23/06/30

Whether you plan to pack your bags or just recharge your batteries–taking time away from work is imperative. 

 

 

 

 

 

Five sentences have been removed from the text below.

Choose from the sentences a-e the one which fits each gap.

 

I just returned from HubSpot’s Global Week of Rest, where we give all of our employees across the world a much-needed week to recharge. 1. ………………………………………………………………………………………………… From taking up a new hobby with their kids or taking a dream trip to just getting a pedicure mid-week, and loving the break from email. Giving yourself the opportunity to shut off your laptops and turn your phones to “do not disturb” is one of the best gifts you can give yourself, your team, and your company.  (…)

It’s good for your health.

Have you ever had that feeling on vacation where you breathe a little easier and sleep better? You’re not alone. Turns out vacations are good for your health, and not just in the short term. 2. ………………………………. After a few good books and a few solid naps last week, I felt like a new person, so if you haven’t booked that long weekend yet for August, you’re now under doctor’s orders to make it happen. 

It sets the tone for your team to unplug.

74 percent of workers report experiencing burnout. It’s one thing to talk about burnout and quite another to lead by example by leaving loudly, setting boundaries around work-life integration, and truly being out of the office when you’re taking holidays. 3. ……………………… .

It benefits the business.

Employees who report that their company actively encourages vacation use have higher employee satisfaction scores than companies where vacation is discouraged. 4. ………………………………………………. . Lin-Manuel Miranda famously wrote Hamilton after reading a biography of Hamilton on vacation. Causation or correlation? You tell me, but we all agree it’s a work of genius and that everyone can benefit from a break to create space for creativity. 

Taking a break can often lead to breakthroughs.

I distinctly remember skiing with my siblings eight years ago on a winter break, being completely off my phone, and enjoying the fresh air while fending off freezing cold conditions. At one point in the middle of a run, I sorted out a potential solution to a problem at work I’d been sitting with for months. 5. …………………………………………………… .

(…) So, I implore you–take the break and leave any guilt.

 

a) Consider taking a break as an investment in walking the walk on balance for your organization, and an opportunity to lead by example. 

b) Studies show that’s not unique-taking unconscious work or beneficial forgetting time often creates much-needed space for better solutions to existing problems. 

c) One of the best parts of the week is hearing what people did.

d) But it’s not just happiness at play: studies show travel can increase cognitive flexibility and innovative thinking.

e) Taking regular vacations decreases your likelihood of heart disease and depression.

 

In order to read the whole article/check your answers, go to: https://www.inc.com/katie-burke/4-reasons-to-take-a-real-break-this-summer

Key: 1c); 2e); 3a); 4d); 5b)
 

Glossary

 

  • to implore – to make an earnest request to (someone); to beg
  • set the tone (for something) – to establish a particular mood or character for something
  • bucket list – all the things you would really like to do or see in your life.

 

 

Practice makes perfect

Fill in the gaps in the article below with the words/phrases in bold. Make sure their grammatical form is correct.

check off           give away           re-assess           stick close

wind down        from scratch     check in

take charge        flash forward    in advance

 

Avoid wondering where all of those summer hours went when school starts back up again

School is 1. ………. and eyes everywhere are turning to summer – whether days will be spent at camp, with family, on a new job, traveling, or 2. ……… to home. The months seem full of possibility. But 3. ………. to changing leaves and all of us will be asking, what did I even do this summer?

Setting summer goals can help fight back against future fall regrets, especially if you take the time to get specific. Rather than planning to “learn guitar,” pick a song. Identify potential resources, whether books from the library, informal lessons from your neighbor, or how-to videos on the internet. Finally, don’t just say “this summer;” name some dates to 4. ………….. and an ultimate deadline to 5. …….. it …… .

There are more ideas than summer days, but here are a few to get you started on a list of your own: 

Get Started on a New Skill

  • Learn how to make three types of bread 6. ………. (…)
  • Grow a new type of vegetable or flower
  • Solve an old problem in a new programming language
  • Draw or paint a picture to 7. …………. using a new type of paint or paper
  • Plan out the route for a family trip or bike ride using a map 8. ………. (…)

Find New Ways to Help

  • Pick five neighbors to help by the end of the summer and find out what they need
  • ………… of three new things – mowing the lawn, cooking Wednesday dinner, vacuuming – to play a bigger role in your household (…)

Finish Something (…)

Set Some Learning Goals (…)

Make your list, make a calendar, and set some goals. Check-ins along the way will help you to see your progress and to 10. ……….. plans that might have been too ambitious to start. Come September, you will be surprised at just how many new things you managed to do.  

 

In order to check yor answers/read the whole article, go tohttps://blogs.scientificamerican.com/budding-scientist/making-the-most-of-your-summer-break

Key: 1. winding down; 2. sticking close; 3. flash forward; 4. check in; 5. check (it) off; 7. give away; 8. In advance; 9. take charge; 10. re-assess

 

Discuss

 

  • What things about summer do you like most and least?
  • What are your plans for the summer?
  • Would you like it to be summer forever?
  • Do you like going to summer music festivals?
  • William Carlos Williams said: “In summer, the song sings itself.” What do you reckon of this quote?
 

Explore more to create your own teaching-learning experience!

 

United Rolled Out a Remarkably Simple New App Feature That Solves the Worst Thing About Traveling

You can now see alternative flight options and even access hotel and food vouchers in the app.

 

Read:

https://www.inc.com/jason-aten/united-rolled-out-a-remarkably-simple-new-app-feature-that-solves-worst-thing-about-traveling

 

 

 

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