Working Girl's Guide #34: Failed resolutions, Ross's famous hand, congestion pricing in NYC

Hey guys…sorry I went dark for a sec there. I’m BACK! We’re talking congestion pricing in New York, a new law that protects child influencers in California, and setting New Year’s resolutions that don’t suck.

Let’s get into it.

Controversy on the streets of New York: driving gets seriously expensive

Check in on your New York friends, because Manhattan’s controversial congestion pricing plan is now live, and people have feelings about it. Drivers will pay up to $9/day to drive into Manhattan (below 61st street) at peak times, and for trucks, it’s up to $21.60. The benefit? Hopefully more people will choose public transit, which will mean less congestion, and happier car-less New Yorkers.

Hulu and FuboTV are making a baby

While we were all busy relaxing over the holiday, Hulu and FuboTV were getting busy: on Monday, the companies announced they’re merging — more specifically, Disney (which owns Hulu) will now also own 70% of Fubo. Together, Hulu and Fubo will now make up one of the largest digital TV providers.

New laws for child influencers take effect

As of January 1, content creators in the state of California who feature kids in 30% or more of their content have to sock some money away in a trust for those children. The law was signed into effect by an unlikely duo: Governor Gavin Newsom and…Demi Lovato? Go off queen! The Newsom administration is big on protecting kids from social media and smartphones: Newsom also signed the Phone-Free School Act, which would require every school to adopt a policy that would limit or prohibit smartphone use at school by summer 2026.

The last 3 weeks have been a whirlwind. I spent the holidays in Texas, Hawaii, and Jackson Hole — and let me tell you there are no three climates harder to pack for in a single suitcase. So lucky to take some time off (two whole weeks!) to spend time with the people I love (including this guy ayyy)! <3

If you’re planning a sunny vacation in 2025, you need this dress! It’s breathable, chic, and easy to pack (very important when going from ski trip to Hawaii!). The belt is removable, so you can also easily throw it on over a swimsuit for a more relaxed look. And it’s so cute that bae had to give me a hug while I was trying to take an outfit pic 😉 ! Shoutout to the shoes, too: SO comfortable — I literally wore them every day!

New Year’s resolutions are like gym memberships: everyone signs up, but no one shows up. Instead of setting unrealistic goals, let’s talk habit stacking: it’s truly the ONLY way I can remember to achieve the things I want to achieve.

Step one: piggyback on what you’re already doing. You probably already have a morning coffee/tea routine, right? Pair it with a quick gratitude journal or a 5-minute stretch. Personally, waking up and getting right to the gym is daunting. But getting up for coffee THEN gym is doable. Tricking yourself is half the battle.

Step two: anchor big goals to small habits. Want to read more? Leave your book on your pillow so it’s the last thing you see before sleep. Trying to hydrate? Chug a glass of water every time you open Instagram. (The scroll is inevitable — may as well make it work for you.)

Step three: make rewards part of the system. Sometimes I feel like goals are all about grinding, but they should make us feel good!! My personal planned rewards: I’m trying to hit 12k steps a day, and will be purchasing a new bag for the spring after I hit that goal for a month.

You know the drill: January 1st rolls around, you’re brimming with motivation, and you swear this year will be DIFFERENT. But let’s be real, you’re probably one of the 23% of people who gives up on your New Year’s resolution by the end of the first week. Don’t worry, Ross and I have also been known to ditch our goals — which is why we’re here to reflect on our past errors and help you break the cycle and actually achieve those ambitious goals!

We’re confronting the ghosts of our 2024 goals: my dreams of culinary stardom which remain firmly grounded in the realm of ‘someday,’ and Ross’s pursuit of fame which somehow been achieved primarily by his hand (and no other body part). We’ll get into it.

Stay tuned for effective methods for setting realistic goals, how to request a raise before your one-year mark, and how to navigate internal career transitions. Listen here.

Thanks for reading!