Issue #40: We’re Done for the Year

December 23, 2025

💌 From the Editor’s Desk

Welcome back to Work In Progmess, the newsletter that believes in reflection, growth, and knowing when to stop typing.

After careful consideration, multiple internal meetings, and one very honest look at the calendar, we’ve reached a conclusion.

We’re done for the year.

— The Mess

📰Headline Shocker

📰 WORK IN PROGMESS ANNOUNCES YEAR-END SHUTDOWN, CITES “NEED FOR REST” AND “ABSOLUTELY NOTHING LEFT IN THE TANK”

Team plans to return refreshed, recharged, and slightly less dramatic in January

WHEREVER WE ARE — After months of thinking deeply, writing snarkily, and pretending we had endless creative energy, the leadership team at Work In Progmess has officially decided to shut things down for the remainder of the year.

“We’ve covered a lot,” said a spokesperson who is also the entire staff. “Careers, character, blind spots, outdated advice, inbox regret, forehead hair. At some point, your brain just taps out.”

The decision was unanimous.

Internal documents show the team considered pushing through with one more issue but ultimately decided against it after asking the most important leadership question of all:

“Would this be good, or would this just exist?”

The answer was clear.

Sources confirm the break will include:

Not opening Google Docs
Not starting sentences with “This might be something…”
Not rewriting the same paragraph twelve times
Thinking creatively, but only accidentally

When asked what readers should do during the hiatus, leadership offered simple guidance.

“Rest,” the spokesperson said. “Reflect. Eat cookies. Unsubscribe from things that stress you out. Question nothing until January.”

🪑 From The Editor’s Desk

Here’s the truth.

Taking a break is not quitting.
It’s maintenance.

Stepping away is sometimes the most responsible move you can make. Not just for work, but for thinking, perspective, and sanity.

So we’re modeling the behavior we talk about all year.

We’ll see you in January.

📩Until Next Time…

Thank you for reading, sharing, and occasionally replying with “I feel personally attacked.”

We’ll be back in the new year with fresh ideas, renewed energy, and just enough chaos to keep things interesting.

— The Progmess Editorial Team

P.S. Ummmm have you waited for the 🔗 Bitter End to go gift shopping. We are here for you.

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