8 Tips for Being a Good Mentor

1. Actually Use Your Planner In 2025

We're not buying pretty planners just so they can collect dust on our desks or coffee tables anymore. Corry Frazier and Melissa Pepin want you to get serious because they feel "it starts with planning." They don't mean the kind you eventually flake on either.

"Effective planning is key to maintaining balance and reducing burnout. Whether you're mapping out tasks, meetings, or events, dedicated time for preparation ensures focus and reduces stress," they say. In other words, "the more intentional you are in planning, the more productive you'll be," according to them.

Ever since I've been blocking out my tasks by hour in planner, I've been able to get more done without feeling overwhelmed by splitting my time between writing and being in mommy mode. Frazier and Pepin suggest that you "set weekly planning sessions" that consist of "30-60 minutes each weekend to map out your upcoming week."

This eventually "reduces decision fatigue, fosters a sense of control, and helps you start Monday with clarity and purpose," they add. Yes, this is a sign that you'll be breaking up with the dreaded 'Sunday scaries' if you follow their advice. "You'll feel proactive and grounded rather than reacting to the week as it unfolds," they agree.

2. Embrace A "Fake Commute" When Working From Home

One of Kayla Baum's tips is to switch up your routine if you're a remote worker. Rolling out of the bed at the last minute before logging on for work sounds appealing until you realize you're uninspired by your days. But, what is a "fake commute?"

"It mimics the structure of a traditional commute to establish a boundary between work and personal life. This could mean taking a walk around the block, doing a 10-minute guided meditation, or even just changing clothes at the end of the day," Baum mentions.

Based on her experience, she's found that "it works because it provides a psychological buffer, helping to separate work and home life." She feels it's "crucial for positive mental health and boosting productivity at work (and at home)."

You can also create a separate work space that's not in your bedroom to get work done! That's helped me tremendously so I'm not sleeping and working in the same area.

3. Focus On High-Impact Tasks

Similar to planning your work days as best as you can, Frazier and Pepin want you to "prioritize the tasks that align with your goals." To minimize distractions, they want you to ask yourself:

• What is the most effective use of my time right now?

4. Stop Making Daily Decisions Hard

Tasks like your morning routine or figuring out what you'll eat don't have to take up a chunk of your time anymore. "Use productivity hacks, such as pre-planning meals or laying out weekly outfits," suggest Frazier and Pepin. They feel that "small routines like this eliminate unnecessary choices" to "make mornings smoother."

According to them, it's "especially helpful for families juggling multiple schedules." I couldn't agree more because I've spent so many frazzled mornings trying to make decisions about what myself and my toddler would wear or eat instead of planning them. With the help of my fiancé, we've cut so much time in half by being prepared ahead of time instead of 'winging it' before work.

5. Understand What Your Boundaries Are And Set Them

Worried that you'll be considered 'mean' if you tell your manager or coworkers what your boundaries are at work? Depending on your environment, it's 100% understandable. However, you're human and there's no reason you should be over-performing to your detriment. Frazier and Pepin say, "Set boundaries and communicate clearly. Adopt Brené Brown's mantra: 'To be clear is to be kind.'"

They encourage you to not only "be upfront about your schedule to manage others' expectations," but it's also so you can "avoid over-commitment." Say it with me: I will not make false promises just to appease others. Why?

Frazier and Pepin say, "Don't be afraid to say no to side projects or anything that doesn't align with your goals."

6. Ignore Emails Sent After Your Work Hours

I've been guilty of sending an email after work to acknowledge that I saw something, but I never expect other people to feel obligated to respond until the next business day. On the flip side, I've felt pressured to answer something that feels timely and I've gone to sleep thinking about the sender's potential follow-up email.

"Just because a coworker chooses to work late at night doesn't mean you must answer. One helpful trick is to include your working days and hours in your signature, explaining that responses may be delayed outside of those times," Frazier and Pepin say. They even have a prompt you can use if you're not sure what to type:

• "My working hours are [Your Working Hours, e.g., 9 AM - 4 PM ET]. Please note that these may differ from your local time zone. I appreciate your understanding and will respond to emails during my working hours."

I can't wait to start utilizing this...for research purposes only 👀.

7. Please, log off from work when it's time.

Unless you're scheduled to work late, take the time to log off from work and not think about it until the next day. Baum says, "Commit to fully logging off once the workday ends—no 'quick email replies' or sneaking in work over the weekend." I'm eyeing you Ms. "I just need to send a quick email" while you're on vacation or spending time with your significant other.

Baum says creating this separation works because "fully disconnecting allows your mind to reset and recharge" which ends up "making you more efficient, creative, and focused during actual work hours." According to her, you'll eventually "improve personal well-being" and "enhance long-term work performance."

As soon as my work day is over, I make a beeline for the shower so I can decompress. After that, I take my time with my skincare routine and keep my phone out of reach so I'm not tempted to look at anything work-related. I'm not always successful, but I've noticed a difference in my mood since making this shift.

8. Speak Up When You're Feeling Overwhelmed

And if you're 100% drained because you've been trying to tackle work tasks during and after hours, Frazier and Pepin want you to speak up. "If you're feeling overwhelmed with your workload, approach your manager with honesty and a focus on solutions," they suggest. Here's another prompt of theirs you can use:

• "I've been noticing that my workload has extended beyond regular hours, and maintaining balance is becoming challenging. Could we discuss prioritizing tasks or adjusting expectations to ensure I can deliver quality work without compromising my well-being?"

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1. ​Freaks and Geeks

Freaks and Geeks is the pinnacle definition of ‘cult classic,’ if there ever was one. Cancelled after only one season, the show regained popularity through the years, due in large part to streaming. And it’s no wonder why, as it shows the first-hand awkwardness that is navigating high school. Freaks and Geeks offers other things as well… such as a very young Linda Cardellini, James Franco, Seth Rogen, Jason Segal, Busy Phillips, and Samm Levine. If any filmmakers are reading this — how about a modern day Freaks and Geeks reboot?? Freaks and Geeks is streaming on Hulu.

2. ​Will & Grace

The ’90s weren’t all bad. Sure, there were some pretty heinous outfit choices made, and all of society collectively decided they needed a grunge phase (at the same time), but it did give us Will & Grace. Will & Grace gave us one of the first mainstream sitcoms to feature openly gay main characters. Its witty humor along with relatable characters, and all around great dialogue, makes it stand the test of time. Will & Grace is streaming on Hulu.

3. Friends

Friends may be the most unrealistic show, in terms of a bunch of 20-somethings living in grand, spacious apartments in one of the most expensive cities in the world, but it’s realistic in how it portrays friendships and the rollercoaster of dealing with jobs, love, and life in New York City. After all, it is a classic, and if you haven’t seen this show, you haven’t experienced the peak of ’90s sitcoms. Friends is streaming on Hulu, Max, and Prime Video.

4. That ’70s Show

That ’70s Show may or may not have been the first ’90s show I was exposed to, but that’s beside the point, and might I add, ironic. The show’s nostalgic 70s setting is a character in and of itself and shows that teenagers will be teenagers, no matter the decade. That ’70s Show is streaming on Peacock.

5. ​Family Matters

Family Matters blessed us with the iconic character of Steve Urkel, and decades of a go-to Halloween costume for many. While the show may have started in 1989, it’s an essential and memorable sitcom that had its main run in the ’90s. Family Matters is truly all that and a bag of chips – that was my sad attempt at trying this decade’s lingo. Family Matters is streaming on Disney+, Hulu, and Max.

6. Seinfeld

Most know it as the show about nothing, but Seinfeld gave us everything. It took trivial events and churned them into a decade of iconic and famous lines, hysterical characters and arguably the best guest appearances on a sitcom, from Jennifer Coolidge as Jerry's masseuse girlfriend to Bryan Cranston as Jerry’s less-than-ethical dentist. Seinfeld is streaming on Netflix.

7. ​The Simpsons

Though The Simpsons is still running today, the ’90s were the decade that it truly shined, so much so that the particular decade is considered The Simpsons’ “golden age” with Bart Simpson becoming a quintessential ’90s character. As funny and entertaining as the comedy series is, it’s also become quite the pop culture predictor, making it all the more amusing to watch it back now. The Simpsons is streaming on Disney+.

8. ​The Fresh Prince of Bel Air

Will Smith was one of the decade's charming and notable heartthrobs, and what better way to see him in all his glory than by watching The Fresh Prince of Bel Air? It was the sitcom that catapulted Smith into superstardom and was a decade hit due to its exploration of real-world topics. The Fresh Prince of Bel Air is streaming on Hulu and Max.

9. ​The Nanny

Fran Drescher is that girl. She made us “over-the-top personality” girls feel seen. Not only that, but comedy itself is timeless and should be enjoyed for generations to come. Incidentally, Drescher’s character has an amazing fashion sense, so this show is a 2-for-1 viewing experience – you get a fashion show within a sitcom, and what’s better than that? The Nanny is streaming on Peacock.

10. ​Boy Meets World

Before the modern day coming-of-age genre (think Sex Education) came Boy Meets World – a sitcom that follows a boy and his friend and love interest through middle school into college. Better yet, this series was so good that it aired on Friday nights. The beloved characters alone makes the show worth the watch. Boy Meets World is streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.

11. ​Ally McBeal

If you likeLegally Blonde, you’ll love Ally McBeal. Ally is a young, blonde, hot mess lawyer working at a Boston law firm called Cage & Fish – ring any bells? Ally McBeal is streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.

12. Sabrina the Teenage Witch

Imagine dealing with your teenage struggles but on top of that, you have to control magical powers – yeah, you might not live that IRL, but Sabrina the Teenage Witch shows you what it's like! In all honesty, Sabrina the Teenage Witch is as iconic as they come. Its legacy has been felt in every generation that’s followed – who doesn’t know Salem, the talking, black cat? Sabrina the Teenage Witch is streaming on Hulu, Disney+, and Paramount+.

13. Full House

If I had a dollar for every series that technically started in the late ’80s, but didn’t gain their popularity until the ’90s, I’d have, like, $10. Full House first premiered in 1987, but by the time the ’90s rolled around it had become an American household staple. Most of the show’s run was in the ’90s, and it later gave us movies such as Passport to Paris simply due to casting the Olsen twins. Thank you, Full House. Full House is streaming on Disney+, Prime Video, and Max.

14. ​Sister, Sister

I’m going to throw it back real quick – this show was originally part of the TGIF programming on ABC – that’s right, I’m talking about Sister, Sister. This show is a nostalgic favorite with Tia and Tamera Mowry, who, in my mind, are the sisters of the late ’90s and early 2000s. Sister, Sister is streaming onDisney+, Hulu, and Paramount+.

15. ​The King of Queens

Who doesn’t love Kevin James? On second thought, don’t answer that. The King of Queens is certainly an acquired taste, bordering on the line of “I don’t want to admit this is funny, but it is.” But it has our girl Leah Remini and that’s reason enough to give it a watch. The King of Queens is streaming on Paramount+ and Peacock.

16. Wings

Wings flew under the radar in the ’90s, no pun intended, as it didn’t amass the same following as other shows like Friends, but it had a loyal following due to its sharp dialogue and loveable characters. The backdrop alone is all the more reason to watch this ’90s series today – Wings follows two brothers, Joe and Brian Hackett, who run a small airline in Nantucket, Massachusetts. Need I say more? Wings is streaming on Paramount+ and Prime Video.

17. ​Sex and The City

Yes, I’m labeling Sex and The City as a comedy, and deservedly so. I love this show, call me basic! It blends romance, drama, and comedy beautifully together, all with the glitz and glam of New York City essentially as its own character. Sex and The City transports you to a different environment and, dare I say, is an elevated version of Friends.Sex and The City is streaming on Hulu, Max, Netflix, and Prime Video.