Must Reads

• Six golden rules of traveling during retirement
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• ​These moms have found community busting moves at the skatepark

Health

A Lesson From Gen Z: Don’t Be Afraid to Call in Sick

We’ve all been there: A sick co-worker is mowing through a box of tissues inches away from you, leaving you worried about their health and your own. The good news is that recent data shows these uncomfortable moments may start to dwindle as more U.S. workers are taking sick days, with Gen Z leading the take-care-of-yourself (and others) charge.
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Data from Dayforce, a human resources platform, shows that sick leave increased by 55% from 2019 to 2023, Business Insider reports. Similarly, another HR company called Gusto found that 30% of white-collar workers took sick days last year, a 42% hike from 2019.
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The driving force behind these statistics is the set of employees in the 35 and under age bracket. Gen Zers and younger millennials were found to take more sick time than older colleagues, which experts attribute to myriad factors, including mental health days, increased health consciousness post-pandemic, and improved boundaries with work.
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“There’s just a generational shift towards balancing work life, taking care of your whole self, and those sorts of things,” said Liz Wilke, a principal economist at Gusto. She added: “People are just, I think, being a little more protective of their health and enforcing some work-life boundaries, especially around their health.”

Together With Pique

Start Your Morning With Matcha

Do you know which food has 30 times the antioxidant activity of blueberries? It’s matcha green tea — and antioxidants aren’t its only superpower. But not all matcha is created equal, which is why we turn to Pique Life’s Sun Goddess Matcha.
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It’s 100% organic and ceremonial grade, as well as quadruple toxin screened for impurities. You won’t find another matcha with such strict standards to ensure the ultimate purity for daily drinking. For a limited time, Nice News readers can get up to 15% off and free shipping for life on Sun Goddess Matcha. Plus, Pique offers a 30-day satisfaction guarantee, so you either love it or get your money back!

Environment

The Mystery of a Rare Orchid Is Getting Grad Students out of the Classroom

The world is full of astonishing flowers, and one of them is the western prairie orchid. With creamy, feather-like flowers all blooming from a single stem, these orchids are undeniably striking up close. That is, if you actually get to see one.
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Known for its elusive nature, this endangered plant is notoriously difficult for researchers to find, let alone study. This makes it a challenge to put together vital pieces of information, like its role in the ecosystem and reproductive cycle, that would help scientists better protect the species.
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Graduate students from North Dakota State University in Fargo are taking on that challenge. They’re doing everything from logging the GPS coordinates of western prairie orchids at 20 different sites and swabbing them for genetic material to gathering soil samples and monitoring the plants from afar with the help of trail cameras, per the Associated Press.
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Bringing a new meaning to the sentiment “the world is our classroom,” they’ve also been through a fair share of nature adventures complete with ticks, dam crossings, and bear track sightings. “It’s been pretty wild,” said Josie Pickar, one of the students.

Humanity

Adult Day Services Offer Support for People With Disabilities and Their Caregivers

Caregivers show up in obvious and subtle ways. They make things happen, whether that’s scheduling appointments, preparing meals, or ensuring loved ones stick to routines. They also sit in waiting rooms, listen when no one else is there, and do the unseen work that is often the hardest.
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That’s where Third Age Adult Center comes in: an adult day service in Plattsburgh, New York, providing a safe and communal place for those who have physical or cognitive disabilities and a much-needed reprieve for caregivers.
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“I can’t put a price on what it’s done for us,” Sally White told the Associated Press of the center, where her husband of 46 years spends four days a week. “Rodger has a routine and a community there and I keep my sanity by getting the bills paid and keeping the house in good condition and tidy so it’s safe for him here.”
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At the roughly 8,000 adult day service centers spread across the country, the goal is to offer care at more affordable prices than traditional nursing homes and provide a modern approach (less day care, more third place). “We’re a lot more than dancing and dominoes,” said William Zagorski, chairman of the National Adult Day Services Association.

Global Good

🇹🇼 To protect wildlife, Taiwan introduced a ban on performances by animals held in captivity.
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🇲🇦 Morocco is building the world’s largest soccer stadium — see renderings of its tented roof.
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🇦🇷 Thousands gathered at the Buenos Aires Tango Festival and Competition in Argentina earlier this week.
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🇸🇬 Singapore’s new plan to support unemployed residents is estimated to benefit 60,000 people per year.
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🇪🇸 At one popular beach in Spain, trained dogs are helping rescue people from drowning.

Something We Love

Rothy’s Weekend Slide​
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​You may have already seen Rothy’s all over the internet, but it’s for good reason. I own the weekend slides in the “oat” color, and they’re the perfect everyday shoe (at least in Southern California). They hit just the right balance of comfortable and stylish.
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​— Natalie Stone, Managing Editor

Spread Positivity

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Through Aug. 31, if you get two people to join through your unique link (below), you’ll receive a magazine subscription on us. Options include People, Food & Wine, Vanity Fair, and more.
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Inspiring Story

Rainbow of possibilities

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At Camp Rainbow Gold in Idaho, children who have been diagnosed with cancer find a haven for trying new activities, making friends, and finding acceptance. “What we witness is magical,” said Elizabeth Lizberg, the nonprofit’s CEO. On a mission to help more kids experience this magic, local builders recently constructed new cabins so no camper is turned away. Check out the newly updated camp.

Eyes on Paris

The U.S. is competing against Japan today in wheelchair rugby, aka “murderball.” That’s right, the sport is so physical that it’s earned a somewhat frightening nickname, but that hasn’t scared Sarah Adam away.
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The athlete is the first woman to represent Team USA in wheelchair rugby since the co-ed sport officially became part of the Paralympics in Sydney in 2000. The 32-year-old, who has multiple sclerosis, told NBC News that though she may have initially been underestimated, it didn’t take long for her teammates and competitors to take her seriously. The U.S. wheelchair rugby players have medaled in every Games since Sydney, but for Adam, it’s about more than winning.
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“We’re breaking down the stereotype, not only that people with disabilities are fragile or can’t be competitive or can’t do things that we enjoyed before, but it also levels that playing field,” Adam said. “We all have something that we’re working through. We all have some adversity in our life. We all have a disability of some sort. And so then it almost makes it easier to see us as a person first or as an athlete first because the disability isn’t highlighted as much.”

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Odds & Ends

🍕 The ideal moving night accessory
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💗 Flip phone nostalgia meets Barbie nostalgia
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✈️ A potential “cheat code” for cheaper flights
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Quote of the Day

“In order for the turtle to move, it has to stick its neck out. There are going to be times in your life when you’re going to have to stick your neck out. There will be challenges. And instead of hiding in a shell, you have to go out and meet them.”

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– RUTH WESTHEIMER