Welcome new UXA subscribers! I started this newsletter to share ideas that I actually use to spark ideas or improve my workflow.
In case you haven’t guessed, I’m the type of person who will tell everyone about a product or service that I like or dislike. I suppose all newsletter creators are. A former coworker that I shared a desk would laugh (and probably roll her eyes) when I chimed in with a tool or tip related to a conversation I was not a part of. Perhaps it’s a designer thing - we notice how things work and are especially impressed with products that are designed well.
It's been really helpful to read your responses to the email that I send when you first subscribe to this newsletter. If you didn’t click on it, I ask:
What’s something important going on your job (or life, if you’d rather) right now?
What one website or app could you not live without? (Or want to share with others)
The reason I ask is so that I can help tailor the content of my emails. And I really do listen! Because so many of you responded that you are new to UX or working on getting into UX, I recently wrote an article on how to work your way in UX from my perspective as a former instructor.
So if there is anything you’d like to know about getting started or working in UX, just reply to this email and ask. I’m happy to reply if I can help, and who knows, maybe even write 1500 words on the topic.
Thanks,
Alissa
Feel better about your day with a singular focus on MIT
Productivity experts agree that multi-tasking is a myth. Not only can your brain not concentrate on two or more tasks at a time, trying to do so actually damages your ability to process information and control your memory, a Stanford research study found.
The tool to stay focused that works best for me is the Most Important Task (MIT). I define that task, work on it until it's done (or is waiting on a person or time), and then define the next one. I have been doing this at work for about three years, and like meditation, it's a practice. I don’t always stay on task, but if I’m off task, I recognize it and get back on track. The way I define my MIT, is to journal for a few minutes in the morning, then answer the question, “What could I do that would make me happy about what I’ve achieved today, no matter what else happens?”
The tool I’ve found to help with this is a Chrome plugin called Momentum. Every time you open a new tab, your MIT reminder is right there waiting for you, on a beautiful background. (Although a post-it note would work too.)
Connect with mom-friendly companies for your next job
In 2019, I become a mom. My wife and I had a baby in August last year and together our family has weathered a move across continents and a global pandemic. Partly because of these two massive events, I’ve been lucky to be a full-time mom for much longer than the US average of just 10 weeks, with one in four women returning with two weeks of childbirth!
The Mom Project is a job board and community for moms looking for companies that “get it” when it comes to family-friend benefits and work environments. I haven’t applied for any roles yet, but I’m emailed jobs that match my profile and there are interesting roles added frequently.
I was part of a similar community in Australia with a company called Puffling, which works with employers to create flexibility in senior roles, specifically for parents returning to the workforce. Many parents want a flexible job and are too experienced in their fields to settle for the types of roles that are more commonly part-time, such as customer service. According to them (for Australia), the average amount of experience that a mom returning to the workforce has is 16 years.
A better way to read newsletters
I found this from you, my readers, so thank you! Slick is a free app designed for reading newsletters. You get a @slickinbox email address, signup for newsletters with it, then read, discover, and easily archive and save issues in the app. I love the app and the interface, but am still on the fence if I want a separate app to read emails. For those of you reading this right now in Slick, I would love to read your comments on what you think of it so far.
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InboxReads is a newsletter directory that’s simple to browse by topic and full of interesting newsletters. Also, my newsletter has recently been listed, so if you are enjoying this newsletter, I’d love a review!
Thanks for reading! I’m a UX designer and copywriter, and design-adjacent content writer. If you’d like to be featured in the next issue of UX Adjacent, send me a short bio and links to your website or profiles.
This newsletter caught me out because I was totally multi-tasking when I stopped to read it. Very good advice and I'm definitely going to give Momentum a go!