海角大神

In August, a working person鈥檚 fancy turns to vacation.

At least, it might. It probably should. For many Europeans, it鈥檚 a given. Time off can be restorative for those who can afford to take it. Stop those push notifications, at least. Maybe try some , a Japanese variation on a walk in the woods (no Fitbit, please).

The modern experience, of course, runs another way. Reports about the US president鈥檚 working vacation during White House renovations 鈥� round of golf, round of geopolitical sparring 鈥� come twinned with a new set of studies reinforcing that more than half of US workers . By one account,聽 surrender earned time off.聽

Others take their time, but stay tethered. They don鈥檛 recharge. That dovetails with a myth of indispensability, and with an act of self-preservation: Keep spinning the plates during time away and reentry will be a little less bumpy.

The term 鈥渢otal work鈥� 鈥� this one has German roots 鈥� describes the phenomenon of being subsumed by a job. Andrew Taggart this week about the resetting of priorities.

鈥淥nce we鈥檝e gotten the knack for embracing the idea that certain things in life are wondrous because they鈥檙e not focused on getting through, onto, or ahead of something,鈥� he writes, 鈥渨e can turn our attention to ... inquiring into our own lives.鈥�

Now, to our five stories of the day.