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With Memorial Day on the horizon, I’m resurfacing a newsletter I wrote last year about the importance of summer Fridays.

As a freelance professional with a solo practice, sure, I get to make my own hours. I also (technically) get to take vacation days whenever I want. And to some in more rigid arrangements, that is enviable! Of course, the flip side of the same coin is I don’t get paid when I don’t work (not enviable).

Still, I adjust my work schedule every summer in a way that both pays off from a mental-health standpoint and also from a dollars-and-cents standpoint.

I make my own summer Fridays. No, it’s not a revolutionary idea — and certainly not in the media world. You may likely be doing it already. In fact, for most of my career, the practice of ending work early on the Fridays between Memorial Day and Labor Day was built into my work life as an employee of multiple New York City-based media organizations.

But when I went full-time freelance in 2019, the onus fell completely on me to defend these sacred Friday afternoons. I always make the choice to do it, because I’ve realized it’s an absolute game-changer for my lifestyle and my identity. And I’m here to tell you that you should implement the practice if you can — or to remind you to treat it like the precious benefit it is if you already have it.

I wrote about this approach in an essay for Insider. One way I do this is to look at the summer holistically — as well as by each individual month — rather than taking it day by day or week by week. Viewing it from this bigger picture helps me prioritize projects and revenue goals alongside my personal goal of Friday afternoons free.

I give myself artificial deadlines well ahead of when a client or outlet needs a deliverable — and rarely do these self-imposed deadlines fall on a Friday. That means editors and clients tend to get what they need from me well in advance, during a season when they are also focused on travel and personal time, and this tends to make me a favorite freelancer. (That reputation benefits my bottom line all year.)

During a typical summer Friday, I might see a movie, or get a massage. I don’t use this time for errands. I carve it out as personal time just for me while my kids are in school, my childcare needs are met, and my husband is at work. This solo time softens my edges when it’s back to family and professional responsibilities.

My Friday afternoon plans dovetail with a strategy Gretchen Rubin calls “designing your summer,” an approach about which I interviewed her for the Insider piece.

The “Happier” podcast host and author of bestselling books on happiness, Rubin also authored one of the most poignant and resonant quotes on how we experience time (especially as parents amid the daily grind of so many responsibilities): “The days are long but the years are short.”

Rubin explains that you can design your summer no matter your income or work structure. That’s because it’s more of an attitude shift than anything else. (And it’s OK when things go off the rails, as they invariably do sometimes.)

On summer Fridays, I like to see a matinee of a new release in an air-conditioned theater. Some people, Rubin said, like to assign themselves other similarly delightful outings — like going to every ice cream shop in their area. The specifics are up to you; it’s just about deciding to do it… and then doing it.

In Rubin’s assessment, designing your summer is a practice meant to set the season apart — in the way school-aged kids experience it. To make it special, and to make it feel even longer by so doing.

Taking time for this sort of seasonal scheduling novelty makes life seem to slow down. It makes the season feel distinct (whereas the daily grind typically makes time pass in an indistinguishable blur).

And in an increasingly inscrutable world, it’s this type of novelty — and simple pleasure — that matters even more than ever.

Who’s in with me for summer Fridays this year?

Tools of the trade

• Is anyone using Press Hook yet? If you haven’t heard of it, it’s designed as a platform to connect journalists looking for story sources with brands who want to showcase their products and experts. It also offers a suite of helpful workflow tools. Journalists can search by product and category, and participating brands get exposure and affiliate opportunities — so it’s designed as a win-win for everyone (in the same vein as this Substack). Give it a try — right now there’s a 14-day free trial available — and let me know what you think.

• Freshbooks is the bookkeeping tool I use exclusively for my invoicing, expenses, and reporting. It’s the best, IMHO, so I evangelize. Get FreshBooks here.

• Are you a publicist who needs help understanding the affiliate game? This course, Affiliate Marketing for Publicists, can help.

• I’m obsessed with the game-changing platform Otter.ai. I use it to both record interviews and also to transcribe them in real time. You can also use it to record/transcribe any type of meeting — so anyone who missed it can easily access the Cliff’s Notes version. There’s a pro plan for agencies/companies with a ton of neat features. Check out Otter.ai here.

• My TV reporter and PR agency owner friend Christina Nicholson (who hosted me on her podcast ) hosts a 3-day program for pitching media. Once a seasonal event, she’s now made it available on-demand. You get the masterclass, a personal branding workbook, and a fill-in-the-blanks pitch template — all for $37. It’s a steal, so don’t let it pass you by.

Open press opportunities

• For Travel + Leisure, I’m still open to pitches for the roundup of the best breathable shoes for summer. This will mainly be sneakers or other shoes you can do summer activities in (with a function similar to sneakers). Open to mens’s and women’s styles alike. (Thanks to those who have already sent pitches; they’re all under consideration.)

Recently published or updated

• 40 of the Best Michelin-Starred Restaurants in NYC (Town & Country)

• 10 Best Cooling Pajamas for Women to Keep You Comfortable (Woman’s Day)

• Flying the Delta One Suite on the New Airbus A330neo from London to Los Angeles (Business Traveler)

• I visited London for King Charles III's coronation and scoured the city for all the fun, kitschy souvenirs I could find (Insider)

• 5 Lessons Event Profs Can Learn From Upper-Class Airline Service (BizBash)

• The Best Graduation Gifts to Celebrate Huge Milestones at Every Age (Parents)

• Want a Relaxing Alternative to a California Road Trip? Hop on a Train. (AFAR)

• 8 gorgeous luxury hotels that start under $150 a night, from a Bali jungle mansion with 5 pools for $86 to a castle-like villa in Italy for $137 (Insider)

• The Ultimate Packing List for Flying With Kids (Travel + Leisure — digital and digital issue)

• 9 eco-friendly things you can do on any vacation that sustainable-travel experts say add up to make a big difference (Insider)

• Samsonite Luggage, Flight Attendant-loved Packing Cubes, and More Are Almost 80% Off at Amazon This Weekend (Travel + Leisure)

• 50 Best Gifts for the Mom Who Has Everything (Woman’s Day)

• 8 Parent-loved Water Shoes That Are Comfortable, Durable, and Under $30 (Travel + Leisure)
  The Ultimate Packing List for Long-haul Flights (Travel + Leisure)

• 11 One-and-done Travel Dresses Under $50 That Will Make Any Mom Feel Comfortable and Stylish (Travel + Leisure)

• The 13 Best Cashmere Sweaters of 2023 (Travel + Leisure)

• 5 Scooter Suitcases Loved by Parents and Kids — All Under $150 (Travel + Leisure)

• Saatva’s *affordable* foam mattress topper totally transformed my years-old mattress (Real Homes)

• 31 Best Dresses on Amazon to Wear This Spring and Summer (Woman’s Day)

• The 12 Best Keratosis Pilaris Treatments, According to Dermatologists (Prevention)

• The 20 Best Luxury Travel Accessories of 2023 (Travel + Leisure)

• 38 of the Best Luxury All-Inclusive Resorts in the World (Town & Country)

• 20 Appropriate Bar Mitzvah Gifts He's Sure to Cherish (Woman’s Day)

• 20 Best Bat Mitzvah Gifts to Honor Her Major Milestone (Woman’s Day)

• These Rent-to-Own Homes Programs to Help You Get Into That House (HomeLight)

• The Best Things to Do in Los Angeles (Esquire)

• The Best Things to Do in Las Vegas (Esquire)

• 23 of the best places to travel to around the world in 2023 (Insider)

Open jobs

Job posts in this newsletter are now free! Have an open opportunity you want me to promote? Share it with me at info@alicedubin.com.

FACTEUR PR is hiring for two positions as follows:

• Assistant Account Executive, full-time, remote, must be Miami/South FL based. Job provides essential support for outreach efforts on behalf of lifestyle clients. Day-to-day support to the team in the planning, development, and execution of public relations campaigns, including across media relations, influencer relations, partnerships, and events. The successful candidate will be a self-starter with the ability to handle multiple tasks and prioritize work while delivering under tight deadlines and achieving success for our clients. Learn more and apply here.

• Assistant Manager, Brand & Influencer Partnerships, responsible for securing, managing, and measuring strategic relationships for clients across influencer and talent relations and special events, which will help elevate their brand awareness and ultimately attract new clients and customers. The role will require an integrated approach across public relations, social media, and marketing, working closely with internal team and clients. Learn more and apply here.

Work with me

• Here’s how to pitch: Simply respond to this email with a new subject line or pitch me at pitch@alicedubin.com.

• Are you a writer hoping to reach my engaged list of publicists? A publicist hoping to connect with brands? A digital media type with a product or service for the industry? Maybe you’d like to sponsor this newsletter with a featured ad. Let’s chat: info@alicedubin.com.

• Yes — thanks for asking! — I am also available for project-based consulting.

How to help

• Help with the relief efforts following the earthquake in Turkey and Syria. Donate to Unicef or Save the Children.

• Donate to the Anti-Defamation League to support the fight against hate.

• Donate to Moms Demand Action and Everytown.

• Donate to keep the Kyiv Independent going and keep Ukraine’s media going. 

• Donate to Planned Parenthood.