Hi friends. We know a LOT is going on out there right now, so we hope you’re all taking good care of yourselves. And since it’s also been a bajillion degrees recently, this is your reminder to take a sip out of that cute little Owala, will ya?

Song of the day: To stay on theme with the UV index, we’re turning up the volume to Sean Paul’s “We Be Burnin’”… because we literally are (no like, we’re sweating as we speak).

Have a Q for WorkDaze or the podcast? Let’s hear it here! 

How to Give Yourself a Mid-Year Evaluation

Talking about ourselves can be hard, and criticizing ourselves can be far too easy (even when we don’t deserve it!). So, if you’re not sure where to start whne it comes to mid-year evaluations, we’ve got you! Let’s chat about some things below you can do to make sure you’re giving yourself enough credit while keeping yourself honest.

Reflect on your current work and goals

• Identify what’s been working. Go over the goals you set at the beginning of the year (or for any ongoing projects) and assess how much progress you've made. Highlight key achievements, milestones, and any contributions you're proud of or that helped move the needle (classic corporate speak) for your company.
  

• Check back in with yourself: Are those milestones or goals still relevant? Are you on track to meet them, or do they need some adjusting? Identify any obstacles that may keep you from reaching those goals, so you can tweak accordingly. 

Identify areas for improvement

• Be honest with yourself: Think about any areas where you can improve or challenges you faced that have slowed your progress. A few areas to consider include communication, time management, and collaboration. 

• Constructive self-criticism:  Remember, as our queen, Miley once sang, “Everyone makes mistakes.” It's important to look at slip-ups or areas of difficulty as opportunities for growth. This shows that you’re self-aware and proactive about development.

Set an actionable plan for the remainder of the year

• Refine your goals: Based on your progress this first half of the year, adjust/set realistic and measurable goals for the second half. Focus on what you want to accomplish in the next six months and make sure your goals align with both your personal and professional development.
  

• Action plan: Break down the bigger goals into smaller tasks. Decide on specific steps or changes you need to make to stay on track and keep improving. Write the plan down to hold yourself accountable at the end of the year.

Pro Tip: If you didn’t do this for the first half of the year, make sure you’re saving a document with all the accomplishments you’ve done, no matter how small. You’d be surprised how many important things you’ve done that you’ve forgotten about among everything else!

…while catching up on Love Island during a meeting on mute.

In this 90+ degree heat, we obvi have nothing but cool, sweet treats on the brain, like these Cookie Tacos by ItsMeJuliette for starters.

We can’t tell you how many times we’ve watched this TikTok and LOL’d at Maddie Goetz trying to give her boyfriend the ick. 

Kathryn Hahn and Kate Hudson reunited for Variety’s Actors on Actors and talked all things friendship and work… but most importantly How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days.

Thanks so much for rocking with us today! Wishing you a lot of cancelled meetings and no “following up on this” emails for the rest of the week. 

—Rod and Gabi