We want you to move NOW
btw stop being so 'positive'
It’s finally Friday, and we’re ending the week on a high note with some of the most entertaining and fun stories we’ve gathered. Get ready for a joyful ride into the weekend!
📌 Take a moment to reflect on your goals for the week and write down one small step you can take to achieve them. Share it with a friend to boost your motivation!
Writing down goals helps crystallize what you want to achieve and how you plan to get there. It makes the goals more tangible and manageable. Moreover, breaking goals into smaller, actionable steps makes them less overwhelming and easier to tackle, increasing the likelihood of progress.
Now, let’s get started…
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Schools and academy trusts across England are getting creative with new ways to make teaching more appealing as the country faces a growing crisis in teacher recruitment and retention.
Teachers are being offered perks like two free periods a week, extra planning time at home, and even a nine-day fortnight—yes, working only nine days every two weeks! All this is in an effort to give teachers a better work-life balance and make the job more attractive.
Some schools are already trying out fresh ideas.
📌 Take All Saints Catholic College in West London, where teachers get a double period off every week. That’s an extra hour to sleep in, do yoga, or just enjoy a slower morning. It’s making a real difference.
📌 Meanwhile, the Dixons Academies Trust has introduced a nine-day fortnight, meaning teachers work only nine days every two weeks while still getting paid the same. The idea is to reduce stress, give teachers more control over their schedules, and ultimately prevent burnout.
However, despite these initiatives, the numbers tell a worrying story. Nearly as many teachers left the profession last year as those who entered it, with vacancies up by 20%. The situation is so serious that even union leaders are saying that while these new ideas are helpful, they won’t be enough to solve the larger issues facing the profession. The core problem, they argue, is that teachers need better pay and working conditions. (Read more)
Why being positive is dangerous?
Have you ever caught yourself saying, "Everything's fine" at work when deep down you know it's not? If so, you might be engaging in something called "glossing."
It’s when we suppress or ignore our negative feelings and slap on a smile, even when things are far from okay. And while it might feel like you're keeping the peace, glossing is actually a form of toxic positivity that could be holding you (and your workplace) back.
But here’s the kicker: glossing often starts from the top. If leaders come into meetings with a "happy face" while brushing over the real issues, it sends a signal that glossing is the norm. The result? A workforce that’s too scared to speak up, too afraid to address problems, and way less likely to take risks or innovate. Everyone loses in that scenario.
This guarded approach leads to a toxic environment where employees feel isolated, burned out, and even ashamed. Over time, it can drive people to call in sick more often or take extended time off due to mental health struggles.
Fixing this isn’t rocket science, though.
For example, during a difficult quarter, instead of pretending everything’s rosy, a manager might say: "We’re in a period of disruption, and we know it’s hard. We’re grateful for your hard work and commitment during this time."
This kind of transparency builds trust. No, managers don’t need to shoulder the weight of the entire company, but they can create a "bubble culture" within their own teams—a safe space where employees feel heard, seen, and supported.
Leaders often need coaching to learn these skills, especially when it comes to navigating tough conversations without being overly blunt or harsh. It’s all about finding that balance: being transparent enough to build trust but not so blunt that you amp up everyone’s anxiety.
At the end of the day, people appreciate honesty, even when the news isn’t great. Employees don’t want to be blindsided by layoffs or surprised when their teams are restructured. They’d much rather be informed, even if it’s tough to hear. When people feel safe and engaged, they’re more likely to give their best—compared to when they’re just going through the motions and glossing over the real issues. So, maybe it's time to ditch the "everything’s fine" act and start being a little more real.
BTW, old people are horny and starting an epidemic
It turns out that STIs are spreading faster among senior citizens in the U.S. than you might think. In fact, the rates of syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia have more than doubled in people over 55 in just the last decade. The CDC reported over 2.5 million cases of these infections in 2022, and experts are already warning that the numbers for 2023 could be even worse. Yikes!
What’s really surprising is which states are leading the charge. South Dakota is at the top for syphilis cases among older adults, Washington, D.C., is seeing the most gonorrhea, and Alaska is the hot spot for chlamydia. It’s not exactly the kind of thing you’d expect, but here we are.
So, why is this happening?
For one, seniors are living longer and staying active—both physically and sexually. According to a 2018 survey by AARP, nearly 40% of people aged 65 to 80 are still getting busy, and many are quite interested in keeping that part of their life alive.
The problem? Only about 8% of them are using condoms regularly. Since pregnancy isn’t a concern anymore, many older folks don’t even think about protection, even though STIs are still very much a thing.
Another issue is that sex education was practically non-existent when today’s seniors were growing up. If you were in school during the ’30s, ’40s, or ’50s, formal lessons on STI prevention just weren’t a thing, so many older adults are missing out on some basic info. And then there’s the uncomfortable reality that doctors don’t always talk about sexual health with their older patients. No one really wants to imagine grandma and grandpa in that way, right?
And it’s not just the older crowd. Globally, there’s been a drop in condom use, especially among teens and young adults, which is also causing STI rates to rise.
BTW, if you want to do something productive during your time off, check this out 👉
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So, that’s it for today. Let’s meet again next week 👋 Till then, stay safe!
