10 Crazy Office Romance Stories That’ll Make You Glad You’re Single

While most of us would love an office romance like Jim and Pam’s, the unfortunate truth is that while working with your significant other may be a dream, working with your ex can be a nightmare. We chatted with the founder of popular workplace blog Ask a Manager and uncovered the top office horror stories that made us squirm in our ergonomically sound office chair. Now, we’re back for part two to find the most outrageous office stories folks have submitted to Ask a Manger about working with an ex-lover. Let the cringe-fest begin!

Rom-coms are having a moment RN. Between Lindsay Lohan's Irish Wish, Anne Hathaway's The Idea Of You, and Zendaya's Challengers, our hearts are bursting from all the love and romance. But even though romantic comedy relationships are portrayed as #relationshipgoals, many on-screen romances are actually riddled with toxic dynamics and unhealthy behaviors. Christie Tcharkhoutian, professional matchmaker for Los Angeles-based Three Day Rule, revealed to us why four of our fave romantic movie fictional couples should be written off as inspo for you and your S.O.

Juliet and Mark in "Love Actually"

Image via Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Problematic Message: Love is the most exciting when it’s forbidden.

Even if you haven’t seen the romantic comedy, you’ve definitely seen the GIFs: Andrew Lincoln, playing Mark, professing his love for Keira Knightley’s character through handwritten signs, one of which reads the famous line, “To me, you are perfect.” Yes, it’s ultra-romantic — until you look a little closer. “Although we all love an honest display of love, making a play and expressing your love for your best friend’s wife is not a good start for a relationship, on or off screen,” Tcharkhoutian says.

And the most harmful part of these fictional narratives is that they only show a fraction, if any, of the fallout. “This is a toxic dynamic that devalues the dignity of marriage and romanticizes the idea of being in love with someone who is ‘off-limits,’ without portraying the harsh realities of this kind of basis for a relationship,” Tcharkhoutian explains.

Andie and Ben in "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days"

Image via Paramount Pictures

Problematic Message: A relationship that began with ulterior motives can become healthy and functional.

There’s no denying that Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey are a dreamy pair, but in this movie, their relationship is a nightmare. Their quick rise to love is certainly entertaining, but the foundation of their relationship makes it impossible to exist outside of fiction.

The two meet as means to prove themselves at their respective jobs, and in true rom-com fashion, their supposedly real feelings take off from there. Tcharkhoutian cautions against this behavior in real life. “This can set up a relationship to be something in which a person is objectified as a vehicle to help you meet your needs, instead of a mutual union and partnership with pure and honest motives of loving each other through thick and thin,” she says.

Lucy and Jack in "While You Were Sleeping"

Image via Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment

Problematic Message: Falling in love with the idea of someone can result in a happy ending.

No one can resist a Sandra Bullock romantic comedy, so it’s no surprise this movie is still revered as a classic of the genre. It has all the necessary components: an unrealistic plot (she saves a man’s life, is confused for his fiancée by his family, and then falls in love with his brother while he’s in a coma — like, come on!), a handsome boy-next-door lead and, of course, love. However, much like the relationship in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, the foundation is faulty.

Falling in love with the idea of someone, as Sandra Bullock’s character does, doesn’t equate to falling in love with the actual person, Tcharkhoutian clarifies, and to start a relationship with this basis in real life is ill-advised.

Amanda and Graham in "The Holiday"

Image via Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Problematic Message: True love lies in the next adventure, which is far from your hometown and your past relationship.

Who hasn’t dreamt of traveling to a foreign country; staying in a cozy, remote cottage; and falling in love with someone even half as good-looking as Jude Law? Well, there’s a reason it’s a mere fantasy. Tcharkhoutian describes the phenomenon in The Holiday movie as escapism — the idea that you need to escape from your day-to-day life to find true happiness or, in this case, true love.

Although it’s fun to dream, if taken too far, this particular romantic comedy mentality can lead to irrational expectations. “This escapism mentality can create a false belief that international [relationships] are sustainable in the long-term,” Tcharkhoutian remarks. “True healthy relationships survive and thrive in the everyday, mundane routine, not in the exciting international adventure that depends on thrill and distance.”

Which rom-com couples stay together?

Image via Netflix

However, there are PLENTY of romantic comedy relationships we love! Some of our favorites include Nick and Rachel in Crazy Rich Asians, Matty and Jenna in 13 Going on 30, Harry and Sally in Meg Ryan's When Harry Met Sally, Elle and Emmett in Legally Blonde, and Peter and Lara Jean in To All The Boys I've Loved Before.

What other romantic comedy fictional couples should be on this list? Let us know @BritandCo.

Lead image via Paramount Pictures

This post has been updated.

Are you stressed right now? Maybe not so stressed that you curl up in a ball, or run around screaming, but most of us have at least some stress in our lives. And often that’s a good thing; the right amount of stress motivates us and gets us up in the morning. But if stress gets too much, we start to suffer, become demotivated, and eventually collapse as our nervous system falls apart.

Fortunately, there are ways in which we can build our resilience. Some of these are useful for everyone; getting support from your family and friends, nurturing a positive view of yourself, doing things that you enjoy and find relaxing, developing realistic goals and taking action to achieve them. But some will be unique to you, to your particular circumstances to your personality. If you know your personality type, you will have a head start on knowing what your stress triggers are (and so dealing with them), how you react to stress, and how to cope with that reaction. In other words, how to build resilience.

Personality Types And How They Deal With Stress

Image via Photo by Mikhail Nilov/Pexels

The personality type framework, as measured by the Myers-Briggs(MBTI) assessment, looks at four aspects of personality:

  • Extraversion-Introversion — People with an Extraversion personality preference are energized by and focus their attention on what’s happening around them, their external world. They are likely to find spending too much time alone without enough external stimulation quite stressful. People with an Introversion preference are energized by and focus their attention on their inner world of thoughts and feelings. They can become stressed if they are forced to spend too much time with others, or when they have to cope with too many external distractions.
  • Sensing-Intuition — is all about how we take in information. People with a Sensing preference prefer information that is realistic, practical, built on past or present real-life experiences, and often detailed. They can be stressed when things are ambiguous and unclear, without any clear direction. People with an Intuition preference are interested in the big picture, in how things connect, and in ideas rather than facts. They will find having to follow exact instructions stressful, and working with people who demand lots of detail.
  • Thinking-Feeling —People with a Thinking preference want to make decisions using objective logic and will be stressed when decisions seem to be subjective, or when they are forced to concentrate on people rather than the task at hand. People with a Feeling preference want to make decisions that line up with their values and they will be stressed if they feel that those values are not being respected, and when there is conflict.
  • Judging-Perceiving — People with a Judging preference want to live in an organized, planned way and will find dealing with disorganized people stressful, or having to rush things at the last minute. People with a Judging preference want to live in a more spontaneous, emergent way and will become stressed when they have to deal with inflexible people, or when they are forced to make decisions before they feel they really need to.

Image via Photo by Mike Jones/Pexels

Everyone will have a preference for Extraversion (E) or Introversion (I), for Sensing (S) or for Intuition (N), for Thinking (T) or for Feeling (F), and for Judging (J) or for Perceiving (P). These four preferences combine together dynamically to give one of 16 types. For example, if someone has preferences for Extraversion, Sensing, Thinking and Judging, then their overall type would be ESTJ. If you know your type, you can identify your likely stressors (and so avoid or mitigate them), your typical behavior under everyday stress (so that you can recognize when you are stressed) and what to do to cope with that reaction, stop the stress cycle and so build resilience. Here’s the detail for each type.

Image via Photo by Pavel Danilyuk/Pexels

ESTP and ESFP

Stressors

  • Lack of stimulation and excitement
  • Theoretical, abstract tasks without any practical application right now
  • Being physically confined, e.g. though illness or circumstance

Behavior under everyday stress

  • Seeks out more and more external stimulation and excitement
  • May behave in a thrill-seeking or dangerous way or over-indulge
  • Lives solely in the present moment and will not make any decisions

How to stop the stress cycle

  • Pause, stop what you are doing, or think through what you will do next before you do it

Image via Photo by Karolina Grabowska/Pexels

ESTJ and ENTJ

Stressors

  • Inefficient people, systems, or organizations
  • Lack of closure, not being able to make decisions, blockers
  • Having to focus on people's feelings, rather than the task

Behavior under everyday stress

  • Becomes overly directive, forceful, or even aggressive
  • Makes snap decisions and imposes them on others
  • Dismisses evidence/other opinions that don't fir your view

How to stop the stress cycle

  • Stop making any decisions until you have taken some time out to explore all the available information.

Image via Photo by Ketut Subiyanto/Pexels

ENTP and ENFP

Stressors

  • People who say "it'll never work"
  • Too much seemingly irrelevant detail
  • Lack of variety; not being able to do anything new

Behavior under everyday stress

  • Shares increasingly impractical ideas with more and more people
  • Unable to take things seriously, becomes destructively 'playful'
  • Will be tied down to decisions

How to stop the stress cycle

  • Slow down. Take some time out to quietly decide on a course of action

Image via Anna Shvets/Pexels

ESFJ and ENFJ

Stressors

  • Conflict with others and between others
  • Lack of warmth, not having friendliness reciprocated
  • Injustice in the world at large

Behavior under everyday stress

  • Become effusive and over-friendly
  • Becomes demanding in getting your own and others' needs met
  • Interprets situations in terms of your values, ignoring any other evidence

How to stop the stress cycle

  • Step back from the situation and the people involved and consider alternatives and the facts

Image via Yan Krukau/Pexels

INTP and ISTP

Stressors

  • Having your carefully reasoned solutions dismissed or ignored
  • Illogical decisions that have not been thought through
  • Excessive displays of approval or emotion from others

Behavior under everyday stress

  • Withdraws to solve problems by yourself
  • Fixates on finding the one correct solution
  • Ignores other people; makes decisions without informing them

How to stop the stress cycle

  • Talk to others to explore information and ideas

Image via Mizuno K/Pexels

ISTJ and ISFJ

Stressors

  • Having to act without detailed, practical information or plans
  • Having the lessons of your experience dismissed by others
  • Changing things that already work

Behavior under everyday stress

  • Obsessively searches for that one important piece of information
  • Withdraws from the outer world
  • Cannot make a decision until all the information has been found

How to stop the stress cycle

  • Talk to others to help you prioritize and make a decision

Image via Tima Miroshnichenko/Pexels

ISFP and INFP

Stressors

  • People who ignore, dismiss, or contravene your values
  • Working in a job that is at odds with those values
  • Inflexible and unthinking people or organizations

Behavior under everyday stress

  • Withdraws into an inner dialogue
  • Obsessively works through decisions that fir your values
  • Ignores facts that do not fit with the picture you have painted

How to stop the stress cycle

  • Talk to others to get their reassurance and help in considering the facts and alternatives

Image viaMART PRODUCTION/Pexels

INTJ and INFJ

Stressors

  • Not having time to think through possibilities before answering
  • Having your well-considered ideas dismissed or ignored
  • Disorganized, opinionated people

Behavior under everyday stress

  • Withdraws to build increasingly complex ideas in your head
  • These models may become divorced from reality
  • Unable to act under every possibility has been explored

How to stop the stress cycle

  • Talk to others to help decide which of your many ideas should be pursued

When you feel stressed, it can get in the way of dealing effectively with life’s demands, and it can affect everything you do. Understanding your MBTI personality type will help you to build resilience.

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Lead image viaKarolina Grabowska/Pexels

Home decor and wellness creator Kelly Marcelo always wanted to be her own boss. “I never really wanted to have a job where I wouldn't be in control,” she says. She started a wedding photography business in college, added a photo booth rental business, and launched a t-shirt business with her brother. When the pandemic put events to a halt, she found herself at a crossroads. What to do next?

She decided to pour herself into her passion for home decor. She started posting several times a day on TikTok and finding a new outlet for her creativity. Within a few months, she had 10K followers, steadily built her following and hired a manager, and was recently chosen to decorate the White House for the holidays. “You have to ask that question, well, why not me?,” she says.

Check out Kelly’s colorful and creative world and how she’s making every move count in her business with the help of TurboTax, so she can focus on what she loves to do!

Don’t Wait for Perfection. In the first month of launch, Kelly’s goal was to post three times a day. “I was really trying to focus on getting as much out there at first, but then also being able to get that information to see what worked with people,” she recalls. That market research allowed her to build an audience, learn what her audience craved, and focus on the wins. “It was very intense at the beginning, and then I eased back. I'm like, ‘Okay, let me breathe, because it was not sustainable at all.’”

Refine and Strategize. To avoid burnout, she slowed her pace and stepped back to focus on the bigger picture. “I didn't pressure myself once I was on solid ground. I decided to focus more on refining the content, making it for the fun of it, and focusing on the strategy part.” Step back and analyze your learnings and decide how you want to move forward and grow.

Invest in Your Growth. Kelly joined a business accelerator for underrepresented creators in the middle of her journey that proved to be a smart strategic move. “I feel like that changed the whole course of where I am now, because once I was able to get support from them and talk to people directly after the program, that's when I got my biggest brand deal.”

Be Brave. “For me, it was recognizing that the fear was always going to be there,” says Kelly. “If you want to live a creative life, you're going to have to do something that's scary, and it's probably going to require steps that you don't want to take. For me, being on camera was very scary.” Growth happens outside of your comfort zone. Challenge yourself to take on moves that push your boundaries and help you develop new skills. Remember that being brave doesn't mean being fearless. It means acknowledging your fears but choosing to move forward despite them!

Photos: Courtesy of Kelly Marcelo

Ready to take your business to the next level? Make your moves count with TurboTax!*

*Experts only available with TurboTax Live. See details at turbotax.com/guarantees.

I'm not sure about you, but it's that time of year that I'm already planning multiple vacations in my head where I'm sitting somewhere by a beach in full-blown relaxation mode. And while I love to look ahead at my itinerary, my favorite part of vacation planning is definitely the outfits! I get so excited that I create a Pinterest board, packing list, vacation wishlist, and schedule the outfits all in advance on my notes app — it's serious business! With all that in mind, I thought I'd share with you some white vacation dresses that are to-die-for right now!

Writer's Note: A lot of these will be either linen, cotton, and silks, or satins because they're the most breathable materials and can really help in hotter temperatures! So I almost always stick to those fabrics because they allow for me to be in hotter temperatures and not feel like 100 degrees.

Shop White Vacation Dresses Here!

ASTR The Label Off-Shoulder Dress

Everyone needs the quintessential linen white dress for vacation, and this is IT! Everything about this is romantic and perfect for vacation with the off-shoulder, side slit, and midi style of the dress. You can dress is up with some heels, or dress it down with sandals for a day at the beach.

J.Crew Stretch Linen Dress

J.Crew's been killing the game lately with their innovative and fun styles, and this one is no different! I love the linen (again we want breathable fabric for summer) along with the fun gold detailing on the straps. This one is also on sale for 40% off right now, so definitely grab this one for you summer vacations!

Halogen Halter Neck Linen Dress

The halter neck of this chic dress gives it a more modest and classic feel that I love. It's giving me serious Meghan Markle vibes, so you know it's good! Grab this one to fulfill all of your summer plans!

Abercrombie Slip Maxi Dress

I had to add this one in the mix because of its unique design that's giving me all the Italian summer on the Amalfi coast feels! The sweet fruit pattern is the perfect touch to brighten up a simple white dress. And for under $100, it's at such a great price-point!

Chelsea28 Tiered Maxi Dress

A tired dress is another staple to your vacation wardrobe. I love this boho chic one because it looks straight out of Mamma Mia on an island off the coast of Greece. An idyllic dress for all of your Euro-Summer-2024 plans!

Banana Republic Silk Maxi

You can never have too many silk dresses for vacation, and this cream, silk dress takes thecake! I love how vintage-inspired it is with the pleats at the top. I picture this stunning dress at a dinner paired with metallic heels like above and a matching mini bag. I just adore this piece!

ASTR Floral Lace Dress

Lace has entered the chat! And can you believe it's only $109?! I love this ASTR The Label dress for their super cute pieces at such an affordable price. This one screams vacation by the beach to me!

House of CB Emmelina Dress

House of CB is one of my favorite brands at the moment because their designs are so feminine and flattering for so many different body types and sizes. This dress is one that I personally have had on my wishlist for summer vacation for quite some time because of its elegant shape and cut. You're sure to look phenomenal in this classic piece!

Abercrombie Plunge Satin Dress

For every vacation, a simple silk dress is a must because of its breathability and versatility when it comes to styling. This dress is ideal for walks on the beach or for a nice dinner on the coast. Plus the low back is an amazing addition as well for a more sexy look. Abercrombie does it again, ladies!

J.Crew Bungalow Maxi Dress

Can you think of a better dress that works as both a beach coverup and adorable lunch dress? This linen maxi dress from J.Crew will take you from beach to dinner in the chicest way. I love the cuts at the bottom to not make it too billowy and the low V-neck looks super flattering as well. Adding this to my wishlist ASAP!

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Lead image via Banana Republic.

We all want to step out in style, and these sneaker trends are your one-way ticket to getting there. From sportier silhouettes to sleek, fashion-forward footwear, we’re seeing a specific handful of unique (and sometimes controversial)sneakers out on the streets that suit anyone and everyone! No matter what look you're going for, we’ve got a range of trending sneaker styles for 2024 that’ll compliment your very best ‘fits and your budget.

Sporty Sneakers

Adidas Samba OG Shoes

The first sneaker trend needs no introduction. You’ve seen ‘em on all the cool fashion girls (and beyond), enough to know that sporty sneakers are in.

Adidas sneakers are the prime example of the sporty sneaker trend. The most popular styles – Gazelles and Sambas – have history with soccer and handball, but they’re not quite being sported for sport anymore. They’re easy to wear with your most casual jeans or even paired with a flowy maxi skirt!

On the other side of the spectrum, gorp-core brands like Salomon have more technical-looking sneakers that still fit into the everyday.

The Samba OG shoes come in a variety of colors, but these white-on-black ones are the most approachable. A limited color palette makes way for endless matching possibilities, plus these are just so comfy!

The Adidas Samba OG Shoes are $100.

New Balance 1906 Utility Unisex Sneakers

Flaunting a sizable tread and a plush platform, these sneakers from New Balance are unquestionably sporty, but get a stylish edge from the muted green and brown details. Since they're designed for running, you can feel the utmost support from these shoes – even if you're not trying to beat your current mile time.

The New Balance 1906 Utility Unisex Sneakers are $160.

Salomon XT-6 Unisex Sportstyle Shoes

These sleek sneakers skip the laces, favoring an easy on-and-off drawstring for the perfect fit. While they're chunkier and more detailed than your average Adidas sneaker, the Salomon XT-6's give a unique, fashion-forward vibe with their iconic logo. Any sneakerhead will be fascinated by these sneaks.

The Salomon XT-6 sneakers are available in 15 other colors for $200.

Blue Sneakers

Nike Blazer Low '77 Sneaker

If you don’t quite know what sneaker trends to shop for in terms of shape and silhouette, going for a specific color can help guide you to the perfect pair. Blue sneakers are totally hot right now amongst the cool fashion gals, whether they rock 'em in royal hues or lighter blues, like the styles listed.

These slimmer sneakers are reminiscent of the famed Adidas ones, but the suede material makes them less sporty and more casual for everyday wear.

The Nike Blazer Low '77 Sneakers are $100 at Nordstrom.

Puma Palermo Leather Sneaker

Another low-profile blue shoe, these Pumas are a total 80's throwback. They flaunt classic details like the rubber role and paneled toe, plus the Puma logo you just can't miss. The lighter blue would go great with this season's trending colors, like butter yellow or even lilac.

The Puma Palermo Leather Sneakers are $90 at Nordstrom.

Adidas Handball Spezial Shoes

Think of these Adidas sneaks as your new everyday shoe, but more colorful. From the grocery store to the park, you'll be stepping in style with this contrasting style! The trio of stripes on each side of these shoes is super iconic, so your looks will immediately be on-trend, no matter what you're wearing.

The Adidas Handball Spezial Shoes also come in a number of other color combos, and go for $110.

Metallic Sneakers

New Balance 1906R Unisex Sneakers

In addition to all things blue, metallic sneakers have been hitting the pavement and turning heads everywhere. I’ve mostly spotted silver sneakers in the wild, but metallic sneakers are also shoppable in golds and other eye-catching shades.

If you don't want to rock a full-on shiny shoe quite yet, these New Balance sneakers are the perfect place to start. They're fitted with metallic detailing along the sides for a stunning effect. You'll love 'em even more for their added cushiness and support around the arch and ankles.

The New Balance 1906R Unisex Sneakers are $155.

ALOHAS tb. 490 Leather Sneakers

These ALOHAS shoes are a low-key dupe for the well-loved Adidas sneakers. The rubber sole, low-sitting profile, and layered paneling along the toe give the same effect, except these have an exceptional shine.

These sneakers go for $190 at Urban Outfitters. You can also shop them in four other fun colors.

Adidas Country OG Shoes

These best-selling shoes will (literally) outshine all of the other pairs hanging out in your wardrobe. They have that oh-so 70's feel in shape, but carry a modern twist in the silver shininess.

The Adidas Country OG Shoes are $120.

Ballet Sneakers

Skechers Relaxed Fit: Breathe-Easy Shoes

They're not ballet flats, but they’re not quite sneakers, either. Ballet sneakers are on the rise right now, with unique (and a bit divisive) styles like the New Balance 1906L and the Kiko Kostadinov x Heaven by Marc Jacobs x Gel-Lokros shoes hitting the high-end market.

Ballet sneakers are a great way to toe the line between comfy and cute, especially when your soles need some extra support since they’re often bulkier than your average flat.

I am obsessed with this sporty move that Skechers made on their Mary Jane-esque shoes. These ballet sneakers have a nice tread on the bottom and secure on top with a velcro strap. The black colorway is super easy to wear alone or with socks for a layered look!

These supportive Skechers Relaxed Fit: Breathe-Easy Shoes cost $63.

Heaven by Marc Jacobs x Kiko Kostadinov Vapor Cosmos

These strappy sneakers also approach Mary Jane territory with stretchy straps and buckles up top, though the bottoms are cushier and traditionally sneaker-like. This pair flaunts some coquette-ish details, from the scalloped trim to the star-shaped stitching on the toes.

This pair of Heaven by Marc Jacobs x Kiko Kostadinov Vapor Cosmos go for $222 on StockX.

Buffalo Binary Ballet Sneaker

These adorable pink ballet sneakers are ready to hit the pavement with a chunky sole. The upper half of the shoe is more delicate, with tiny pleats and a seamless buckle detail.

The Buffalo Binary Ballet Sneakers are $180 at Urban Outfitters.

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Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.