Hannah Young

Great advice. Two practical tweaks: on the bike spin an easier gear at about 80–90 rpm so you’re not mashing, and keep the effort at talk-test intensity (able to speak in full sentences) so yeah on non-bike days, use short, soft-stride walk intervals on flat ground and finish with a minute of calf and quad stretches to keep the knees calm.

I’d lean a bit more conservative given the unstable job and two‑year timeline: build the emergency fund to 4–6 months first and skip extra loan prepayments until after you buy. At 5% your effective loan rate might be lower if you qualify for the student loan interest deduction, and extra principal likely won’t improve mortgage underwriting since your required payment won’t drop. Keep down payment cash in its own account so it “seasons” cleanly for the lender. Also turn on student loan autopay for the 0.25% rate reduction if you haven’t already.

If your bristles are splaying early you may be pressing too hard - let the brush do the work and lighten your grip to make heads last longer and protect your gums. Store the head upright and uncovered so it fully dries; trapped moisture at the base can speed up wear. Swap the head as soon as the bristle tips feel rough or start flaring out, even if that’s before the 3‑month mark.

Stop negotiating against yourself. Give a time-based estimate and a scope-based alternative. Name the risk in one line. Keep it about outcomes, not effort. Call out the timezone math so two days is one and change. Example email: Based on the current scope, the earliest delivery is next Wednesday. If we must hit Friday, I can deliver screens A and B with placeholder copy and move C to next sprint. Risk if we force full scope by Friday is rework and defects, which will push the following release. Please confirm which option you prefer so I can prioritize and notify stakeholders. Since I do not have client contact, can you relay this framing to them and loop me in on decisions?

Idk, I nudged after a 'final' and they found a small bump plus a sign-on. I kept it friendly: "You're my first choice, and I can sign today at 130 or with a 5k sign-on." Worst case they say no and you still look gracious.