Most countries provide between 20 and 40 paid days off

5 hours ago

The author is taking a vacation, pausing the weekly Not-Ship newsletter until the end of August.
Self-employment makes it difficult to take breaks since there is no mandate or backup, unlike in traditional employment.
Paid time off varies globally: the US has zero legally mandated days, while most countries offer 20-40 days, with a world average of 30.
During the break, the author will focus on deeper investigations, long-term planning, and website upgrades.
An updated summer reading list with 1,272 book recommendations is now available.

Mini-retirements are shorter breaks from work, lasting 1-3 months, that can be taken after school, job changes, or whenever needed.
Austin Kleon suggests doing smaller sabbaticals like daily walks in nature to disconnect and recharge.
Rest and mini-retirements can lead to great insights and decisions, as connecting the dots often only happens in hindsight (Steve Jobs).

Supreme Court decisions impacting broadcasters require immediate consideration.
Declaration of Independence drafting process involved committee work and revisions.
Concerns about AI usability lagging behind rapid evolution halfway through 2026.

The author's biggest game-changer is becoming a day person, waking early and watching the sunrise with a partner.
They used to be a night owl but switched to waking naturally around 6am five years ago.
Morning routine includes hand-grinding coffee, enjoying sunrise, and having a gentle start without rushing.

The author used to stress about maximizing every minute for productivity, but found it didn't lead to the expected '10x' results.
After working for five years, the author adopted a healthier attitude toward work-life balance, realizing that being 'totally efficient' is unrealistic for humans.
Most professional skill development occurs during regular job hours, not through side projects or forced efficiency.

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