All posts tagged: micromanage

‘I don’t want to micromanage my body’: how the adjustable waistband became a way to regain control | Fashion

‘I don’t want to micromanage my body’: how the adjustable waistband became a way to regain control | Fashion

Published by Sam Flores

I always think that the most stylish woman in a room is the one who looks the most comfortable. She might be nonchalant in a pair of wide trousers and a loose white shirt, or stroll in casually wearing the butter-soft leather loafers she’s had for years. It was a longing to be more like one of those women, as opposed to one who fell over regularly in public because I couldn’t balance in platforms, which made me give up wearing heels for good in 2012. So it was a natural progression, a decade later, to shunning another wardrobe constraint that was making me fidget in social situations: the waistband. The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. I’m about to turn 49 and in the past eight years I’ve been fluctuating between sizes 10 and 14, which is hardly surprising when you consider that the average British woman may change dress size a whopping 31 times in her adult life. I attribute my …

5 Things Old-School Parents Let Kids Figure Out That Parents Today Obsessively Micromanage

5 Things Old-School Parents Let Kids Figure Out That Parents Today Obsessively Micromanage

Published by Jenni Sidey

Old-school parents know the importance of letting kids do things for themselves. Otherwise, the learning process is impeded, and kids tend to struggle more. Research even showed that there are already enough underlying day-to-day stressors around raising kids, so why add more?  You’d do anything for your kids, and sometimes that means not doing things for your kids. Unfortunately, a lot of these freedoms kids once had are now tracked, supervised, and managed within an inch of their lives — often by loving parents who are just trying to do everything right. Here are five things old-school parents let kids figure out that parents today obsessively micromanage: 1. Doing their homework  It’s a familiar scene: your little one at the kitchen table, frustrated and unfocused on their math assignment, and they just can’t figure it out. Or their reading project is so boring. It’s all too easy to want to jump in, give the answers, and finish things on your kid’s behalf. Because let’s be honest: it’s quick. It’s easy parenting for you. It’s a …

Spotify’s Prompted Playlist lets you micromanage your own algorithm

Spotify’s Prompted Playlist lets you micromanage your own algorithm

Published by skeptic

For years, Spotify’s recommendation engine has felt like a mind reader. It quietly tracks what you play, skip, save, and replay, then serves up Discover Weekly, Release Radar, and an endless stream of algorithmically generated playlists designed to know your taste better than you know it yourself. With its new feature, Prompted Playlist, Spotify is experimenting with a different idea: What if users didn’t just receive recommendations, but actively shaped them? Prompted Playlist, now launching for Spotify users in the U.S., is a new way to create playlists using personalized prompts, allowing listeners to guide Spotify’s algorithm with greater intent and context. Instead of starting with a blank playlist or relying entirely on automated suggestions, users can describe what they want and let Spotify build from there. It’s a subtle shift, but one built around the idea of less passive consumption and more collaboration. How Spotify’s Prompted Playlist works At its core, Prompted Playlist lets users generate playlists by entering a written prompt — anything from a mood or activity to a more imaginative musical …