Hi friends! No one’s allowed to pull any April Fool’s jokes today, we’ve had enough this year and it’s only Q2!!

Song of the day: One throwback song that immediately puts us in a good mood? Frank Ocean’s “Lost.” (more on him below!!)

Need to vent? Want advice? Have feedback? We wanna hear from you! And while you’re at it…listen to Are You Mad At Me? wherever you listen to podcasts!

How to Be There for Someone On Their Own Timeline

 question 
How can I best support a close friend who’s been struggling with their mental health but continues to engage in self-destructive behaviors? I care so much about them, but I’m not sure what actually helps versus what might unintentionally be making things worse. —A.

 answer 
Watching someone you care about struggle can be heartbreaking and confusing, especially when your efforts to help don’t seem to make a difference. Supporting a friend in this situation often means finding a balance between compassion and boundaries, which isn’t always straightforward.

The good news is that there are ways to show up for them that are meaningful and supportive, while still taking care of your own well-being.

Let’s chat about a few below:

• Be supportive, but not their therapist: You can show up, listen without judgment, and validate their feelings, but you can’t take on the role of “fixing” them. Gently encourage professional help and normalize things like therapy and support groups. But remember, they need to want the help themselves; no amount of you forcing them is going to help.

• Set boundaries without guilt: You can care deeply and still protect your own well-being. It’s okay to say “I can’t be available 24/7” or step back when things feel overwhelming. Don’t forget to put your own oxygen mask on first before helping others! 

• Focus on consistency over intensity: You don’t need to perform any grand gestures to show your support. Simple check-ins (a text, asking to go for a walk, or even sending a silly meme) can mean a lot. Show that you’re reliably there, without supporting or enabling harmful behavior.

Remember, supporting a friend is about showing up with care while still taking care of your own needs. If at any point you’re worried about their safety, don’t hesitate to reach out for additional help. Resources like the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline can offer guidance, so you don’t have to handle it alone. 🫶

How to Help Your Boomer Coworker Level Up In the Workplace

 question 
How do you politely deal with a Boomer coworker who emails every question instead of asking in two seconds over a work chat? —L.

 answer 
As much as you probably want to scream every time you get an email with the subject line, “How do I save a PDF?”, try to keep your cool and remember that not everyone has the same experience, especially older generations.

Try a response like:

“Thanks for the question! Slack is usually faster for this kind of thing, so feel free to ping me there anytime.” 

And if they aren’t sure how to use it, you can even offer to show them quickly. It’s polite, clear, and encourages the habit without being condescending or rude.

Got a Q? We wanna hear it here!

…while you switch your closets back and forth from winter to spring???

Need a last-minute dessert to bring to Easter? These Pretzel Easter Chicks by SashaCakesChicago are the perfect easy treat!  

As if we didn’t love Frank Ocean already. Check out the letter he wrote to himself on Tumblr (wow, TBT!) after his career took off. 

“Stephen!!!” Find us counting down the days until April 10th, when we get to watch Laguna Beach: The Reunion. 

Thanks so much for rocking with us today! We’ll see you guys back here in a bit! :) 

—Rod and Gabi