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☆ The lunch rush is dead as Americans live for the weekend
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( J.J. Mccorvey | Haley Messenger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

These signs point to a new normal for Americans' post-pandemic leisure spending, which has stayed resilient despite the higher costs of going out. In 2023, 1.88% of the food and drink transactions Square processed took place between 11 a.m. and noon on Saturdays, up from 1.60% in 2019. Nowhere was the shift toward evening and weekend spending starker than in Boston, one of 23 major cities Square analyzed. There, a 10.1% decline in weekday lunch transactions was more than offset by 10.3% and 1.6% increases in weekend and happy hour transactions, respectively. "I don't really prioritize drinking during the weekdays," Louie said, and his weekend leisure spending "is quite inconsistent."

Persons: That's, Ara Kharazian, Brunch, Kharazian, Sara Senatore, AJ Kurban, Kurban, it's, Soojin Lee, Cornell University's Nolan, Young, They're, Senatore, I'm, Nicholas Louie, Louie Organizations: University of Toronto, ARA, Bank of America, Cornell University's, Cornell University's Nolan School of Hotel Administration, Covid Locations: U.S, workdays, Boston, Brooklyn, Manhattan, York

☆ My husband and I were excited to take a trip to Europe after becoming empty nesters. But I struggled to let go of work.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-30 | by ( Kelli Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . But it was surprisingly hard to enjoy the lead-up to the trip as a business owner. Just like the motion of pulling my arm back, stepping back from work propelled my business forward. I knew what work I was excited to return to, and I decided to realign on the work that no longer excited me.

Persons: —, Hailey, unplugging, I'd, Greece's, Tonya Organizations: Service, Greece's Panathenaic Locations: Greece, Italy, Venice

☆ Americans have no idea how to use their free time
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

It's true that Americans are overworked, overstressed, and generally awful at unplugging from work, two time-use researchers told Business Insider. But the vast majority of Americans' leisure time is spent — you guessed it — in front of the television. Watching TV is the most popular leisure activity, accounting for an average of 2.8 hours a day — more than half of all Americans' leisure time. Americans' spend more time watching TV than any other leisure activity. AlavinphotoSexism and the safety netThere is also a gendered element at play when it comes to Americans' leisure time.

Persons: —, It's, I'm, Brigid Schulte, Liana Sayer, Sayer, Sayers, Schulte, Ciara Kelly, Kelly, We're Organizations: Service, Netflix, Business, Bravo, University of Maryland's, Organization for Economic Co, Development, World Economic, US, The University of Sheffield Locations: America, France, Finland, Belgium, Italy, Germany, Spain, Japan, UK

☆ Americans have between 4 and 6 hours of leisure time daily. We just have no idea how to use it.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

AdvertisementDespite class differences, 95% of Americans over the age of 15 engaged in some kind of leisure activity on a typical day, according to the 2022 time-use survey. But the vast majority of Americans' leisure time is spent — you guessed it — in front of the television. Watching TV is the most popular leisure activity, accounting for an average of 2.8 hours a day — more than half of all Americans' leisure time. Americans' spend more time watching TV than any other leisure activity. AlavinphotoSexism and the safety netThere is also a gendered element at play when it comes to Americans' leisure time.

☆ I haven't used a clock in years. I can focus better and use calendar notifications to tell me where to be.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-22 | by ( Megan B. Wells | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

I'd watch the clock and count the minutes until I got to do things such as eat lunch. It wasn't healthy, so I removed all the clocks around me and could focus more. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . I checked how long I'd been working on a particular task and whether I could justify switching focus or stopping. The author taped over appliances that didn't allow her to remove the clock, such as her oven.

Persons: —, I'd, it's Organizations: Service, Electronics Locations: —

☆ De-dollarization would require governments to sever political and economic ties with US
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Filip De Mott | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The dollar's dominance is sticky, political scientist Carla Norrlöf wrote in Project Syndicate. A de-dollarization collective is also unlikely as countries could lose access to the US security guarantee, Norrlöf said. "Governments would need to sever economic and political ties to the US. A de-dollarization collective is also unlikely as countries would lose access to the US security guarantee, Norrlöf said. Even governments who are not direct beneficiaries of American defense would hesitate to worsen relations with the US, a leading military power.

Persons: Carla Norrlöf, Norrlöf Organizations: Project Syndicate, Service, University of Toronto, Atlantic Council, greenback Locations: Wall, Silicon, China, Russia

☆ 19-year-old Coco Gauff avoided social media to win U.S. Open: I'm not 'listening to people who believe that I can or can't'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Ashton Jackson | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

It was Gauff's second time in a Grand Slam final, after losing last year's French Open championship to Poland's Iga Świątek. Gauff recalled feeling surprised and "relieved" to make it to last year's French Open final. "That French Open loss was a heartbreak for me, but I realized, you know, God puts you through tribulations and trials. Taking a social media break can be hard, especially for Gen Zers: 54% of them spend at least four hours per day on social media, and 38% spend even more time than that, a 2022 Morning Consult survey found. Social media dependencies can result in mental health-related challenges like anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and increased isolation and loneliness.

Persons: Coco Gauff, Serena Williams, Gauff, I've, Iga, Unplugging, Zers, Raquel Martin, Martin, Warren Buffett Organizations: U.S ., Pew Research Center, CNBC Locations: American

☆ Working on vacation can make you a bad co-worker—here's how to avoid it: 'It creates more harm than good'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Jennifer Liu | In Jljenniferliu | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Americans are pretty bad about unplugging from work while on vacation, and some of the youngest professionals have an especially tough time of it. Some 35% of Gen Z workers say they feel guilty not working when they're on vacation, versus the 29% U.S. average across age ranges, according to LinkedIn's latest Workforce Confidence Index, based on a survey of 9,461 U.S. professionals this summer. But working on vacation can send the wrong message to your boss and co-workers. Working on vacation can make you a bad co-workerSamm Samujh, 30, is an executive coach based in New York City and felt those pressures early on in her career. "If you're telling people you're on vacation for two weeks and ask for coverage, then while you're out you're emailing them, it causes confusion and creates more harm than good," she says.

Persons: they're, George Anders, LinkedIn's, Samm Samujh, Samujh, Anders Organizations: CNBC Locations: New York City

CNN —A Swiss national and 13 Myanmar citizens were arrested by the military junta on August 8 for working on a film authorities say harms Buddhist culture and tradition, state-funded media has reported. According to the junta, all 14 people allegedly worked on the film “Don’t Expect Anything,” which was released on July 24 on YouTube and TikTok, Myawady Daily said. Myawady added that the junta believe that the film is intended to mislead audiences about Buddhists and Buddhist monks, and that it harms Buddhist culture and tradition. “The local Swiss representation is in contact with the relevant authorities,” the spokesperson added. A Dutch tourist was sentenced to three months hard labor in 2016 after unplugging a speaker relaying a sermon.

Persons: CNN —, Myawady, ”, unplugging Organizations: CNN, YouTube, Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Locations: Swiss, Myanmar, Myawady, Yangon

☆ Gen Zers say they feel guilty when they don't work on vacation, but 'unplugging is the way you get fresh ideas'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-13 | by ( Jennifer Liu | In Jljenniferliu | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

But for today's youngest workers, one big thing holding them back is guilt. Some 35% of Gen Z workers say they feel guilty not working when they're on vacation, versus the 29% U.S. average across age ranges. That's according to LinkedIn's latest Workforce Confidence Index, based on a survey of 9,461 U.S. professionals this summer. "Gen Z is very conscientious," Anders tells CNBC Make It. They may have different habits, such as dress code preferences or desires of the location where they work, "but from what we're seeing, Gen Z's commitment to delivering good work is as intense as any other generation."

Persons: they're, George Anders, LinkedIn's, Anders Organizations: CNBC Locations: U.S

☆ A college janitor turned off a freezer in a lab to silence 'annoying alarms,' but destroyed $1 million in scientific research in the process, a lawsuit claims
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( Sawdah Bhaimiya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A janitor destroyed $1 million in scientific research after turning off a super cold freezer in a lab. He had heard "annoying alarms" coming from the freezer where over 20 years of research were stored. Lakshmi conducted high-level research inside the lab that "had the potential to be groundbreaking" and funded by the university, the lawsuit said. It's believed that Harrington destroyed $1 million worth of scientific research and RPI will be seeking as yet unspecified damages. Daigle Cleaning Systems and Lawyers for RPI did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment about the lawsuit.

Persons: —, Joseph Harrington, K.V, Lakshmi, Harrington, It's Organizations: Service, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Daigle, Rensselaer County Supreme, AS IT, RPI, Systems, Lawyers Locations: New York, Troy , New York, Rensselaer County

☆ European tourist island declares itself a phone-free zone
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Amaya Mcdonald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —As summer approaches and tourism season begins, social media users will struggle to answer the age-old question: If you didn’t post about your vacation, did you really even go? Though it may be difficult for some to resist work emails and updating social media during vacation, the island of Ulko-Tammio in Finland is urging visitors to ignore their screens and enjoy nature. “The island of Ulko-Tammio, which is located off the coast of Hamina, will be a phone-free area this summer,” Mats Selin, an expert in island tourism at Visit Kotka-Hamina, said in a news release. However, the staff of Parks & Wildlife Finland, the company that manages the island, hopes that the campaign translates to tourists unplugging and engaging with the flora, fauna and fellow visitors. “We spend countless hours scrolling our social media feeds, so taking a short break from them means you have more time for new experiences.”Visitors can spend their phone-free nights on the island in tents or in a cabin maintained by Parks & Wildlife Finland.

Persons: that’s, “, ” Mats Selin, ” Sari Castrén Organizations: CNN, Nordic, Nokia, Parks & Wildlife, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare Locations: Ulko, Tammio, Finland, Eastern Gulf of Finland, Hamina, Parks & Wildlife Finland, Eastern Gulf

☆ These are the 10 best travel destinations for a 'digital detox'—none of them are in the U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Celia Fernandez | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

More and more people are looking for a reprieve from the endless scroll of social media, breaking news alerts and e-mail notifications. There's a recent rise in Gen Zers in the U.S. buying "dumb phones" to help limit the time they spend on apps like Twitter and TikTok. And as people set stricter boundaries around how much they interact with tech, they're turning their attention to travel. InsureMyTrip, a travel insurance comparison website, ranked the best cities to visit for a "digital detox" based on an overall rating across four categories: relaxation, activities, safety, and access to the internet. To stick to your digital detox, look to one of the featured destinations that received high marks for availability of evening tours and activities.

☆ ‘Mrs. Davis’ Review: Algorithm and Blues
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( James Poniewozik | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The pilot introduces Simone (Betty Gilpin), a sister in a remote Nevada convent who has a sideline exposing dishonest magicians. Besides leaving her time for her hobby, convent life lets her avoid the reach of an omniscient A.I. Davis” in America, “Mum” in Britain, “Madonna” in Italy and so on — has not given up on Simone. Simone, Mrs. Davis believes deep in her code, is the one person equipped to carry out a mission: to find and destroy the Holy Grail. Simone agrees, hoping the quest will be a means to Mrs. Davis’s unplugging.

Others welcomed it as a sign the energy industry would get involved in the transition. Russia's invasion of Ukraine sparked an energy crunch that disrupted fossil fuel supplies to industry and consumers. A disorderly energy transition could be "painful and chaotic", Wirth said. Top U.S. oil firm Exxon said each country would take a different path to energy transition, depending on the resources available. In some countries, gas would be a transition fuel, said Liam Mallon, the president upstream oil and gas at Exxon.

☆ Wizards, horses, flip phones and AI: Elon Musk's 10 most colorful quotes from Tesla's investor day
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Theron Mohamed | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Elon Musk mentioned wizards, flip phones, horses, and rust balls during Tesla's investor day. Riding in a non-autonomous gasoline car is going to be analogous to riding a horse and using a flip phone." There are hundreds of variants of cars on the road, and mostly they're variants for the sake of variants. Look at how things converged with the phone — there used to be hundreds of flip phones, now what do we have? "If you actually look at our neural-net architecture in the car, it's kind of insane, frankly — nets upon nets upon nets upon nets.

☆ 3 morning habits to help you be happier and more productive at work, according to psychologists
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-18 | by ( Morgan Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

We've all heard it before: Having a morning routine is essential to a successful life. There are science-backed benefits of having a morning routine: past research has shown that a consistent morning routine can reduce stress, boost your energy levels and improve your productivity at work. The benefits of doing a relaxing, offline activity in the morning will last throughout the day, Sorensen says, because you're starting the day off feeling "more grounded and recharged." "It gives you sustainable energy to help you power through the day and keep stress in check," she adds. "It's a really sweet, quiet moment of quality time that I look forward to, and it rejuvenates me before I plunge into work," she says.

☆ 10 Best Home Office Upgrades We Love for Remote Working
▼ + stars: | 2022-06-09 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +7 min

Instead of pressing cmd/ctrl + ~ I have a custom key that’s red and on the thumb part of the keyboard. It makes things so much easier, especially if you are a designer or someone who works with software with lots of shortcuts. As a creative director, I use a handblown glass timer for 15-minute tasks during a full day of design work. It’s a small thing, but it feels like you’re being kind to yourself by simplifying your work setup. It’s made with botanicals and smells clean and refreshing, as if you just stepped out of the shower.

☆ Ed Jackson: How a quadriplegic former rugby player conquered a Himalayan mountain
▼ + stars: | 2022-05-24 | by ( Issy Ronald Cnn Video Produced Amy Li | Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

You become a little bit delirious at times.”That night on the mountain was not the first time Jackson had strayed perilously close to death. Five years ago, while still a professional rugby union player, he dived into a shallow pool on a hot day and broke his neck. Then, to mark the one-year anniversary of his accident, Jackson set himself the goal of climbing Mount Snowdon – the highest mountain in Wales at 1,085 meters – even though he was still using two crutches at that time. Confronted by unfavorable snow conditions, Jackson and his team had to navigate difficult routes across the glacier, setting up camps as they went. He established the charity Millimeters to Mountains (M2M) with his wife, Lois, and friend and fellow former rugby player, Olly Barkley.

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