"Never Have I Ever" Star Maitreyi Ramakrishnan Breaks Down the Basics of Gen Z Slang

What is the 4-day work week?

The 4-day work week erases the typical five-day, 9-5 work schedule most of us know (and loathe), leaning in favor of 32 hours of actual work time each week. The abbreviated hours warrant the same amount of pay that a 40-hour work week would, offering the likelihood of more employee retention and productivity for companies. For employees, the benefits lie in improved mental and physical health, reduced stress, and more personal time to take care of OOO projects or just relax.

Findings from a recent six-month 4-day work week trial across 61 companies in the UK report that 92% of the companies involved in the trial are officially implementing the shortened workflow. In this case, the companies reported significant decreases in employees’ sick days, personal days, and resignations compared to previous quarters. Despite impressions that a 4-day work week might harm productivity, revenues actually increased an average of 1.4% across the board.

Different companies have toyed with accomplishing the 32 hours over 4 or 5 days – but either avenue still suggests that reduced work hours provide positive changes.

Though some 4-day week studies were ongoing pre-COVID, there’s no doubting that the pandemic remarkably altered attitudes toward working, resulting in more curiosity about the shortened week. 2020 brought about a societal shift toward solely working from home – with this, workers uncovered the sheer power of a healthy work-life balance, and are seeking it to this day.

Work-Life Balance In The 4-Day Work Week

The 4-day work week lends itself to a generous work-life balance where employees can take care of themselves and the rest of life’s obligations more thoughtfully. Just imagine a world where every weekend is a 3-day weekend – you could finally take your car in for service without wasting a precious lunch break, or take your kid to the waterpark of their dreams, all without an endless stream of emails looming in the background.

This new framework comes at a time when workplace burnout is at an all-time high, pushing people who once cared a lot about their job to the brink of chronic stress or straight-up apathy – and neither one’s a good recipe for productivity. Burnout also persuades employees to prioritize themselves over mundane work tasks – another threat to companies’ KPIs.

We’ll see this self-before-work mindset become even more widespread as Gen Zinfiltrates the workforce, demanding flexibility and autonomy. But reduced work stress and more leisure time for employees of all generations could result in more positive mental and physical health outcomes, allowing them to perform more efficiently and effectively. The UK 4-day work week trial saw noteworthy reductions in burnout, stress, anxiety, fatigue, and sleep issues among workers, and suggests others outside of the study can feel the same.

Workplace Productivity And The 4-Day Work Week

According to Parkinson’s law, people work harder when given less time to do the work. This same idea applies to the 4-day work week. Some companies have seen productivity jump as much as 40% in comparison to that of a 5-day work week, without asking less of their employees. The quality of work getting done could potentially suffer, though, which is an aspect 4-day-curious companies should consider.

AI can also aid productivity within the shortened work week. Just like any new technology – like the invention of email or the iPhone – made work easier, AI can take the heavy-lifting out of day-to-day work tasks, sometimes shaving off hours or *days* off of total work time. This is a huge win for teams that seek success through efficiency and productivity.

Why not the 4-day work week?

The main arguments against implementing a 4-day work week is that less face-to-face interaction among teams will result in a less socialized work environment and a loss of office culture.

Though these potential outcomes exist, fresh faces in the workforce don't necessarily view them as negative. After all, Gen Z isn’t taking away office socialization and culture entirely, they’re just changing it. Office culture is rarely at the front of Gen Z minds, too – they’d rather work for companies that can exhibit their commitment to the issues their generation was cursed with, like climate change, sustainability, social justice, and diversity.

For Companies Considering A Shorter Work Week

The 4-day work week can benefit companies beyond just work. Along with offering insurance and retirement packages, company leadership and management can use the 4-day week’s strong appeal to draw in more talent. We saw this unfold when remote work became more of a thing, so it’s reasonable to predict that the flexible 4-day work week calls for more interest in the roles companies have to offer.

Companies can also leverage the shortened week towards their employee retention efforts. Employees want to work for companies whose ethos aligns with their own – and since the workforce has increasingly opted for anti-burnout solutions, they’ll want to continue working for companies that value their wellbeing.

What Is A Fangirl?

Merriam-Webster defines fangirl as "a girl or woman who is an extremely or overly enthusiastic fan of someone or something." But can you really be overly enthusiastic about something? There is so much darkness in the world right now that if something brings you joy, why not use your entire heart to celebrate it?

Conversations and controversy surrounding fangirls swelled over recent years, especially as TikTok and Twitter continue to make it even easier to talk about your favorite topics. Headlines discuss everything from The Social Power Of Fangirls to Why Sexism Drives Fangirl Shaming.

Using fandom or emotional connection to belittle another person reduces the idea of being a fangirl down to someone who's blindly obsessed with a variety of random movies, books, or bands. But it is so much more layered and complicated than that.

The Chronicles of Narnia taught me about courage and kindness. The MCU taught me to believe in myself. Little Women taught me about sisterhood. Taylor Swift taught me about romanticizing every part of life. Shadow And Bone and The Last of Us taught me to look for the light when life feels too dark to go on.

These stories made my life, my worldview, and my understanding of other people's lives so much richer.

Applying The Fangirl Mentality To Life

The fangirl mentality means that I try to have a “good for the plot” approach to life. This is a part of the viral TikTok main character mindset, where you look at your life as a television series and attribute any missteps as something that would make your audience laugh, gasp, or talk about — the same way that we gossip about our favorite shows.

Embracing the chaos of life goes hand in hand with Chaos Theory, and the understanding that the world around us is, and will continue to be, unpredictable. By accepting that life overall will continue to surprise us, we're able to hold our own plans with a looser grip — and approach life with more fun.

I have a running list on my phone of funny quotes that I overhear, and am constantly telling stories of how I tripped up the stairs in a subway station, flailing my elbows like a bird because my hands were occupied, or almost got hit by a cab in the pouring rain.

As funny as it can be to talk about that chaos, there's something that feels extra confusing when making mistakes in your 20s. Your mess-ups can have more drastic consequences than ever before, and there's a self-imposed pressure to act like an adult even though you still feel 16.

Leaning into the mistakes we make is important because they serve as a reminder that we’re not perfect, and no milestone or age will change that. After you mess up, your brain moves slower and more intentionally when making a decision, allowing it to absorb the information around you more thoroughly. This means that making mistakes can challenge and strengthen your brain.

And that's another wonderful thing about growing up with my favorite characters: they make a ton of mistakes in their '20s.

Mia Thermopolis falls into a fountain during a royal garden party in The Princess Diaries 2, while almost all of Jane Villanueva's best efforts in Jane the Virgin go hilariously wrong. None of our favorite Friends know what the heck they're doing throughout the first season. Or second. Or third.

Engaging with your favorite shows and movies and looking to the characters' inspiring traits can make your internal life — your imagination, your empathy, and your thought processes — stronger. But according to a study from Oxford Academic, it can also affect your physical life — your attitude and your behavior — because of the way it strengthens the overlap between self and others in your brain.

Growing Up And Moving Forward

I recently interviewed early 2000s icon Ashley Tisdale and she had some wonderful advice about surviving your 20s. "I think the twenties are just so much fun," she says in the interview. "It's wild and crazy, and you're dating, and you're learning who you are, and who you can be with, and what you want."

And just like my favorite sitcoms (and Ashley), I’m trying to embrace the chaos. Living as a 20-something writer in New York City is something I dreamt of for so long that even the setbacks still have a magical edge to them. There are times — like when I come out of the subway listening to Taylor Swift surrounded by skyscrapers, or when I sit with my friends in the park — that feel like they're also part of a script, that they're too good to be true.

When I moved away from home, it really did feel like a series finale where one of the characters got their own spinoff. I said goodbye to the only state I’d ever lived in and the people that knew me better than I know myself. There was a strange mix of thrilling anticipation and terror that I had never felt before.

Naturally, to give myself some confidence, I also came up with a name for the aforementioned spinoff (Next Life) as well as picked out the theme song (“Be With You” by The Belonging Co. and Lauren Strahm). Just like the perfect cocktail, your 20s is all about finding the right balance between different elements in your life. There's definitely some of that chaos, but there's also pure fun. Because the world is so dark, and life can be so hard, I like to sprinkle a little bit of that fun magic where I can.

I'd recommend giving yourself a theme song and adopting a "good for the plot" mentality — it might just help you embrace the unpredictability in your own life.

What causes weak fingernails?

But first, what causes unhealthy, brittle, breakable nails? A lot of factors that may not instantly come to mind. According to WebMD, these factors can contribute to weak nails:

• Aging: As we get older, our nails get thinner and can crack or peel.
• Harsh nail products: Both nail polish and nail polish remover can have strong chemicals that can damage and dry out your nails, leading them to break.
• Wet nails: Consistently have your hands in water, maybe doing the dishes or bathtime for the kids? This could be drying out your nails.
• Underlying health issues: Vitamin deficiencies, autoimmune diseases, and many other health issues could be the cause of nails breaking.

How can I strengthen my nails?

Dealing with some of these factors? While we can’t help you with the underlying health issues (please see a doctor if you think you may be dealing with something!), there are many easy things you can do to improve your nails and encourage growth.

• Cuticle oil
• Biotin
• Diet
• Nail protection
• Avoid picking and peeling

Find a Cuticle Oil

You may only use cuticle oil when your manicurist applies it, but that doesn't have to be the case. Cuticle oils are an inexpensive and easy way to promote nail health and growth by keeping your nails hydrated. Cosmetically, cuticle oils encourage longer-lasting manis and leave your nails looking shiny and polished. But they do much more below the surface: cuticle oils create a healthier environment that allows strong growth for your nails.

Interested in adding cuticle oil to your beauty routine? Check our a few of my faves:

• Cuccio Naturale Revitalizing- Hydrating Oil
• Olive & June Cuticle Serum
• OPI ProSpa Nail and Cuticle Oil

Explore Biotin

Biotin is an important type of B vitamin that helps our bodies turn food into energy. It’s also one of the top recommended supplements for hair and nail growth, and for good reason. Many scientists say a daily biotin supplement can improve nail strength in as little as a few weeks.

“Since it is water soluble, biotin (or vitamin B7) can’t be stored in the body and must be acquired from diet or through supplementation,” shared Rachel Kilroy, Director of Product Innovation at Solaray, the original pioneers in supplement health and wellness. Solaray has developed a new supplement that provides biotin in a unique way.

“Solaray’s Timed Release Biotin strategically supports nail health with a powerful 5,000 mcg of this important nutrient, delivering half of the biotin rapidly and the other half gradually over a period of up to 8 hours for sustained support,” Kilroy continued. “With consistent use, this vegan formula—lab verified for purity and potency—can provide comprehensive support for longer, stronger nails.”

Supplements not your thing? Biotin can be found naturally in many foods, like cooked eggs, whole grains, soy and other beans, nuts and nut butters, salmon, mushrooms, and cauliflower.

Eat A Nail Friendly Diet

Nails require a balanced, healthy diet for proper growth and strength. According to Medical News Today, making small tweaks to your diet can make a big impact on your nails. Adding in nutrients like more iron or calcium in your diet will have your nails growing long and strong.

Dieticians recommend a colorful diet for nail growth consisting of colorful fruits and veggies, nuts, seeds, eggs, lean meat, avocado, sweet potato, and whole grains.

Protect Your Nails While Wet

Constantly doing dishes, managing bath time, gardening, or swimming? The water may be the cause of your breakage.

Your nails are like sponges, constantly expanding and contracting when water goes in or out of the nail cells. This can strain your nails, causing them to weaken, peel, and then break.

When possible, grab a pair of rubber gloves to wear while cleaning to protect your nails from the water and make sure to fully dry your nails after they’re in water. Hand creams are also a win for your nails after water exposure.

Avoid Picking, Peeling or Biting

Bad habits that are addicting. While peeling off your gel manicure can be so satisfying, it’s one of the worst things you can do for your nails. Same with constantly picking or biting your nails. As someone who used to constantly bite her nails down, I can assure you my nails are much healthier and stronger after kicking that habit.

Want to quit that habit? Try a nail bite deterrent, like this one from ella+mia or this one from LONDONTOWN and watch your nails grow before your eyes.