s been interesting to talk to women from 40 - 90+ about their own weddings—and how they were so much simpler and more intimate than those today.
48-year-old worked herself ‘into the ground’ building a $255 million business—then her life fell apart (CNBC Make It): The story of Ali Webb, who founded Drybar.
The Starbucks x Stanley Stampedes Were Inevitable (Eater): A look into how Stanley transformed itself from an Americana camping brand into a deep consumer obsession.
Plant-Based Has Lost All Meaning (The Atlantic): “A label once intended for meat replacements is now used for shampoo, booze, and nearly every other product imaginable.” This is beyond true—and the same is happening with products labeled gluten-free.
Dark crystals: the brutal reality behind a booming wellness craze (The Guardian): The demand for healing crystals is soaring. What you might not know—most crystals are unethically mined in the world’s poorest countries.
Career tip of the week
On the topic of travel, let’s talk PTO (paid time off, aka vacation days). As I shared in VARSITY READER’S previous edition, 46% of U.S. workers don’t take all of their allotted PTO.
While it used to be common practice for unused PTO to roll over to the following year, that’s no longer the standard. Many companies are now transitioning to unlimited PTO—meaning that if you don’t use it, you lose it. No more rollovers, no more cashing out unused days whten you leave your job.
Regardless of your company’s PTO structure, everyone needs time off. How to tackle PTO planning:
Fixed PTO: This calendar is a godsend. The U.S. is one of few nations that doesn’t offer a minimum amount of PTO on a national level. The average American receives just 11 days of PTO. Thanks to this calendar, you can turn 11 PTO days into 44 by aligning your vacations with national holidays.
Unlimited PTO: Unlimited PTO policies are controversial. Some employers (like Netflix) swear by them and tout the freedom offered to employees. Others have reverted to fixed PTO structures—as they realized employees were taking less vacation than ever. Why? Because taking unlimited PTO requires finesse and extensive conversations with your team. From a BBC article on the subject:
“For workers, establishing what the ‘right’ amount of [unlimited] paid time off to ask for often depends on observing the behaviour of colleagues and bosses. If colleagues are only taking 10 days per year, asking for more could feel inappropriate.”
Three tips to push past discomfort and take advantage of your unlimited PTO:
Ask around. If you’re new at an organization with unlimited PTO, ask your colleagues / managers about how they navigate the policy. What are the best practices? How many days did people take in 2023? That data will help you digest how unlimited PTO works in practice.
Overcommunicate. If you have a set vacation / wedding / event any time in 2024, put it on the calendar now. The further in advance you share a planned vacation, the less pushback there will be.
Empower your team. Unlimited PTO is all about flexibility and ensuring that employees can take vacation when they need—provided that their teams are set up for success in their absence. A smooth day-to-day when you’re out = less pushback on future PTO.
One damn good buy
White T-shirts. They’re supposed to be effortless! French girl chic! The ultimate foundation to every outfit! Case in point:
But over the past few months, I’ve ordered (and returned) five different white T-shirts. Why I’ve been so frustrated:
Super oversized fits. The oversized look doesn’t personally suit me—but it seems like that’s the dominant fit these days. I feel like I’m swimming in my dad’s T-shirt. Not my thing.
Spandex-y, tight material. Oof. I wiggled and jumped into two T-shirts—as their material had more of a smoothing effect. It felt like something I would wear as a skiing base layer rather than an everyday basic. I’ll take the calorie burn of getting them on. But overall, it’s a pass.
Ultra-sheer. If I wanted to show the world my bra, I would. I don’t want a T-shirt made of rice paper. I need something more substantial!
These pain points mounted until I came across this two-pack of tees:
I snagged them on Black Friday, and have been wearing them on repeat ever since. At $120 for the pack, they’re pricier than your usual basic. (You can also purchase each tee individually for $68). Trust me, though—they’re absolutely worth your investment. Why I’m so enamored:
The perfect balance of boxy and flattering. The fit isn’t too loose…and hugs you enough to show your shape. Not too loose, not too tight—just right!
Substantial material. I tried on with nude and gray bras underneath the white tee, and ta-da…no see-through fiascos.
Fills a number of wardrobe gaps. You can see the white tee on me here. (I’m usually between a small or medium, and took a small). I can layer it under sweaters / cardigans, sport it solo, or balance a blazer on top.
If you’ve also been on the white (or black) tee search, it stops here. You also get 10% off on your first order, so the cost of the tee two-pack is really $108.
P.S. All other “one damn good buy” picks can be found here! From a statement work bag to a wear-everywhere jumpsuit, I try to cover it all.
In case you missed it
Why does everyone get a dog and THEN have kids? An alternate proposal…
A networking mistake that so many people make (and how to fix it)
Liked what you read?
…here’s what you can do to support! These calls-to-action are inspired by Kate from A Big Life (a fantastic newsletter if you like money-saving tips, curated articles, and recipe recommendations).
📱Screenshot your favorite part of this newsletter and share it on Instagram. Be sure to tag @smarterinasec
📧 Forward this email to a friend
➡️ For more of this, follow me on Instagram and TikTok!
***The fine print: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I only recommend products that I use, love, and can’t live without.
When I started at my current job, it was in the start-up phase and we all had unlimited PTO. A few years later, we went corporate and installed a 15-day PTO policy. I actually found that I took more time off with the limited policy! For some reason, the unlimited option made me feel like I had to earn time off and I'd feel guilty, while the strict 15-day policy made me feel like those days were MINE and I had to use them up.
My current company has unlimited PTO and pre-pandemic I absolutely would not have taken enough, but post-pandemic me is all about using my benefits! We also have 2 processes in place that I think are super helpful in making sure people take their PTO:
1) we offer a $2k bonus at the end of the year to anyone who takes at least 2 weeks of PTO. This sets a baseline of 2 weeks for PTO.
2) we have folks create OOO plans if they’re out for more than 2 days in a row that way emails are redirected and teams know what projects were up in the air. This has made being away much less stressful!