The British Broadcasting System (BBC) tends to feature programs that are classical, educational, and rich in photography, thus readers of the BBC website may have been confused by the headline that shouted, “Shopping a sale gives you the same feeling as getting high.” Reporter Alina Dizik was curious about what goes on in the brain and body when “enticed by a sale.” She cites the…
Women’s Wear Daily (WWD) was dubbed the “Bible of fashion” for a reason. Founded in 1910, WWD was known for “focusing on the human side of fashion,” so when retailers came up with the idea of declaring the day after Thanksgiving “Black Friday” to establish a holiday gift-buying launch, WWD was one of the first publications to promote the idea in the 1970s. The idea…
Given statistics that prove medical care and lifestyle improvements are helping us live longer, it stands to reason that married folks who have found ways to grow together are celebrating more milestone anniversaries than ever before. According to a feature article in the Norfolk (VA) Daily News, the practice of getting married right out of high school has all but disappeared. Over the past 50…
Once upon a time, spring break made parents of college-age kids crazy because these school sabbaticals earned reputations for being endless parties inviting risky behaviors by unleashed collegiates. It’s not hard to understand why students wanted to break free after a semester of hard work in classrooms, labs, and during exam times. Over time, spring break grew to be such wild occasions, average travelers grew…
The Harvest Business Review is never short on advice for movers and shakers who want to achieve both business and personal success in today’s world, so when business executive Rebecca Zucker’s article, “Thinking of Skipping Vacation? Don’t!” appeared, readers reassessed their plans to keep working without breaks. What happens to people who think that the only path to success is found through nonstop work? They…
If you’re the curious sort, you may wonder how certain words wind up in dictionaries. It’s the job of lexicographers whose responsibilities are to keep these guides updated and current. One interesting example of a word that morphed into contemporary use and remains approved by all lexicographers is “chill.” Chill is a versatile word. A noun, verb, or adjective, origins of “cele” or “ciele” are…
Have you ever wondered why some promotional offers are called sales while others are referred to as flash sales? There is a distinction. Regular sales are run-of-the-mill promotions while flash sales emulate the descriptors: Anyone wishing to take advantage of a flash sale can’t dawdle because they run for very short time periods and require prompt responses. Flash sales are the bane of procrastinators! If…
Raise your hand if, in your opinion, Friday is the best day of the week. You’re in great company. Fridays are so beloved by people around the world, the phrase “TGI Friday!” has been added to dictionaries to indicate the delight with which people of all ages look forward to the last business day of the week. But only one Friday per year is anticipated…
Sick and tired of hearing people label you as a procrastinator? No need to hide from this label. There are advantages to be had from waiting until the last minute to attend to tasks and benefits derived from waiting longer are sweet! Procrastinators tend to work more efficiently because deadlines feel more pressing and if this is the way you operate, you may be surprised…
People in today’s polarized society don’t agree on much, but on the topic of “best day of the week,” Friday wins by a landslide writes Sarah Lipoff for the PopSugar website. The reasons are obvious. The weekend is starting. Employees often get paid on Friday. Casual Fridays are popular and everybody “is a bit more chill,” adds Lipoff. For veteran shoppers, the third Friday in…