上週五，當我們把員工每週的升級工作集中起來的時候，我們的編輯們正在從新聞週期中休息，自製烤奶油，馴服我們的繩索叢林。

本週，我們將養成可行的鍛煉習慣，下載Netflix節目以度過通勤時間，在我們需要新衣服的時候承認，並透過分享Spotify播放列表打破一天的單調。

你這周做了什麼升級？請在評論中告訴我們。

Get just the right tools for your drawing habit

I was ecstatic when I realized I could squirt my favorite waterproof black ink, Noodler’s Bulletproof Black, into a spent Uni-ball AIR pen, and it still writes like a dream. The AIR is a rollerball that can make a mark at any angle, so it’s great for fast longhand writing or rapid sketching. I’d c***igned these pens to journal writing because the ink they come with is slightly water soluble, but now the I’ve refilled them I can use them for drawing too with no worries about muddying the picture if I decide to watercolor over the ink. If you take the pen apart, the ink is in a clear plastic tube. Just yank it out, refill with an old medicine syringe, and shove it back in place.

beth skwarecki, health editor

Come prepared for a long commute

I was able to rabidly watch a Netflix show that I liked a lot by downloading episodes to watch on my phone (via the Netflix app) while commuting on the train. Since my commute is about 45 minutes long, I can watch an episode of basically any show without having to wait until the ride home to finish the last five minutes. It’s great for when I want to speed through a show or if I’m out of podcasts. The pro-mode of this hack would be doing what my neighbor does: buying a suction cup phone mount and sticking it on the window of the train so you can watch and ride in extreme style.

emily lipstein, social editor

Stop buying overpriced juices at the deli

I got my first accessory for my new Kitchenaid mixer—the Juicer attachment. It has already saved me tens of dollars by making my own fresh juices instead of buying them from the healthy bodega down the street. Still trying to figure out the right amount of ginger, though...

joel kahn, senior video producer

Find a workout routine that actually works for you

This week, after going to the gym, I announced to my hu**and, “I love Pilates!” I don’t think I’ve used the word “love” in association with exercise, ever. I’m not great at sticking with fitness routines, but I’ve been taking mat Pilates classes for the past two years, so it seems like I’ve found a winner. What I appreciate about mat Pilates: 1) I get to to lay down for 50 percent of the class, 2) it’s still really, really challenging, 3) I’m pretty clumsy, but having a strong core is supposed to help me stop myself from falling if I trip on something (a very underrated skill).

michelle woo, parenting editor

And buy clothes that actually work for you

I finally admitted I’ve gone up a couple of waist sizes, and now I’ve got four new pairs of jeans that I don’t want to take off after dinner.

nick douglas, staff writer

Bundle up in a freezing office

I’ve been eyeballing those enormous scarves that double as shawls in a cold office for a while now. I decided to take the plunge and buy one, and when I went into Zara it just so happened there was a massive sale going on. I got a super soft blanket scarf for just $8! Fashionable, and cost-effective.

alicia adamczyk, staff writer

DJ for your coworkers

Our staff has been using JQBX, a music sharing program, and it’s been an upgrade for me. Sometimes working remotely is lonely, and DJing for each other has made me feel like I have “real” coworkers. Plus it’s helped me get out of my rut.

claire lower, food & beverage editor

Set an evening social media cutoff

Admittedly, this one has had mixed success, but it’s something I want to keep up: each night I try to set a cutoff for social media use and general mindless phone scrolling. It’s not a set time, because my schedule’s variable, but what I’ve generally been doing is one final Instagram/Twitter trawl for the day (usually around dinner time), then trying to stay away from the phone for the rest of the night. It’s hard to remember to give my brain time away from the internet, but I always feel much, much better when I do.

virginia k. **ith, managing editor