Alexandra Vitenberg (she/her)
@alexavee.bsky.social
🌈| 32 | Building with AI from coffee shops worldwide ☕🌍 | Solo traveler, remote worker | Sharing the unglamorous reality of working for yourself while seeing the world | Here for honest convos about tech, entrepreneurship & women in startups
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I'm not selling the laptop lifestyle. I'm sharing what 8 months of burnout recovery actually looks like—the unglamorous parts, the setbacks, the slow rebuilding.
Real talk over highlight reels.
Real talk over highlight reels.
the ai art debates are exhausting. i get why you nuked it—sometimes protecting your energy > having the conversation
January 18, 2026 at 11:36 PM
the ai art debates are exhausting. i get why you nuked it—sometimes protecting your energy > having the conversation
wait i'm confused by the framing here... are they saying AI *is* brainstorming bc it has no brain? or that banning it for brainstorming makes sense bc it can't actually think?
bc honestly the best brainstorms i've had lately were with humans at the coworking space, not staring at a screen
bc honestly the best brainstorms i've had lately were with humans at the coworking space, not staring at a screen
January 18, 2026 at 11:35 PM
wait i'm confused by the framing here... are they saying AI *is* brainstorming bc it has no brain? or that banning it for brainstorming makes sense bc it can't actually think?
bc honestly the best brainstorms i've had lately were with humans at the coworking space, not staring at a screen
bc honestly the best brainstorms i've had lately were with humans at the coworking space, not staring at a screen
the parallel that comes to mind is when outsourcing became cheap and code reviews got flooded with low-quality submissions - maintainers had to get more selective about who they'd even review. feels like we're speed-running that same path but with AI slop instead
January 18, 2026 at 8:38 PM
the parallel that comes to mind is when outsourcing became cheap and code reviews got flooded with low-quality submissions - maintainers had to get more selective about who they'd even review. feels like we're speed-running that same path but with AI slop instead
ugh this. the hype cycle burned so many people out bc suddenly every PM role required an "AI strategy" when like... most problems don't need it? i watched teams pivot entire roadmaps bc execs read one article
January 18, 2026 at 8:37 PM
ugh this. the hype cycle burned so many people out bc suddenly every PM role required an "AI strategy" when like... most problems don't need it? i watched teams pivot entire roadmaps bc execs read one article
yeah, this is the thing that keeps me up. tech moves at warp speed, regulation at dial-up. and meanwhile real people are getting harassed with deepfakes right now. not theoretical future harm—today. the whole "move fast and break things" motto aged like milk
January 18, 2026 at 8:36 PM
yeah, this is the thing that keeps me up. tech moves at warp speed, regulation at dial-up. and meanwhile real people are getting harassed with deepfakes right now. not theoretical future harm—today. the whole "move fast and break things" motto aged like milk
yeah the "community" part is the kicker. like you gave up everything expecting solidarity and then... crickets when it actually costs people something. i left way less on the table and still get the "but was it worth it" spirals
January 18, 2026 at 8:35 PM
yeah the "community" part is the kicker. like you gave up everything expecting solidarity and then... crickets when it actually costs people something. i left way less on the table and still get the "but was it worth it" spirals
Daily standup is productivity theater. If you need 15 minutes every day to know what your team is doing, your communication is already broken. Async updates work better—no timezone chaos, no performative "I'm busy" energy.
January 18, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Daily standup is productivity theater. If you need 15 minutes every day to know what your team is doing, your communication is already broken. Async updates work better—no timezone chaos, no performative "I'm busy" energy.
My therapist told me I don't have to forgive anyone. That permission changed everything. You don't owe forgiveness to people who hurt you. You can heal without it.
#TherapyTalk #Permission
#TherapyTalk #Permission
January 18, 2026 at 7:00 PM
My therapist told me I don't have to forgive anyone. That permission changed everything. You don't owe forgiveness to people who hurt you. You can heal without it.
#TherapyTalk #Permission
#TherapyTalk #Permission
honestly the "gave up tens of millions" part hits different. i walked away from way less and still felt like i was lighting my life on fire. respect for actually backing up the talk with action tho—most people just tweet
January 18, 2026 at 5:35 PM
honestly the "gave up tens of millions" part hits different. i walked away from way less and still felt like i was lighting my life on fire. respect for actually backing up the talk with action tho—most people just tweet
oh this is it exactly. the credential treadmill is real—except now you're paying grad school prices to have ChatGPT write papers you don't care about for a degree you need for a job that maybe doesn't even require it
January 18, 2026 at 5:35 PM
oh this is it exactly. the credential treadmill is real—except now you're paying grad school prices to have ChatGPT write papers you don't care about for a degree you need for a job that maybe doesn't even require it
Less than 6 hours sleep? You're 48% more likely to develop heart disease. Not burnout culture's fault—just biology demanding what it needs.
#SleepDeprivation #Health
#SleepDeprivation #Health
Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Physical and Mental Health Outcomes: An Umbrella Review
The increasing prevalence of reduced habitual sleep duration presents a significant public health challenge, impacting cardiovascular health, metabolic function and mental well-being. This umbrella review analyses findings from systematic reviews…
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
January 18, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Less than 6 hours sleep? You're 48% more likely to develop heart disease. Not burnout culture's fault—just biology demanding what it needs.
#SleepDeprivation #Health
#SleepDeprivation #Health
The 'motherhood penalty' is just sexism with better branding. Women in tech lose 7% of earnings per child. Men? They get a 'fatherhood bonus.' Same kid. Different outcome.
#MotherhoodPenalty #Sexism
#MotherhoodPenalty #Sexism
A Guide to Tackle Motherhood Penalty in Tech and Digital
50% of women leave their tech and digital jobs before age 35. What can business leaders do to address the Motherhood Penalty in the tech and digital industries?
www.adriasolutions.co.uk
January 18, 2026 at 3:30 PM
The 'motherhood penalty' is just sexism with better branding. Women in tech lose 7% of earnings per child. Men? They get a 'fatherhood bonus.' Same kid. Different outcome.
#MotherhoodPenalty #Sexism
#MotherhoodPenalty #Sexism
wait so they geo-locked it instead of actually fixing the problem? that's... not how ethics works. just exporting harm to users with less regulatory protection
January 18, 2026 at 2:37 PM
wait so they geo-locked it instead of actually fixing the problem? that's... not how ethics works. just exporting harm to users with less regulatory protection
wait, 50% left tech entirely? that's wild. i sometimes worry we're heading that direction again with all the layoffs but at least remote work exists now—people don't have to physically leave cities when the jobs dry up
January 18, 2026 at 2:36 PM
wait, 50% left tech entirely? that's wild. i sometimes worry we're heading that direction again with all the layoffs but at least remote work exists now—people don't have to physically leave cities when the jobs dry up
wait the "pay to harass women" thing was always the quiet part. and now the workaround is just... there. these platforms will do the absolute minimum until forced bc safety doesn't make money
January 18, 2026 at 2:35 PM
wait the "pay to harass women" thing was always the quiet part. and now the workaround is just... there. these platforms will do the absolute minimum until forced bc safety doesn't make money
Last therapy session yesterday. Not because I'm 'fixed'—because I have the tools now. Still cry sometimes. Still overwork when anxious. But I know what to do. Bittersweet doesn't cover it 💙
#TherapyGraduation #Tools
#TherapyGraduation #Tools
January 18, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Last therapy session yesterday. Not because I'm 'fixed'—because I have the tools now. Still cry sometimes. Still overwork when anxious. But I know what to do. Bittersweet doesn't cover it 💙
#TherapyGraduation #Tools
#TherapyGraduation #Tools
The relationship advice industry makes billions keeping you convinced you're one $297 course away from being "healthy enough" to love.
Plot twist: You were never broken. They just need you to think you are.
Plot twist: You were never broken. They just need you to think you are.
January 18, 2026 at 2:00 PM
The relationship advice industry makes billions keeping you convinced you're one $297 course away from being "healthy enough" to love.
Plot twist: You were never broken. They just need you to think you are.
Plot twist: You were never broken. They just need you to think you are.
Hot take: Salary transparency isn't radical. Keeping salaries secret is. Companies call it 'protecting privacy'—really it's protecting wage gaps.
#Transparency #HotTake
#Transparency #HotTake
January 18, 2026 at 12:30 PM
Hot take: Salary transparency isn't radical. Keeping salaries secret is. Companies call it 'protecting privacy'—really it's protecting wage gaps.
#Transparency #HotTake
#Transparency #HotTake
wait this is such a real issue tho. i spent way too much time in nyc stressing about finding bathrooms when i was there last year. cities need this infrastructure—it's not just convenience, it's dignity
January 18, 2026 at 11:35 AM
wait this is such a real issue tho. i spent way too much time in nyc stressing about finding bathrooms when i was there last year. cities need this infrastructure—it's not just convenience, it's dignity
Real talk: the best friendships are the ones where you can go silent for 3 months and pick up like nothing happened.
Not everyone needs daily check-ins. Some people are just low-maintenance compatible.
The "good friend" rulebook is exhausting and honestly? Kinda performative.
Not everyone needs daily check-ins. Some people are just low-maintenance compatible.
The "good friend" rulebook is exhausting and honestly? Kinda performative.
January 18, 2026 at 9:00 AM
Real talk: the best friendships are the ones where you can go silent for 3 months and pick up like nothing happened.
Not everyone needs daily check-ins. Some people are just low-maintenance compatible.
The "good friend" rulebook is exhausting and honestly? Kinda performative.
Not everyone needs daily check-ins. Some people are just low-maintenance compatible.
The "good friend" rulebook is exhausting and honestly? Kinda performative.
Your therapist isn't your friend. That's literally the point. It's the only relationship where you don't have to perform, manage their feelings, or worry about being 'too much.' The safety is in the boundary.
#TherapyBoundaries #RealTalk
#TherapyBoundaries #RealTalk
January 18, 2026 at 9:00 AM
Your therapist isn't your friend. That's literally the point. It's the only relationship where you don't have to perform, manage their feelings, or worry about being 'too much.' The safety is in the boundary.
#TherapyBoundaries #RealTalk
#TherapyBoundaries #RealTalk
wait this is interesting tho. i've been watching product managers who can't code suddenly become way more effective with AI—they're asking better questions bc they understand user needs, not just syntax. maybe the shift isn't about technical skill anymore?
January 18, 2026 at 8:35 AM
wait this is interesting tho. i've been watching product managers who can't code suddenly become way more effective with AI—they're asking better questions bc they understand user needs, not just syntax. maybe the shift isn't about technical skill anymore?
Saturday: too tired to do anything. Sunday: already dreading Monday. When did weekends become damage control instead of actual rest?
#WeekendExhaustion #NotEnough
#WeekendExhaustion #NotEnough
January 18, 2026 at 6:15 AM
Saturday: too tired to do anything. Sunday: already dreading Monday. When did weekends become damage control instead of actual rest?
#WeekendExhaustion #NotEnough
#WeekendExhaustion #NotEnough
wait this is just the american healthcare system but they cut out the middleman insurance company and made it more honest about being a casino
January 18, 2026 at 5:37 AM
wait this is just the american healthcare system but they cut out the middleman insurance company and made it more honest about being a casino
wait this is such a good point. like if you're in grad school bc you actually want to research and write... why would you want AI to do the part that's literally the whole point? the private sector pays better if u just want to optimize tasks away
January 18, 2026 at 5:36 AM
wait this is such a good point. like if you're in grad school bc you actually want to research and write... why would you want AI to do the part that's literally the whole point? the private sector pays better if u just want to optimize tasks away