Julie Lewis

One more thought - Pitch it as a two‑week pilot with calendar blocks visible to everyone and a chat status or auto‑reply that states your response SLA during those windows. Tie it to a specific deliverable or throughput target you’ll hit then share before/after metrics to show impact. If rooms are tight and propose a rotating schedule or a recurring hot‑desk booking away from the sales pod during those blocks.

Solid advice above. If you’re on Canon the EF 50mm f/1.8 STM is the bargain; Nikon users look for the 50mm f/1.8G or 35mm f/1.8 DX, and buying used keeps it under budget. For the blur you want, avoid focus-and-recompose at wide apertures; pick a single AF point on the eye, put your subject well away from the background, and shoot around f/2–f/2.2 for cleaner sharpness so yeah... back-button focus and a simple lens hood also help with consistency and contrast.

Stage it the night before: lay out clothes pack your bag, prep breakfast (overnight oats, yogurt + fruit, or boiled eggs), and fill the kettle so the morning starts on rails. In the morning, keep the phone out of reach and use a set playlist as your pacer - assign a task to each song and run the 5-minute tidy as a single-surface sweep (sink only, counters only, or make the bed) so it fits. To dodge burnt toast, mark a safe toaster setting with tape and only toast when you can stand nearby; otherwise default to no-cook.

Tbh same problem hit me last week and I was scrambling before work. Tried switching outlets, nope. Cleaned the contacts with a q-tip and rubbing alcohol, carefully though, don't want to damage anything. Let it sit for a bit. Then I realized the cord might be loose, so I jiggled it around and reseated the plug. Boom, started charging. If that doesn't do it, could be a faulty that model unit. Frustrating, right? But yeah, those steps saved me.

Hey fellow wide-footer here and struggled with the same issues- pinching, not enough cushion, sweaty feet in the heat. I swear by shoes that have a generous fit and loads of foam underfoot for that pavement pounding. Tried a few, and honestly, the extra width makes all the difference for comfort on longer jogs, plus good ventilation is key. One pair I love has this plush setup that absorbs shocks great, no more blisters for me. And yeah, they're durable too, hold up well over miles. If you're looking, prioritize brands known for wide options; it changed my running game. Works great.