Our brains are browsers and the tabs just keep multiplying. Each week, we share the ones worth keeping: what we’re watching, reading, buying, and thinking about lately. Plus, we ask someone cool to walk us through their week and all the little things that make their everyday life feel a little more magical.
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Our social coordinator Katherine lives at the intersection of “always online” and “trying really hard not to be,” which, honestly? Same. You might even recognize her as the girl fearlessly holding the Sunniefest sign in the middle of NYC — fully committed, fully unbothered. (Btw…Sunniefest is next weekend, so grab your tickets while you still can here!)
She talked with us about finding balance when your job literally lives on your phone, why chaos is sometimes the best creative strategy, and how she keeps the internet feeling fun instead of formulaic.
1. What’s your morning routine before diving into the chaos of the day?
I ran the NYC Marathon last weekend, so my mornings mostly consisted of me trying to run, emphasis on “trying.” Now that I’m free from that burden, most mornings I do my best not to buy a coffee, which usually lasts until about 9:15 a.m. Even when I’m working from home, I still try to put on a “real outfit.” There’s something about wearing jeans that tricks my brain into being more productive. I really try to stay off my phone until I absolutely need to be on it-but I’m just a girl, and sometimes a girl needs her morning scroll.
2. What does a typical day look like for you working in social?
There’s no real “typical” day. Some days I’m editing, scheduling, and posting. Other days I’m running around the city shooting content, or brainstorming ways to turn whatever’s trending online into something that actually fits our voice. There’s a lot of switching between creative mode and analytics mode, one minute I’m deep in a Google Sheet, the next I’m in the middle of the sidewalk trying to film myself without making eye contact with anyone walking by me.
3. Go-to tips for capturing content?
Don’t overthink it. People can tell when you’re trying too hard, and honestly, the less effort it looks like you put in, the better it usually performs. Also, film everything. You can always delete, but you can’t redo a moment that felt genuine. And you never know what you could use later.
4. What’s one part of working in social that might surprise people?
People assume I just sit on my phone all day taking photos — and yes, my screen time is sickening — but it’s a lot more analyzing and trend forecasting than people think. There’s a lot of data and strategy behind making something entertaining. The left side of my brain is in constant overdrive figuring out how to make information digestible and fun for the audience.
5. What are your favorite online trends right now?
I love that the internet’s gotten less perfect again. The random, messy photo dumps, the chaotic “get ready with me”s, and people talking to the camera like they’re FaceTiming a friend. I love that the internet’s gone back to feeling human.
6. Which ones are you secretly over?
The hyper-curated “day in my life” vlogs. They’re pretty, but I kind of love when the internet feels a little messier.
7. Fave spots in NYC to go when you need to log off for a min?
iPic Movie Theater in Seaport — It’s a movie theater so you literally can’t be on your phone, and they serve you dinner while you watch so it’s basically heaven.
This one’s kind of cheesy, but Central Park. The people-watching and just walking around is unmatched.
Any grocery store. Weird? Maybe. But I’ll put my phone on Do Not Disturb, throw on a podcast, and peruse. Happier Grocer is my current favorite.
There’s this guy who plays the cello on the same corner in the West Village every Thursday. If you’re ever feeling disconnected from humanity, take a walk by him next week.
To Read: The “Is Having a Boyfriend Embarrassing Now?” Vogue article that’s been all over our feeds? Worth the hype. It perfectly captures that weird in-between of wanting a relationship, wanting your freedom, and pretending you don’t care more than you actually do.
To Watch: If you’re spiraling waiting for the Wicked sequel to drop (same!!!!), we’re happy to report that last night’s Wicked: One Wonderful Night on NBC is the exact emotional support TV you need. You get Ariana, Cynthia, the OG feels, and Remington….the cutest, tiniest superfan who low-key stole our hearts forever 🥹.
To Listen: Hilary Duff’s new single “Mature” (her first release since 2015, btw!) is the Y2K pop-girl nostalgia we needed this week. She’s basically talking to her younger self in a way that somehow feels like she’s talking to ours, too. She also opened up about it on an episode of Therapuss with Jake Shane, so queue that up after if you want the whole vibe.
Starbucks Teddy Bear Cups: The internet’s latest personality trait is a tiny bear-shaped cup, and honestly…we get it. The originals sold out in like 45 seconds (rude), but don’t panic — the dupes are already duping. Here’s the closest match we’ve found.
