Surviving the work chat

Overtime ghost

For the request that arrives just before you leave.

Drake Hotline Bling — original layout

Reject one option, celebrate the other. Place the rejected option in the top row and the preferred option below.

Starting five new projects / Finishing one tiny task

Reject one option, celebrate the other. Place the rejected option in the top row and the preferred option below.

Chaos desk · Rough comics

A calm raccoon at an American apartment work desk with an absurd but harmless tangle of papers and open notebooks around it, holding coffee with serene resignation.

Another meeting / One clear email

Reject one option, celebrate the other. Place the rejected option in the top row and the preferred option below.

UNO Draw 25 Cards — original layout

Avoid a small action by accepting an exaggerated alternative. Write the easy action on the left and the absurd cost on the right.

Close the extra tabs / Keep forty-seven tabs open

Avoid a small action by accepting an exaggerated alternative. Write the easy action on the left and the absurd cost on the right.

Answer one email / Reorganize the entire desk

Avoid a small action by accepting an exaggerated alternative. Write the easy action on the left and the absurd cost on the right.

Side eye beagle · Photo style

A beagle on an American living-room sofa giving a dramatic skeptical side-eye toward an offscreen invitation, one paw protectively on a folded blanket.

I heard the plan / My couch voted no

A beagle on an American living-room sofa giving a dramatic skeptical side-eye toward an offscreen invitation, one paw protectively on a folded blanket.

Respectfully / That sounds like a tomorrow problem

A beagle on an American living-room sofa giving a dramatic skeptical side-eye toward an offscreen invitation, one paw protectively on a folded blanket.

Social battery · Rough comics

A weary cat in an American apartment entryway leaning against a tote bag after a busy gathering, shoes and a couch in view, hilariously exhausted face.

Monday coffee · Rough comics

A sleepy bulldog at a chrome-counter American diner beside an oversized plain coffee mug, morning window light, utterly unready expression.

The calendar says Monday / My brain has filed an appeal

A sleepy bulldog at a chrome-counter American diner beside an oversized plain coffee mug, morning window light, utterly unready expression.

Good morning / Please allow additional processing time

A sleepy bulldog at a chrome-counter American diner beside an oversized plain coffee mug, morning window light, utterly unready expression.

Everything is under control / Please ignore the supporting evidence

A calm raccoon at an American apartment work desk with an absurd but harmless tangle of papers and open notebooks around it, holding coffee with serene resignation.

Doing my best / The desk has declined to comment

A calm raccoon at an American apartment work desk with an absurd but harmless tangle of papers and open notebooks around it, holding coffee with serene resignation.

Monday coffee · Paper collage

A sleepy bulldog at a chrome-counter American diner beside an oversized plain coffee mug, morning window light, utterly unready expression.

The calendar says Monday / My brain has filed an appeal

A sleepy bulldog at a chrome-counter American diner beside an oversized plain coffee mug, morning window light, utterly unready expression.

Good morning / Please allow additional processing time

A sleepy bulldog at a chrome-counter American diner beside an oversized plain coffee mug, morning window light, utterly unready expression.

Chaos desk · Paper collage

A calm raccoon at an American apartment work desk with an absurd but harmless tangle of papers and open notebooks around it, holding coffee with serene resignation.

Doing my best / The desk has declined to comment

A calm raccoon at an American apartment work desk with an absurd but harmless tangle of papers and open notebooks around it, holding coffee with serene resignation.

Yes, my imaginary manager

For message received. Choose a tone that fits your relationship.

NOT TODAY / ASK ME TOMORROW

A bold typographic boundary in a few words.

Coffee is loading / Please try again later

For low-energy mornings and a much-needed pause.

Bear before coffee

A sleepy brown bear waits for an oversized coffee at a neighborhood cafe.

Battery low / Side quests closed

For a day that needs a recharge rather than another quest.

Respectfully: nope

For a gentle boundary. Choose a tone that fits your relationship.

A little coffee break?

For powered by coffee. Choose a tone that fits your relationship.

Side-eye cat

A skeptical cat protecting a quiet evening.

But first, coffee

For powered by coffee. Choose a tone that fits your relationship.

Side eye beagle · Pen & wash

A beagle on an American living-room sofa giving a dramatic skeptical side-eye toward an offscreen invitation, one paw protectively on a folded blanket.

System overloaded / Human needs a break

A retro dialog for too many tasks at once.

Sleepy desk dog

For low-energy mornings and a much-needed pause.

This meeting could be a coffee

For powered by coffee. Choose a tone that fits your relationship.

Not today poster

A bold typographic boundary in a few words.

Brain has left the chat

For low battery club. Choose a tone that fits your relationship.

My ears are open / My schedule is not

A deadpan response to a questionable proposal.

Weekend plans · Paper collage

A happy opossum buried comfortably under a quilt on an American living-room couch, bowl of popcorn nearby, politely declining an offscreen outing.

Got it, you got this

For message received. Choose a tone that fits your relationship.

Coffee secured / Brain still buffering

A sleepy brown bear waits for an oversized coffee at a neighborhood cafe.

Absolutely not today

For a gentle boundary. Choose a tone that fits your relationship.

Another meeting? Cute.

For low battery club. Choose a tone that fits your relationship.

Low battery

For a day that needs a recharge rather than another quest.

Permission denied

A firm little dialog for protecting your time.

Thanks for inviting me / I need to sit this one out

A clear boundary with a friendly tone.

Evening is protected / Try again tomorrow

A firm little dialog for protecting your time.

The request is noted / The answer is still no

A skeptical cat protecting a quiet evening.

Today I will catch up / Today has other ideas

A scratchy pen-drawn reaction to an impossible to-do list.

Noted, thank you

For message received. Choose a tone that fits your relationship.

A gentle no

A kind boundary without a long explanation.

One quick favour / My evening has other plans

A skeptical cat protecting a quiet evening.

KINDLY / ABSOLUTELY NOT

A bold typographic boundary in a few words.

A small rest, please

For low battery club. Choose a tone that fits your relationship.

My to-do list has chapters / I am still on page one

A scratchy pen-drawn reaction to an impossible to-do list.

Energy: two percent / Ambition: unreasonable

For a day that needs a recharge rather than another quest.

Thanks for the invite / My blanket and I have plans

A happy opossum buried comfortably under a quilt on an American living-room couch, bowl of popcorn nearby, politely declining an offscreen outing.

Request received / Permission to overbook denied

A firm little dialog for protecting your time.

I can do one small thing / Not the whole project tonight

A clear boundary with a friendly tone.

Gonna pass on this one

For a gentle boundary. Choose a tone that fits your relationship.

Loud and clear, captain

For message received. Choose a tone that fits your relationship.

Running on 2%

For low battery club. Choose a tone that fits your relationship.

Too many tabs open / Please close a few expectations

A retro dialog for too many tasks at once.

I am at my desk / That is all I can confirm

For low-energy mornings and a much-needed pause.

Thank you, but no

For a gentle boundary. Choose a tone that fits your relationship.

Monday dumpling

For a slow return to the weekly routine.

Absolutely dumpling

A clear, warm agreement when a short reply is enough.

I heard the proposal / I have concerns

A deadpan response to a questionable proposal.

System overload

A retro dialog for too many tasks at once.

Personality loading. Add coffee.

For powered by coffee. Choose a tone that fits your relationship.

The judging rabbit

A deadpan response to a questionable proposal.

Tired commuter

A scratchy pen-drawn reaction to an impossible to-do list.

Plans vs energy cat

Compare the ambitious plan with the energy you actually have.

Boundary setting cat

Say what you can offer and where your limit is.

A softer no chat

A clear boundary with a friendly tone.

Coffee first ghost

A gentle way to ask for a slower start.

Great seeing everyone / I will now disappear for a while

A weary cat in an American apartment entryway leaning against a tote bag after a busy gathering, shoes and a couch in view, hilariously exhausted face.

Had a lovely time / Recovery may take the entire weekend

A weary cat in an American apartment entryway leaning against a tote bag after a busy gathering, shoes and a couch in view, hilariously exhausted face.

Everything is under control / Please ignore the supporting evidence

A calm raccoon at an American apartment work desk with an absurd but harmless tangle of papers and open notebooks around it, holding coffee with serene resignation.

Weekend plans confirmed / I will be right here

A happy opossum buried comfortably under a quilt on an American living-room couch, bowl of popcorn nearby, politely declining an offscreen outing.

Thanks for the invite / My blanket and I have plans

A happy opossum buried comfortably under a quilt on an American living-room couch, bowl of popcorn nearby, politely declining an offscreen outing.

Weekend plans · Pixel art

A happy opossum buried comfortably under a quilt on an American living-room couch, bowl of popcorn nearby, politely declining an offscreen outing.

Weekend plans confirmed / I will be right here

A happy opossum buried comfortably under a quilt on an American living-room couch, bowl of popcorn nearby, politely declining an offscreen outing.

I heard the plan / My couch voted no

A beagle on an American living-room sofa giving a dramatic skeptical side-eye toward an offscreen invitation, one paw protectively on a folded blanket.

Respectfully / That sounds like a tomorrow problem

A beagle on an American living-room sofa giving a dramatic skeptical side-eye toward an offscreen invitation, one paw protectively on a folded blanket.

Before my first coffee / Please lower your expectations

A sleepy brown bear waits for an oversized coffee at a neighborhood cafe.