Good morning readers. In this fast-paced world, where "self-care" often translates to binge-watching alone, here's a twist: social butterflies might just outlive the homebodies. Recent research links loneliness and social isolation to an increased risk of mortality—yes, it's that serious. While we're all hustling to stay fit physically, the study, spearheaded by University of Glasgow researchers, reminds us that social fitness is just as vital. The main takeaway? In an era where solo Netflix nights are increasingly the norm, it’s time to rethink our social calendars—for our health's sake.

Let’s jump into today’s storylines.

In today’s digest:

• WeWork flopped. Have flexible offices?

• Headline Hustle: Vivek Ramaswamy wants a border wall with Canada, man receives first eye transplant, Apply pays $25M in discrimination case

• Sleep’s new golden rule

• Pulse Points: What’s Trending

REAL ESTATE

Bending not breaking: office spaces in the post WeWork world

Remember the days when offices looked more like adult playgrounds than places of work? Slides next to desks and a bean bag chair at every meeting were once the symbols of a modern workplace. Yet, for co-working moguls like WeWork and IWG, the novelty of office playthings is wearing off faster than the sheen on a new ping-pong table.

Amidst the global cheer for 'work-from-anywhere' culture, WeWork and IWG are hitting a snag. Their occupancy rates in North America are dipping their toes in the shallow end—WeWork at 69% and IWG's global presence at 74%, both trailing behind the national average occupancy rate of about 83%. What's more, their market slice has shriveled from a wholesome 2% to a modest 1.6% of the North American office market pie. It seems that the tech startups, once the heartthrob tenants of these spaces, are swiping left on office flings for a more committed relationship with remote working.

This is an ‘everybody’ problem

It makes things even more difficult as co-working spaces jostle for space in an already cramped market. Corporate tenants are dishing out their unwanted office real estate like hand-me-downs, ballooning the U.S. vacancy rate to a bloated 18.4%. But IWG is changing its tune, opting for management contracts that allow them to play matchmaker between spaces and tenants, avoiding the albatross of long-term leases. As for WeWork, they’re in talks with the landlords of each building, begging them to be a little more open to renegotiating the terms on their leases (and in some cases, cancelling them).

Looking ahead…flexibility is more than just a buzzword; it's about adapting to the new normal where office space is less about the frills and more about fitting the bill. Co-working spaces must now calibrate their compass to navigate the shifting seas of a workforce that's found its footing outside the traditional office.

Headline Hustle

🧱 A Republican presidential candidate wants a border wall — with Canada. In a political theater turned reality TV, Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy pitched the idea of building a wall along the US-Canada border to block drugs and illegal migration. Despite his claim that fentanyl trafficking justifies the wall, the stats tell a different story: a mere 1% of fentanyl is seized compared to the US-Mexico border. Experts and politicians ridicule the idea, branding it extreme and financially ludicrous. The proposal, likely a campaign tactic to appeal to certain voters, has been met with skepticism, seen as outlandish and a potential "catastrophic waste of resources."

👁️ Man receives world’s first eye transplant. In a visionary leap, NYU surgeons perform a medical marvel—the world's first whole-eye transplant, bundled with a partial face transplant. Although the patient, a 46-year-old electric shock survivor, hasn't seen the light with the new eye yet, the signs are hopeful. The eye's health metrics are promising, with normal pressure and blood flow, hinting at potential vision restoration down the line. This 21-hour surgical procedure, a collaboration of over 140 medical professionals, might not have restored sight, but it's opened eyes in the medical community to the possibilities ahead. It's a tantalizing glimpse into a future where the gift of sight might be restored through transplantation, a horizon that was once just a dream.

💰 Apple coughs up $25 million in DOJ discrimination settlement. Apple, the tech giant known for innovation, finds itself paying a $25 million settlement for a not-so-innovative approach to hiring. The Department of Justice (DOJ) took issue with Apple's hiring practices under the Immigration and Nationality Act, specifically targeting the company's approach to the Permanent Labor Certification Program (PERM). Apple's alleged faux pas? Not advertising certain positions openly and favoring temporary visa holders within the company for permanent roles. While Apple maintains it was an unintentional oversight, not discrimination, they're now on the hook for $6.75 million in civil penalties and an $18.25 million back pay fund.

LIFESTYLE

Forget 8 hours, this sleep hack trumps them all

Turns out, the old adage of getting a solid eight hours of sleep might need a snooze button. Recent studies are shaking up the sleep science community, suggesting that when it comes to longevity, regularity in our sleep schedule could trump quantity. Getting six hours of shut-eye at the same time every night could be better for us than a choppy eight-hour stretch.

Neuroscientist Matt Walker is ringing the alarm, pointing out the importance of a regular sleep-wake cycle. In a nation where many struggle to meet the recommended sleep quota, this new angle could be a game-changer. The Sleep journal adds weight to this claim, showing that regular sleepers have a significantly lower risk of an early curtain call than the night owls with haphazard sleep patterns. This insight is a silver lining for those wrestling with the demands of a 24/7 lifestyle.

Hold on to your sleep masks, folks

Another study in QJM links healthier sleep patterns with a longer life expectancy – up to 4.7 years for men and 2.4 for women. As sleep takes center stage in health discussions, from Facebook groups to personal wellness journeys, the quest for consistent Zs becomes crucial. Tips like sticking to a regular bedtime routine and dimming the lights are now more than just old wives' tales; they're lifelines.

Big picture: The sleep puzzle is getting a new piece. While duration is still key, regularity is stepping up as a vital player in the longevity game. This research isn't just a wake-up call; it's a roadmap for those struggling to clock in eight hours, showing that a consistent sleep pattern might be the secret ingredient to a longer, healthier life.

SNIPPETS

Pulse Points

• The National Women's Soccer League secured a broadcast-rights deal worth $240 million over four years, starting in 2024, which is a significant increase from their current $1.5 million deal and includes partnerships with CBS Sports, ESPN, Amazon Prime Video, and Scripps Sports.

• The former head of legal and compliance for OneCoin, Irina Dilkinska, admitted to charges of wire fraud and money laundering in connection with a $4 billion scheme, facing up to 10 years in prison.

• The father of European soccer star Luis Díaz was released by a leftist rebel group in Colombia after a 13-day kidnapping that sparked national debate over government peace talks with armed groups.

• SoftBank's losses grew in the July-September period due to faltering tech investments and a significant loss from WeWork's collapse, with the latter contributing to a cumulative $14.3 billion loss for SoftBank.

• Meta is partnering with Amazon to enable customers to link their Facebook and Instagram accounts with their Amazon account for shopping.

• The Trevor Project, a leading LGBTQ organization in the U.S., will close its account on the platform formerly known as Twitter due to rising hate speech against the queer community following its acquisition by Elon Musk.

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