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As employers have wrested back control of the job market, it has been a sharp contrast to the post-pandemic years when workers seemed to hold the power. In 2025, employees fretted about their job security and the sweeping impact of artificial intelligence on their work livesnot to mention corporate Americas continued commitment to keeping them in the office for longer. Here, weve compiled some of the most popular Work Life stories from this yearon the issues that consumed you most. The 996 schedule This year saw the return of hustle culture in Silicon Valley, as AI startups popularized a grueling work schedule that became popularized in China. The 996 schedule refers to a 72-hour workweekin other words, working from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a weekand has grown more common in Silicon Valley as founders and tech leaders scramble to outrun the competition. But experts say this could stoke burnout at a time when workers are already stretched too thin. The steady drumbeat of RTO The return to office is here to stay, despite how workers may feel about it. Business leaders like Jamie Dimon have been among the most vocal supporters of in-office work, dismissing employee concerns and the concept of work from home Fridays. Hes not alone: Amazon employees were forced to return to the office five days a week, while the federal government put an end to remote work this year. The truth behind quiet quitting Were still talking about quiet quitting. While older generations might think Gen Z workers are lazy or lack motivation, Fast Company contributor Jeff LeBlanc argues quiet quitting is a rational response to workplaces that lack fairness, structure, and alignment with employee values. Leaders who cant retain Gen Z talent should wonder whether theyre the problem, he writes. The question isnt whether Gen Z is willing to work hard. The real question is: Are leaders willing to evolve? The rise of job hugging In a tough job market, many employees are actually job hugging rather than quiet quitting. But doing so can actually hurt workers who are unhappy with their job situationor speed up their burnout. Cognitive reframing can helpfocusing purely on the positive aspects of a draining role, such as a friendly team, and tuning out the rest, writes Alex Christian. Sometimes, however, the only solution is to wait it out and hope that the economy turns around. The fractional leadership boom In the years since the pandemic, many senior leaders have been reevaluating what they want out of work. Enter the fractional role, which has enabled experienced C-suite leaders to set their own schedule and work across multiple companies. Fractional leaders have become more common at companies that dont need someone in the position full-time, allowing people in these roles to find more balance. The plight of middle managers Middle managers have had a challenging few years. As the pressures on them mount, many are headed for a crash, according to meQuilibriums Jan Bruce. With Gen Z increasingly rejecting the manager track, there could be a shortage of qualified leaders in the years to come, she argues. So what can companies do differently? Explicit policy decisions can help managers protect and promote their own mental and physical well-being, Bruce writes. This might look like mandatory disconnect periods, sabbaticals, or easing access to acute mental healthcare resources. Making sure managers have consistent, supportive check-ins with their own supervisors can help reduce isolation. The importance of office friends Workplace friendships are not what they used to beand its not good for business. Friendships at work can help boost employee performance and well-being, writes Fast Company contributor Mark C. Crowley. In fact, leaders should create an environment that encourages connection and invests in those friendships. Creating a culture where connection is valued doesnt just improve employee moraleit strengthens retention, creativity, and performance, he writes. By fostering friendships, leaders dont just build better teams; they create desirable workplaces. The productivity gains from AI We all know AI is reshaping how we work. But as the technology permeates the workplace, it might just be revealing how much of what we do is busywork. Were witnessing a productivity revolution without a purpose revolution, write Fast Company contributors Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic and Alexis Fink. Tools are improving, but the work remains hollow. Instead of using AI to invent better ways of working, many companies are simply using it to churn out more of the same, only faster.
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E-Commerce
Many traitslike impulsivity, hyperfocus, and nonlinear thinkingthat get pathologized in school or corporate environments are the same ones that create natural entrepreneurs.
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E-Commerce
The irony of modern work life hits you somewhere between your third consecutive hybrid meeting and the moment you realize you’ve been holding your breath for the past hour. We’ve engineered every process for maximum output, yet reports consistently show that workplace burnout is affecting us more than ever. As someone who followed the straight-A path from childhoodchasing perfect grades, moving from one goalpost to another through MBA to big tech product executiveI’ve witnessed this optimization obsession firsthand while shaping experiences for over half a billion users. But what if the solution isn’t another wellness program or time management technique? What if it’s something far simpler, and more subversive? What if the solution is putting aside your work and engaging in a little play? Research from Johns Hopkins University’s International Arts + Mind Lab, detailed in the 2023 bestseller Your Brain on Art by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross, shows that engaging in art reduces the stress hormone cortisol, no matter your skill level, with some benefits appearing in as little as 20 minutes. A 2025 study of nearly 2,500 people across five countries found that creativity can be reliably predicted by how often the brain switches between its default mode network (active during mind-wandering) and its executive control network (which handles focused attention and cognitive control). These brief creative interludes enhance productivity by allowing different brain networks to make new connections. Ive found that weaving micro-creativity practices into my days has increased my daily joy, aliveness, and overall wellbeing. At work, these creative breaks help me shake off the energy from difficult meetings, discover fresh perspectives when I’m stuck on problems, and connect more meaningfully with teammates who join me in these playful moments. Here are a few practices I love that you can use now to sneak a little play into your workday. 1. Become a Workplace Tea Alchemist Turn your coffee break into a micro-adventure by experimenting with tea combinations. Mix Earl Grey with chamomile, or green tea with cinnamon. Research the origins of different blendsdid you know Bigelow started as a small family business in 1945? If you’re more of a coffee drinker, create your own flavor experimentsadd a dash of cardamom or vanilla extract, or challenge yourself to draw a heart in your foam. (Wonky shapes count as art too!) This curiosity-driven exploration activates what psychologists call openness to experience, which correlates with better conflict resolution abilities and cognitive flexibility. 2. Replace To-Do Lists with ‘To-Doodle’ Lists Instead of writing “Review Q3 budget” in stark text, sketch it. Draw a treasure chest for budget review, a mountain for the challenging client presentation, or abstract shapes that represent your energy around each task. This isn’t about artistic skill; it’s about engaging the right brain’s pattern recognition while planning left-brain tasks. 3. Invite Random Hallway Interactions Ask one unexpected question to someone you see regularly but rarely talk to deeply, like “If you could teleport anywhere right now for lunch, where would you go?” or “If colors had personalities, which one would be your best friend?” The security guard who greets you each morning might have fascinating insights about the most interesting characters in the building. One such conversation led me to discover that Dolly Parton finds creative inspiration in graveyards, where she walks among headstones, finding sparks for her next song! 4. Open Team Huddles With ‘What I’m Saying No To’ Bingo Start each team huddle by sharing one thing you’re actively choosing not to do this week, but make it a game. Create a bingo card with common “no” categories like “unnecessary meeting,” “weekend work,” “social obligation,” and see who gets bingo first as team members share their weekly boundaries. This ritual normalizes boundary-setting, reveals hidden priorities, and creates psychological permission for intentional choices about time and energy. 5. Become a Workplace Note Fairy Write tiny, anonymous notes of appreciation and leave them where colleagues will find them: “Thank you for always restocking the coffee!” Your enthusiasm in meetings is contagious!” “Someone here gives the best hallway wavesthank you!” The act of crafting these small surprises shifts your brain from problem-focused thinking to wonder. One teammate told me that leaving weekly mystery notes became her favorite stress-relief ritual! 6. Go on Office Color Hunts Set a timer for three minutes and hunt for a specific color throughout your workspace. How many shades of yellow exist in your office? This micro-adventure forces you to notice your environment with fresh eyes and activates “attention restoration,” the mental reset that comes from shifting from directed attention to fascination. The beauty of these three-minute playful acts lies in their accessibility. Unlike meditation apps or wellness programs, they don’t require special equipment or cozy conditions. They work precisely because they fit into the existing structure of your day. More importantly, they address what organizational psychologist Dr. Christina Maslach identifies as the core drivers of burnout: lack of control, insufficient rewards, and values mismatch. These micro-creative acts restore a sense of agency, provide immediate intrinsic rewards, and reconnect you with the playful, curious aspects of yourself that often get buried under performative environments. The goal isn’t to become more creative in order to be more productive. It’s to remember that you’re human, not a productivity machine. And sometimes, that three-minute reminder is exactly what it takes to feel alive again in a world that has optimized everything except joy.
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E-Commerce
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