Tina Zhang's Cheat Sheet ✦꙳
"I think life is about fluctuation between routines and games."
I’m so excited to have
on this week’s edition of Cheat Sheet! I stumbled across Tina’s outfit videos before I started reading her Substack , and her poise, intentionality, and taste are apparent whether she’s dressing for the office or investigating weirdness. I want to be like Tina when I grow up! In the meantime, she’s sharing 5 things that have improved her life.
CHEAT SHEET is a series that unveils the objects, rituals, habits, places, and secrets that make life better. It’s like the blue-lined paper you’d make for yourself with all the formulas, tips, and strategies for an exam.
TINA ZHANG’S CHEAT SHEET
Two years ago I wrote this essay on Substack in response to a reader’s comment about life feeling tedious and repetitive in your 20s. I still think life is about fluctuation between routines and games – routines to set yourself up for feeling your best, and games to bring levity and joy. Writing this cheat sheet felt like a good reminder of my current rituals and games and the continuous balancing act between the two.
1. A (self imposed) work uniform
I love the ritual of getting dressed – but most of the time, in the flurry of the morning rush, this becomes a stressful and tedious exercise. I am not a morning person (more on that below), and have resigned to the fact that most mornings for me will be somewhat frenzied. As a result, I like having a set of uniforms that I can throw on when I’m rushing out the door and still feel put together. I think I’m very swayed by momentum – if I start the day feeling optimistic and composed, I’ll be infinitely more likely to have a good day.
2. Hobonichi Techo Notebook
I’ve been journaling since I was 12, and it’s probably the most long standing practice I have. I used to carry around multiple notebooks – a planner for my life, a separate journal, and a notepad for work (a nightmare). This year I bought a japanese hobonichi techo notebook that has a page for each day of the year and then a few pages for monthly / weekly calendars. It’s become my lifeline to keep me organized, have all my thoughts in one place and an accountability tracker to make sure I write something every day (even if it’s just a brain dump).
3. Kombucha in a wine glass after work
Ever since my friend Ellie recommended this to me, I’ve gotten into the habit of having a kombucha in a wine glass as a little pick me up after work. I pretty much center my day around various caffeinated and non-caffeinated drinks (and am notoriously terrible at keeping hydrated). My parents would always have tea after dinner and my kombucha is my version of a nightcap – it’s a fun little digestif to keep your weekdays sane.
4. A morning communal activity
A few years ago, I moved to Sydney for work (which by the way I’d highly recommend to anyone) – and lived by the beach in Bondi. Australia has a culture of early mornings, and while I hate hate hate waking up in the mornings, it is genuinely so magical to wake up to watch the sunrise and dip your toes in the ocean. While I admittedly didn’t do this often, now that I’m back in New York, I still like having a forcing function to get me out the door in the mornings. The only way I’m getting up before 6am is if I have a run with a friend or a barre class that will charge me a $20 cancellation fee.
5. Taking a class at Parsons!
The older I get the more I realize that finding myself means rediscovering the 8 year old version of myself. I used to always say I was going to be an artist (or writer) when I grew up but I come from a family of engineers and academics so it was not really in the cards. I started taking fashion design classes at Parson’s a few years ago and quite simply, it made me really happy! I’ve realized there are various forms for expressing yourself creatively that don’t involve a drastic career change. I know friends that have audited classes in art history or interior design or if all else fails you can always start writing on substack. :)
Thank you Tina for sharing her Cheat Sheet! You can find more of her at @tinarzhang on IG/TikTok and on Substack. Let me know who you want to see featured next.
Catch up on previous CHEAT SHEETS:
Love you bye!
So real and succinctly put: "I still think life is about fluctuation between routines and games – routines to set yourself up for feeling your best, and games to bring levity and joy."
Yess! Another cheat sheet! I love these! And I totally agree about taking classes as an adult - they feel like such a fun way to come back to yourself :)