13 Back-to-School Tech Products to Start the Semester Right

1. Hazel

According to the Social Security Administration, Hazel was the eighteenth most popular girl's name in 1897. Over a century later, this name is exploding in popularity again. It was even the twenty-fourth most popular girl's name in 2024.

Hazel, which means "from the hazelnut tree," is of English origin. It's beautiful, vintage, and can be used for boys, too.

2. Ruby

Fans of luxurious red gems may love the baby name Ruby. It's Latin in origin and means "deep red precious stone."

It was especially favored during the early twentieth century, peaking as the twenty-second most popular baby name in 1911. But aside from evoking images of strong, rare stones, Ruby is also a name that's been carried by many notable figures, including Ruby Bridges, a civil rights pioneer, and Ruby Johnson, a 1960s soul singer.

3. Edith

The name Edith means "prosperous in strife" and is British in origin. It was quite popular from the late 1800s to early 1900s and, like Ruby, has been held by various influential women in history.

For instance, Edith Roosevelt was the First Lady of the United States from 1901 to 1909, and Edith Wharton was an American writer who penned numerous influential works and became the first woman to win a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction with her novel, "The Age of Innocence."

4. Fern

With English roots and a meaning tied to nature, Fern is a charming botanical name that once flourished before witnessing a decline in popularity during the 1940s.

It has an undeniable vintage appeal and earthy simplicity that makes it a go-to choice for parents who love the great outdoors. Other classic names with a similar vibe include Willow and Faye.

5. August

Moving on to boys, August is a strong name of German origin that means "great" and "magnificent." Your baby doesn't have to be born in the month of August to take on this name, either.

It soared in popularity in the United States during the 1890s, and today, it's still considered stylish and sophisticated. Not to mention, August has plenty of cute nickname options, like "Gus" or "Auggie."

6. Franklin

Franklin is another iconic, old-fashioned name that lends itself to plenty of nickname variations. It's English, means "free man," and was actually held by two different United States presidents: Franklin Pierce and Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

For short, babies named Franklin can be called "Frank" or "Frankie," the latter of which is sometimes used as a baby girl's name as well.

7. Edmund

Those who love "Bridgerton" might be especially fond of the name Edmund due to the Bridgerton family's charming patriarch, Lord Bridgerton.

This English name means "fortunate land protector" and represents a more unique option than Edward. It has a timeless charm and carries historical significance while still offering plenty of opportunities for nicknames like Ed or Eddie.

8. Archie

Finally, after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle welcomed their first child into the world in 2019, they chose the name Archie. This news catapulted Archie back to popularity.

With German origins and the meaning of "genuine" and "bold," this boy baby name is a nickname for the even more old-fashioned name "Archibald."

Fine China

Dishes that you can't just toss in the dishwasher? Nope. These are likely to sit in some drawer, never to be used. Maybe your kids or grandkids will use a teacup as a jewelry holder or upcycle a few plates at places like Brooklyn Tea Cup, which will turn them into stacking trays. But the whole shebang should probably be donated to an antique shop or someone who really values this sort of collection.

Bulky, Heavy Furniture

My friend Amy inherited a writing desk and together we hauled it up several flights of stairs in our first San Francisco apartment. I'm still traumatized by that event. This kind of furniture doesn't make sense for modern apartment or small space living.

Collectible Figurines

Beanie Babies, Precious Moments, any kind of decorative and not-at-all-useful collection is, well, not wanted (sorry!).

Antique Silverware

Having to polish silver is a thing of the past, and not something anyone today will want to keep up with!

Photo Albums

Kids will love the memories, but they’d rather have a digital version. You can convert the photo collection to digital, and then just frame a few treasured shots.

Formal Dining Sets

No one really has a separate “fancy” dining area anymore, and if they did, this set is not likely to make the cut. Unless your child or grandchild is a dedicated DIYer, old furniture like this is often just that — old, not treasured.

Old Electronics

With the ease and convenience of streaming, that vintage VCR or stereo system you're holding onto should head straight to the donation pile.

Dusty Jewelry

Don't get me wrong, there is probably one piece in a collection worth handing down, but if it's lived on a tray collecting dust for 20 years, they’re probably not interested.

Random Holiday Decor

Your kids might keep one sentimental ornament, but not your entire themed collection that will feel dated once they have their own home and tree.

Encyclopedia Sets

Sorry, but we have Google and ChatGPT now. These bulky books are kitschy more than resourceful.

1. You Obsessively Check Your Work Email

Certain people struggle with social media addiction, scrolling for hours on apps like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. Yet, you may find yourself glued to Gmail or Outlook.

Do you constantly refresh your work email to make sure you haven't missed anything? Do you check your email as soon as you wake up in the morning and right before your head hits the pillow at night?

If so, your job is dominating your thoughts, and these obsessive tendencies can lead you to suffer stress and anxiety. Now, you don't have to entirely "unplug," but make sure you're giving yourself space to relax, decompress, and worry about other things that aren't work-related.

2. You Work During Weekends Or Vacations

Weekends (and vacation time) are common practice for a reason. It's unrealistic to expect anyone to continuously work without a break, and working when you're supposed to be resting can seriously erode your motivation and mental health over time.

Sure, catching up on emails or completing a project with an impending deadline can be fine on weekends from time to time. However, most Saturdays and Sundays should be reserved for "you time," and working when you're supposed to be on vacation is flat-out unacceptable.

3. Your Relationship With Your Significant Other Is Struggling

When a job starts to take over your life, relationships can really take a hit, especially the one you share with your significant other.

Your partner may grow frustrated if literally all you do is talk about your workday or stress about the outstanding items on your to-do list. Plus, if you're frequently working long hours or are just mentally consumed by your responsibilities, you and your partner won't get to spend enough uninterrupted quality time together.

Sacrificing personal free time is one thing, but if you realize that your romantic relationship is suffering due to the demands of your job, it may be time to reassess your situation. After all, your partner (and you) deserve more.

4. Every Goal You Have Is Career-Related

Being career-driven is often viewed as a very valuable and commendable personality trait, yet being too goal-oriented can spiral out of control. This is particularly true if all of your aspirations center solely around your career. This tunnel vision may help you climb the corporate ladder faster, but you're doing your inner self a disservice.

Aside from promotions and salary increases, what other life goals do you have? You might've once dreamed of owning a home, starting a family, traveling more, or delving into a hobby. If these goals have been entirely pushed to the wayside in favor of focusing on just your career, your job is consuming your life.

5. You've Lost Your "Spark"

Remember when you were in high school or even college, with wide eyes and big plans for your future? Unfortunately, adulthood has a way of grounding our expectations. Even so, no one turns into a corporate zombie overnight. After landing your job, you might've been over the moon and actually excited about your new position.

Nowadays, do you see that same person in the mirror? Or do you find yourself feeling agitated, unenthused, and trudging through your day-to-day? This is a red flag that you've lost your "spark," the personality that makes you, well, you.

6. Your Home Is A Mess

Some people out there are simply messy by nature. Regardless, that doesn't mean their homes are always complete disasters. With dozens of meetings and an endless amount of tasks on your to-do list each week, it can be hard to keep up with laundry, dishes, vacuuming, and mopping.

It's obviously okay for houses to be "lived in" and not spotless all the time. Still, neglecting maintenance and cleaning of your home is a major sign that your job is taking up way too much of your time. You deserve to dwell in a space that feels clean and cozy, especially if that's what you desire.

7. You Frequently Have To Cancel Plans

Think back to the last time you actually got to grab drinks with your best friend or enjoy dinner with your parents. Have you become known as "flakey?" Having to cancel plans all the time due to your job isn't just unfair to your loved ones; it's not good for your mental health.

While it's great to have solid or even family-like relationships with your coworkers, they shouldn't be who you see every waking hour of the day. Everyone needs relationships outside of work, and by constantly canceling on your loved ones, you're just isolating yourself and letting your job take over your personal life.

8. You Suffer From The "Sunday Scaries"

Finally, no one really likes Mondays. But that doesn't mean your Sundays should be filled with anxiety over them. Think about it: you only get two days off each week. If you constantly get the "Sunday Scaries," half of your weekend has been wasted on work stress.

Getting out of the house, disconnecting from your devices, and even meditation can be helpful in curbing this common problem. Nevertheless, if none of that works, it's usually a red flag that your job is impeding your life and negatively impacting your mental health.