Work isn’t supposed to love you back
Hey, it’s Matt.
I caught myself doomscrolling again last night-half-thinking, half-tapping, not really doing anything. It’s wild how easy it is to get pulled into everyone else’s feed and forget your own path.
That’s the trap: we think we’re consuming inspiration, but really, we’re just numbing uncertainty. This week’s links offer a sharp contrast-founders reclaiming their time, trusting their instincts, and building for real problems, not imaginary users on X.
If your brain’s been feeling like a browser with 42 tabs open, this one’s for you.
In this week’s edition:
- The myth of work-life balance, dismantled by a designer who chose boundaries over burnout
- Linear’s clever way of decoding messy user feedback to build what people really need
- Why your 6am alarm isn’t making you more productive (and what actually is)
- Engineers reckon with the end of cushy perks-and the start of a ruthless new normal
- And more…
Enjoy issue #99-see you next week!
– Matt (@mattdowney)
P.S. If this was forwarded to you, you can sign up here.
MOST INTERESTING
Disney’s robots just got way more realistic
With help from Nvidia and DeepMind, Disney’s new physics engine lets park bots move like real creatures. It’s delightful and adorably dystopian, but more than that, it’s a hint of what’s coming to IRL interfaces. (Tech Crunch)
Forget hustle-it’s boundaries that make you sharper
Julie Chabin refuts the idea that passion justifies burnout. Her piece is a gut check for creatives stuck in grind mode. Turns out, stepping away might be the most productive thing you do. (Julie Chabin)
You don’t need to wake up early
In a similar vein as the article above, Chris Bailey torches the “5am club” myth with neuroscience and common sense. Your output isn’t about clocks-it’s about owning your rhythm without guilt. (Chris Bailey)
TOP RESOURCES
Build what users need, not what they say
Linear’s approach to product requests cuts through noise. Instead of chasing every feature ask, they read between the lines-and build the stuff people actually stick around for. (Linear)
Run projects without losing your mind
Ben Kuhn’s playbook from Anthropic ditches meetings for 6-hour focus blocks and tight feedback loops. If you’re juggling high-stakes chaos, bookmark this system before your next fire drill. (Ben Kuhn)
Steal CTA designs that actually convert
CTA.gallery is a no-fluff showcase of buttons that drive action. Great if your site looks nice but no one’s clicking anything. (CTA Gallery)
What’s TRENDING
Storytelling isn’t optional anymore
Figma shows why technical founders can’t hide behind “I’m not a writer.” Clear writing is now table stakes. Bad prose = ignored product. (Figma)
Design is finally getting weird again
Amelia Wattenberger argues today’s interfaces are sensory-dead. Her call to revive touch, sound, and motion could reshape how we build-and feel-software. (Amelia Wattenberger)
Tech’s cushy era is officially over
High-interest rates killed the perks party. Engineers are now forced to justify their work with revenue-or risk being cut. It’s brutal, but a reversion to the mean is overdue. (Sean Goedecke)
My stack
These are the tools that help me run my business every day. I happily pay for each of them-they’re worth every penny. I hope you find them useful, too.
- Beehiiv → How I send this newsletter every week. 10/10 would recommend.
- Brain.fm → How I kickstart my productivity and find flow-state.
- Figma → How I quickly go from idea to design to product.
- Mercury → The best business banking I’ve ever used.
- Screen Studio → How I record engaging videos.
- Typefully → How I post content to my socials.
- Kick → My bookkeeping on auto-pilot.
And that’s a wrap!
Thanks for reading today’s issue. If you have any ideas for what you’d like me to cover in future issues, just hit reply and let me know.
And if you found today’s newsletter useful, please share it with your friends!
Matt Downey
Founder, Digital Native
@mattdowney