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Skift
3 hours ago
- Business
- Skift
How Thailand Is Betting on Digital Nomads to Offset Tourism Dip
While the aesthetic of Thailand's latest pitch to digital nomads leans Instagram-friendly, the real aim is to boost the economy. Thailand is expanding its focus beyond traditional holidaymakers. Its latest campaign targets a growing niche: digital nomads. Tourism Authority of Thailand's new initiative, LOCO(AL) Working Space, promotes scenic, community-rich hubs like Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket as remote work destinations. Thailand's message to remote workers: work from the country, stay longer, and spend more. 'The digital nomad and remote worker segment is of great importance in Thailand's tourism strategy, as it is a market with continuous global growth, especially after Covid-19,' a spokesperson from TAT's domestic marketing group told Skift. The Philippines, where tourism has yet to fully rebound post-Covid, is also setting its sights on attracting digital nomads, with plans to introduce a dedicated visa for remote workers. 'This tourist segment has a high spending rate. Data indicates that they can generate a combined income of over THB 1.7 million per month for Thailand's three main cities,' the TAT spokesperson said. The Global Digital Nomad study conducted in 2023 estimates that digital nomads contribute $787 billion to the global economy annually. A Weak First Half Thailand's tourism sector is underperforming in 2025. Between January and early June, the country welcomed just over 15 million International visitors, this is nearly 3% fewer than during the same period last year. A sharp drop in Chinese arrivals is largely to blame. Once Thailand's top source market, China now trails behind Malaysia. In the first quarter of 2025, Chinese arrivals dropped 24% year over year. Safety concerns, economic caution, and changing travel habits have kept many Chinese travelers away. Officials have since revised their 2025 forecast for Chinese visitors down to 6.7 million, the same as last year, and well below the pre-pandemic peak of 11 million. The decline has left a sizable gap, one Thailand hopes to fill by attracting smaller but higher-value segments. Why Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket? Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket are the 'primary target areas' for the LOCO(AL) initiative. 'These are areas with high readiness and existing popularity among the digital nomad community,' the TAT spokesperson said. The campaign also seeks to promote lesser-known parts of these provinces by working with local entrepreneurs. This emphasis on community integration is central to the project's design. Rather than building new infrastructure, the initiative focuses on using existing spaces such as homestays, local cafés, and small businesses that can serve as co-working spots. 'This helps reduce environmental impact and supports existing small businesses,' the spokesperson said. 'Utilizing local spaces as co-working spaces' is a key part of the campaign's sustainability approach. In Chiang Mai, the campaign highlights villages like Mae Mae and Mae Sa Noi as peaceful, nature-connected getaways. Within the city, locations such as Alt ChiangMai and Alt PingRiver offer furnished accommodations with high-speed internet, shared kitchens, and lounges. In Bangkok, Trok Dilokchan, a narrow alley brimming with culture, is being positioned as a work-friendly neighborhood with walkable charm and strong cultural character. In Phuket, TAT is promoting islands like Ko Lon and Ko Naka Yai for their mix of seclusion and digital infrastructure. Building with Local Partners TAT is working with regional tourism providers to design experiences aligned with its '5 Must Do in Thailand' strategy: eat local, learn crafts, buy handmade goods, explore nature, and find peace. Travel routes curated around these themes are being promoted through an e-catalog aimed at trade partners. Participating businesses also get exposure through influencer campaigns and test trips. 'The project requires joint promotions with operators in the target areas, such as co-working spaces, hotels, and restaurants, for no less than 10 instances,' TAT said. The aim is to keep tourism spending in local communities rather than concentrating it in large hotel chains.. Moving Past Tourist Arrival Numbers Thailand's tourism strategy is shifting. It is no longer just about how many people visit, but about how much they spend and how connected they become to the destination. 'The project's primary objective is to stimulate an increase in their spending on goods and services,' said the TAT spokesperson. TAT said it will evaluate the campaign's success through repeat visits, word-of-mouth promotion, and deeper engagement with local communities Thailand still faces a challenging year. The government has already lowered its 2025 tourism revenue target from THB 2.3 trillion ($69 billion) to THB 2 trillion ($60 billion), well below earlier expectations. Without a full rebound from China, a return to pre-pandemic highs looks unlikely. The target for tourists arrivals has also gone down to 35.5 million compared to the initial 39 million. But TAT appears ready to pivot. Rather than chase mass arrivals, it's betting on quality over quantity: fewer tourists, longer stays, and deeper local engagement. 'This project utilizes a content marketing strategy to build awareness and reinforce Thailand's image as 'the ultimate destination that caters to the digital nomad lifestyle,'' the TAT spokesperson said.
CNA
2 days ago
- Business
- CNA
They live abroad but work in Singapore. Meet the 'super commuters'
Mr Rayson Koh, 29, rents an apartment in Bangkok where he lives, but every month the Singaporean flies back to the Republic to attend work meetings as a financial adviser, splitting his time between the two cities. It had always been Mr Koh's dream to live overseas. So in January 2024, he packed his things and moved to Thailand, using the Thai language skills that he picked up during his university days to his advantage. 'My job as a financial adviser gives me a lot of flexibility. Since we are self-employed, we're actually allowed to plan our schedule. With that, I decided to come to Thailand a lot more,' he said. He added that much of his job can be done online, such as processing claims for his Singaporean clients. He returns to Singapore only to attend courses and meet his clients in person when they want to purchase new products. Mr Koh is an example of a 'super commuter' – an individual, often middle-class, who resides in one city but travels a long distance, often by air, to another for work. While there are no official statistics about the number of Singaporean super commuters, 2024 research from Stanford University indicated that the share of super commuting workers in 10 US cities has increased by a third since the start of the pandemic. Many become super commuters to cut expenses. They are not necessarily wealthy business travellers and are more often trying to take advantage of the better salaries paid in one country – Singapore, for example – and the more affordable housing and other expenses in another. For instance, Mr Koh pays S$1,000 (US$785) a month for a whole apartment loft in Bangkok. He said that he would have to fork out six times that amount if he were to do the same in a comparable location in Singapore. Overall, he estimated that he has cut his living expenses by 20 per cent by living in Thailand, even after factoring in the cost of commuting. Individuals like him do this for a variety of reasons, according to career development coach Samantha Ng from Abundanz Consulting. She said that they might be at a stage of life where, financially, it makes sense for them to adopt a lifestyle that gives them more time to prioritise what is important to them, whether it is a slower pace of life or the ability to explore a new country. 'There is also a possibility that individuals make such a choice out of necessity, because living in Singapore is a lot more expensive than commuting,' she added. Looking at the bigger picture, veteran economist Song Seng Wun said that transport connectivity has improved tremendously over the years, so he believes that the super commuting trend is likely to continue. Living abroad also benefits Singaporean business owners keen on creating wealth from a growing Asean region. 'The power of the Singapore brand name is very important, whether it's in the medical space, education or just providing a service. So it always attracts that trust,' said Mr Song, who is an economic adviser at CGS International Securities Singapore. BIGGER AND CHEAPER Super commuters told CNA TODAY that bigger Asian countries opened up more business opportunities and were less competitive than Singapore. Business owner Sam Sng, 37, moved to Guangxi in China to explore new opportunities after feeling that his digital marketing agency had reached a point of stagnation in Singapore that he 'couldn't break through'. In a larger market such as China, Mr Sng said that clients' budgets for projects and the volume of e-commerce orders are higher, bringing in more profits than he would reap in Singapore. Mr Sng owns two more businesses in taxation and consulting, serving clients in both Singapore and China. Each month, he spends two weeks in China and two weeks in Singapore, where his wife and daughter still live. Another super commuter, Mr Gordon Ho, 28, who has relocated to Bangkok, said the market is 'so big in Thailand that there's really no need to compete neck-to-neck'. When he initially met other professionals from similar trades in Bangkok, he was cautious about sharing too much information with them because he did not want his 'trade secrets to go out'. 'In Singapore, if we are in the same industry, chances are we will not be talking to each other because that person might know someone else and just take the deal. So it becomes very secretive,' he said. But the more he networked with people in Thailand, the more he realised that there were many areas where they could collaborate. His mentality shifted and he became more excited to meet these industry peers. Mr Ho made the move to take a floundering contact lens company to Thailand, sensing better business due to a growing cosmetics market there. He has since passed on the business to his wife to manage while he works as Ngee Ann Polytechnic's Thailand country head, connecting Singaporean students with learning and internship opportunities in the country. Brand studio founder Brandon Yeo, 29, who is also based in Bangkok, said the culture in Thailand has also been a boon for him, both in business and personally. He was 'boxed into a small echo chamber' in Singapore that made it hard for him to think differently, he said. But in Thailand, he said, people are less judgmental and have more appetite for risk. 'Singaporeans are always under pressure to make sure that all of their time is efficient and fully maximised. When I was studying at the National University of Singapore, we discussed very money-minded things,' he said. 'But here, Thai people treat me with the love of a friend. It just felt more real, like there weren't any hidden motives of trying to sell me property or insurance. When someone meets me, it is really just to meet.' In terms of lifestyle, the greater physical expanse of neighbouring countries means more travel opportunities within the country for weekend getaways or entertainment options. Mr Yeo said that when he is on road trips to certain provinces in Thailand, he sees no one within his field of vision, just grass and tall trees – a stark contrast from the dense concrete jungle he grew up in. 'For someone like me in the creative space, we need varied stimuli. When you are always looking at the same things, it's very hard for you to think differently,' he said. 'I vividly remember when I was stuck on a project, I didn't have any fresh ideas. And then when I changed my environment, I went to a different province, the inspiration just hit. That kind of change has an effect.' Lower prices are a major plus point for super commuters as well. While not every item may be cheaper, most of those interviewed by CNA TODAY agreed that the cost of living is more affordable overall. Meals in Bangkok are half the price of an average hawker dish in Singapore, said Mr Yeo, adding that he typically pays less than S$2 for a Thai meal. He also felt that starting a family would be impossible in Singapore because of the costs involved. However, in Thailand, he is now married to a Thai wife and has two young children and they live comfortably. Mr Yeo recalled how his own mother, who single-handedly raised him, missed out on witnessing his milestones such as winning school awards because she was too busy working. So he now wants to make sure that he and his wife are present for their children. The lower costs and the fact that his wife does not have to work make that goal realistic, in his opinion. 'Dual-income families are the norm in Singapore. And for example, spending about S$2,900 each month is the bare minimum to support a family of four. 'That is assuming there is no recreation, no tuition, discretionary spending, hospital fees or insurance costs. For that amount, we can thrive and be comfortable in Thailand.' FLYING FATIGUE Despite the financial benefits of this arrangement, frequent flying is riddled with downsides. The career coach Ms Ng shared a list of cons, such as how spending three to nine hours travelling leaves one with less time to work. She added that super commuters also need to consider the possibility of traffic jams, flight or train delays and weather disruptions. 'All these can lead to an increase in stress, anxiety, sleep deprivation and other health issues,' she said. Corporate lawyer Joel Shen, 44, experiences this firsthand. He primarily lives in Jakarta but regularly commutes between Singapore and different parts of Indonesia for work. He said: 'After a season of high frequency travelling – it was something like 11 flights in six days – I suffered complete burnout. It was so disorientating. Every day I woke up and didn't know what city I was in. 'I got lost in hotel hallways. I was confused because I kept going to the wrong room in the hotel, remembering the previous room number from the previous day.' He added that he would trip over things because he would forget that he was in a different hotel room, with a different layout. The lowest point came when he touched down at Changi Airport in September 2024 after a conference in Bangkok. He was lightheaded and breaking out in cold sweat. The colour had completely drained from his face and his colleagues thought that he was having a heart attack. They considered calling an ambulance but in the end, it was just a scare. Mr Shen took a taxi home and spent the next few days resting. Mr Shen admitted that he does not lead the healthiest lifestyle, due to his super commuting life. 'Frequent travelling means that you are often getting up at unsociable hours. You're having irregular meals, getting into a city when everyone's asleep and leaving before people have woken up. 'It's got an impact on your social life, obviously, because you miss milestones and birthdays and celebrations and so on with family.' The loneliness can be overwhelming, others said. Mr Sng, the business owner who splits his time equally between China and Singapore, said that he does not like the feeling of returning to an empty house after work. In Singapore, he gets to go home to his wife and child, whereas in China he is isolated from his support system. Then there are logistical problems, which can lead to financial losses. Mr Yeo recalled how he missed two flights in the last five years of commuting, because he forgot to adjust his phone settings to accommodate for the time difference between Singapore and Thailand. He now makes sure to arrive at the airport four or five hours early in order to prevent similar accidents from happening again. Mr Ho also pointed out that the cost of his flights add up over time, because he does not only commute between Guangxi and Singapore, but also flies to different parts of China such as Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen for work. Career coach Ms Ng noted: 'For those who are environmentally conscious, they are likely to feel guilty for the high carbon footprint they produce from flying or driving.' BLURRED LINES ON IDENTITY Apart from the impact on an individual's mental and physical wellbeing, super commuting also raises concerns about identity and how governments perceive the individual's residency status. Assistant Professor Liu Jiaqi from Singapore Management University said that the decoupling of physical residency from legal citizenship – that is, when Singaporeans do not live in Singapore – challenges assumptions often taken for granted by policymakers. These include issues concerning loyalty and national obligations. The professor who researches global sociology said: 'Positioned in a grey zone between local workers and members of the diaspora, super commuters challenge conventional ideas of national belonging. 'Super commuters can become objects of suspicion. Questions may arise about their loyalty, from either or both societies, especially when they are perceived as economically benefiting from one country and socially and politically identifying with another.' Prof Liu also added that super commuters may be scrutinised for spending their Singapore-earned income abroad, reinforcing perceptions of disinvestment from the local economy. 'If this trend continues to grow, it will be important to observe how society and policymakers respond to its implications on economic redistribution, cultural affiliation and the politics of mobility.' His colleague, Associate Professor Yasmin Ortiga, added that migrants struggle when state categories and policies fail to recognise the complexity of the identities they hold dear. The sociologist who teaches a course on migration and urbanisation explained that it is simpler to think about the distribution of benefits and welfare when you have citizens living and working within their own nation. 'Super commuting can make things complicated because it becomes trickier to determine where people can make claims for state protections and support. In an ideal world, they should be able to draw from resources across borders, but that is rarely the case,' she added. Indeed, the duality of Mr Yeo's identity has raised questions from family and friends. It is something that he constantly grapples with, especially as he does not want to be defined by a single geographical location. Living in Bangkok, Mr Yeo said that people often ask him which country – Singapore or Thailand – he considers home. He would respond that to him, home is not a physical location, but the people with whom he spends time. For now, that means Thailand, where he lives with his wife and son. But at the same time, he said he will always be proud to be a Singaporean. 'Am I Singaporean? Of course I am, from the way I speak. However, something I learned is that identity and belonging doesn't need to be tied to a postal code.' BROADER REPERCUSSIONS ON THE ECONOMY Super commuters also have to consider the issue of taxes, as they could qualify as tax residents in more than one country. Ms Eugenia Tay, a partner at KPMG in Singapore who specialises in personal tax and global mobility services, said: 'Individuals may overlook that income is often taxed where the work is physically performed, beyond their country of residence or pay. 'This varies by country and can catch commuters off-guard. Without proper planning, these individuals may face higher tax costs, increased compliance complexity, and reduced access to tax reliefs or benefits in either jurisdiction.' She added that they may be required to file multiple tax returns in the country of work and the country of residence to meet the rules, deadlines and paperwork requirements of each country. These complications extend to manpower laws, which can affect the employers of super commuters, noted Ms Karen Ng, who is the regional head of expansion at human resources company Deel. 'Without a unified system, human resource teams often face fragmented oversight and legal risk when hiring remote employees or managing working arrangements like super commuting,' said Ms Ng. Hence, she highlighted the growing need for businesses to adopt flexible, compliant solutions to manage a globally distributed workforce. Global employer services leader Sabrina Sia from Deloitte Southeast Asia added that it would be prudent for Singapore employers to seek advice to review any super commuting or remote work arrangements to ensure that they are fully aware of the tax risks and reporting requirements before agreeing for their employees to undertake such arrangements. On the flip side, SMU's Prof Liu said that super commuting generally produces positive effects on the local economies of neighbouring countries where these commuters reside. 'By earning income in a strong foreign currency, super commuters channel purchasing power into local consumption and help support the livelihoods of local families, who often depend on the financial resources they provide.' But in Singapore, this might affect the amount of Goods and Services Tax (GST) that the Singapore government is able to collect from super commuters, said Deloitte's indirect tax leader Richard Mackender. 'If the trend of super commuting were to become so widespread that there is a noticeable reduction in GST receipts overall, the Singapore government has other options it could consider to make up the revenue. '(This includes) higher passenger taxes on flights or increased entry fees at the land checkpoints,' added Mr Mackender. So, in the end, she said that although the tax 'mix' might change, the tax system could be managed so that the total tax receipts remain the same. On top of these issues, with Singaporeans moving abroad, might this lead to a 'brain drain' as talent leaves to be based elsewhere? Mr Song, the economist, felt that this is not a problem because it 'works the other way' too: When overseas Singaporeans share the country's culture with people abroad, it also attracts talent from those countries to work here. 'Even with people leaving, our population is still growing. So in that sense, Singapore is constantly undergoing that change, the internationalisation,' he said. NAVIGATING LIFE ABROAD Even as the super commuters who spoke to CNA TODAY said they have no regrets about adopting this lifestyle, they admitted that adjusting to a different environment can be tricky, especially when the living standards in their new home might not match up to those in Singapore. Mr Tan Quee Peng, the managing director of an architectural firm, spends a quarter of his time in Singapore and the rest in Vietnam. His company is headquartered in Singapore but has offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, which he leads. 'Here (in Vietnam), I get blackouts on the streets – suddenly there's a power overload and it's complete darkness, because infrastructurally, it's a developing country," he said. "There's a lot for the country to catch up with to increase power, have better quality road connections, and drains.' Mr Yeo agreed, saying that it is common to see potholes in Thailand – a rarity in Singapore, which has well-maintained public amenities. But that is a trade-off that he is willing to accept. Unfamiliarity with local cultures might bring about unexpected inconveniences, but also surprising encounters. That was the case for Mr Shen, the lawyer in Jakarta. When he had just moved to Indonesia, he did not know about Lebaran, the Indonesian name for the Muslim holiday known as Hari Raya Aidilfitri in Singapore and Malaysia. He also did not realise that unlike in Singapore, where the public holiday for Hari Raya is a single day, Indonesians mark Lebaran with a two-week public holiday. 'What I hadn't realised was that the entire country shuts down for two weeks and nothing happens. Everybody who works in Jakarta goes home to spend time with their family, and I was stuck in Jakarta,' he said. By the time he realised it, it was too late for him to make any holiday plans because all the flights leaving Indonesia were full. But a client unexpectedly called him and invited him to stay with her family at a villa in Bali at the last minute. He said: 'I stayed, and met many of their wonderful friends passing through. Some of my closest friends today in Indonesia are people I met during that stay, and that was a complete eye opener and taught me how warm and hospitable Indonesians are.' On the flip side, super commuters told CNA TODAY that they feel frustrated when their family members have misconceptions about the country they are staying in. Mr Ho recalled: 'During Chinese New Year, I get questions like 'Are you scared of getting kidnapped and shipped to Myanmar?' But we're talking about central Bangkok! We're not talking about the outskirts of Thailand.' Mr Sng said that some family members think that because he is overseas, he is "playing" all the time and touring different places. But in fact, he spends most of his time working and returning home once his work is finished. BEFORE EMBARKING ON THE LIFESTYLE While all the benefits of this lifestyle may seem appealing, there are several considerations worth looking into before becoming a super commuter, according to career coach Samantha Ng. She said that wannabe super commuters should think why they are making such a move and for how long. This is to ensure that they are not doing it based on impulse, which may lead to undesired outcomes. 'Sometimes the idea of breaking away from the corporate lifestyle is very enduring. However, one can feel equally lost and aimless if we are not mentally prepared for what's next,' she added. Another key factor is how the move that they will be embarking on fits into their career development plan. In an ideal situation, they should make sure that what they are doing brings them closer to their life purpose. 'Additionally, if this move requires the involvement of partners, spouses, parents, or children, they must undergo the same thought process so that everyone is aligned,' she stressed. Mr Sng said that his wife has known him for seven years and understands his need to travel for work. 'We have a baby now so a lot more expenses are coming in.' But he said that he intends to stop super commuting in about 10 to 15 years, so he can be more present when his now 16-month-old daughter is going through her teenage years, which he believes is the period he 'needs to be more attentive' towards her. Right now, super commuting means that they are apart much of the time, and he does not always get to witness his daughter's milestones. 'When I brought her to China last year in December, I saw the first time she started to walk. That was a nice moment.'
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Stay cybersafe: how to remove the risk of ‘shadow IT' and strengthen data security
As household name businesses and organisations hit the headlines after being hacked, companies are more aware than ever about the urgency of investing in their cybersecurity. And yet new research by TeamViewer* reveals that less money is going towards data security than other areas of digital transformation, despite an acute awareness among company chiefs of its importance. It is particularly critical with the rise in remote working – systems and data become vulnerable when staff use their own devices or unsecured connections. In the survey of more than 600 business leaders, digital transformation came out as a top business priority, with three-quarters of large businesses setting aside more cash for the transition. And although they are spending less on data security than on other digital initiatives, this could be set to change, as addressing cybersecurity and data privacy emerged as another priority when the leaders were asked about business readiness for digital transformation. Today, most workplaces are digital, says Mark Banfield, chief commercial officer at TeamViewer, whose technology provides businesses with a digital workplace management platform. Streamlining all employees' devices and applications enables businesses to ensure that every device connected to the company network is set up correctly and safely. Using one platform instead of many helps to cut through the complexity, simplify systems and operations and give IT managers greater oversight and control, says Banfield. This addresses an issue faced by many companies as the number of tools and technologies in use have exploded, IT teams struggle to keep tabs on them all. 'The TeamViewer DEX (digital employee experience) platform delivers significant value by helping organisations ensure that every endpoint remains compliant, protected and in a known, approved state,' says Banfield. 'It continuously monitors devices to verify that essential security agents are installed and running properly.' While software attacks grab headlines, any IT outages and failures can be highly damaging for businesses, so anticipating potential disruptions before they escalate will help operations run smoothly and protect businesses' reputations. This is easier said than done, particularly for companies operating across borders. Improving security is where TeamViewer Tensor, a cloud-based remote connectivity solution for PCs, phones, headless devices (without a traditional interface) and operation technology machinery, comes in. It allows tracking of activities on any device, and security for remote access. Tensor is used by TeamViewer customer the Bühler Group, a Swiss company that makes industrial technology used to process essential foods such as pasta, rice and flour around the world. A quarter of the global population eats the food processed by the company's systems – which are exported to more than 140 countries. Maintaining these processing and packaging systems is essential to keep food on supermarket shelves, and some 1,000 support experts work globally to ensure smooth operations. In the past, the company was hampered by poor connections and insufficient documentation to achieve cybersecurity certifications. Tensor gives Bühler's huge support team remote access around the world, ensuring the company can manage settings and connections from a central point. This has also led to every support session being logged and accountable – helping the company to acquire ISO 27001 security certification. TeamViewer's software has saved Bühler staff time and travel, while rural and remote clients benefit from reliable and faster troubleshooting. It pays to be proactive, says Banfield – and TeamViewer's technology makes it possible for IT teams to monitor systems' health remotely and in real time, spot any performance issues early, and fix problems remotely. This proactive approach – combined with a level of automation to carry out routine maintenance and flag any potential problems – cuts risks of costly IT failures. As well as checking that every tool and device is up to date, TeamViewer's platform helps managers remain vigilant that encryption is in place, and security programmes are up and running. And if something is amiss, says Banfield, such as out-of-date software, it will automatically fix the problem. 'This dramatically reduces risk exposure from misconfigurations or outdated software,' he says. When global engineering and sustainable development consultancy Arup needed a cloud-based system to replace its 95 servers worldwide, it did this using TeamViewer's 1E. As a result, Arup moved away from physical data centres to the cloud, achieved device compliance goals and reduced costs on unnecessary device purchases, all without disruption to its workforce of 18,000 employees. When a company's technology works seamlessly, then employees are less likely to resort to what's known as 'shadow IT' – using their own devices or downloading unauthorised software to get the job done – 'both of which can create major security blind spots', says Banfield. 'In this way, DEX not only improves IT efficiency but also strengthens the organisation's overall security.' Ultimately, investment in an improved digital way of working will pay off, says Banfield, and this is borne out by TeamViewer's research. Nearly eight in 10 (78%) businesses selected a core aspect of digital transformation as among their top priorities for the coming two to three years. Among these were investing in connected technologies and ensuring data security across operations and the virtual work environment. Investing in the digital workplace overwhelmingly leads to improved innovation, the research found. And as more employees work beyond the controlled office environment, and the workplace becomes ever more digital, simplifying security oversight for businesses will be key to success. *Bloomberg Media and TeamViewer: the Workplace Reimagined research study conducted by MTM Find out how your business can embrace the digital revolution with TeamViewer's innovative workplace technologies
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
A man gained weight eating ultra-processed foods he thought were healthy. Now, he's 50 pounds lighter thanks to 3 habits.
Christopher Kaufman, 60, started gaining weight in his 40s. By his 50s, he was over 200 pounds, with a sedentary lifestyle and a diet of ultra-processed foods. Diet tweaks, movement breaks, and regularly weighing himself helped him lose 50 pounds. Christopher Kaufman's 50-pound weight gain didn't come all at once. If anything, it took over a decade to steadily climb. "I was about 10-15 pounds overweight once we got into my 40s," Kaufman told Business Insider. But it was in my 50s when I said 'Oh, we've got a problem here.'" Kaufman grew up active, feeling like he could "eat anything" and not gain weight. That changed when his mother died in 2005 and he was exposed to toxic mold when cleaning out her house. Shortly after, blood tests found he had developed a sensitivity to gluten, dairy, and yeast. He changed his diet to gluten-free and some cow-free dairy alternatives. While they reduced his symptoms, he started gaining weight. The tapioca-flour pretzels and coconut milk products he was consuming were ultra-processed, which are often linked to weight gain. Kaufman also didn't move much throughout the day. He spent a decade working remotely at a Fortune 100 technology firm before getting a doctorate in education, spending hours studying. By 2022, at 57, he weighed around 208 pounds and had high blood pressure. He knew he needed to change his lifestyle. "I said, well, you know what? I've run a marathon," he said. "I can do this." In two years, Kaufman lost 50 pounds and lowered his blood pressure through changing his eating habits and adopting a more active lifestyle — without strict diets or strenuous workouts. "I've got the skills to look at the activities versus the calories and now I can just play around with these," he said. "It's continuous improvement." Kaufman started focusing on whole foods and reducing his ultra-processed intake. While he didn't follow any one specific diet, his most closely resembled a Blue Zones diet, based on a study of the world's longest-living populations. He started to examine the ratio of carbs on his plate to protein and fiber. Back when Kaufman was a runner (he ran the LA Marathon 20 years ago), he got into the habit of loading up on carbs for energy. Now, he realized, he wasn't moving enough to justify as many carbs as he ate. "That first step of lowering the carbs so that they balance with the protein and fiber, that started the weight loss," he said. Now, he said he adjusts his carb intake based on the day and the planned activity. He'll eat more if he plans on doing yard work for two hours and could use the energy. He also changes how much he eats based on the time of day, eating a bigger meal at breakfast or lunch depending on when he plans to exercise. He said being mindful of what he eats — and how much of it — helps him indulge in treats. "I'm going to have salmon with steamed cabbage, but that's just zero carbs," he said. "So I can have 3 ounces of some coconut chocolate ice cream." Kaufman, now an adjunct professor at both Westcliff University and Southern California State University, follows the pomodoro technique whenever he researches class lectures or writes his book. He works for 25-minute sprints before breaking for five minutes. He started using those built-in breaks to get up and walk around. "I saw that when I made myself get up and walk around consistently, I lost more weight," he said. He also works out about once a day, either swimming in his pool or walking through his hilly California neighborhood. "It's not the kind of serious swimming that I used to do when I was younger," he said. "It's just flapping around, freestyle." The only other activity he does is house chores, like cleaning the yard or pool, building something, or carrying heavy objects in and out of the house. The small movements add up and help him burn more calories. Kaufman read studies that found weighing yourself every day leads to higher weight loss, more than checking once a week or twice a month. "In fact, my weight loss sped up once I started doing that," he said. However, starting the habit was "really rough." "I'm a technical nerd, so I go, 'Is this scale broken? It can't be me, right?' So that was hard," he said. Over time, though, he said keeping up the habit changed his relationship to the scale. "You have to let go of the scale as the enemy and learn the scale is just a feedback mechanism," he said, looking for a "rolling average" rather than fixating on one number, which could greatly vary by what he ate that day. Seeing the numbers helped him better see what was working and what wasn't. "Ok, what can we tweak here?" he said. "Oh, we can knock 100 calories off here, or we can reduce some carbs there." Ultimately, having more data helps him keep his weight down without going to extreme measures. "It took me almost two years to accomplish it, but now I can manage and tweak meals and mix up exercise regimes, rather than slide," he said. "It's slow, it's gradual, and it's for life." Read the original article on Business Insider
Forbes
5 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
If AI Saves Time At Work, What Should Employees Do With It?
If AI Saves Time At Work, What Should Employees Do With It? What would you do with the time if you got two extra workdays freed up from AI each week? That is what Walmart faced with their new internal AI platform that is saving some store managers up to 15 hours a week by speeding up scheduling, decision-making, inventory planning, and other daily tasks. It is a big shift, but the real issue is what people are expected to do once that time is freed up. Without clear direction, if AI saves time at work, it just becomes open space that fills itself with more of the same. Now that AI can do so much, the question is whether they are ready for it. It sounds helpful to say that employees can now focus on what matters most, but that does not mean anything unless someone explains what that actually looks like. How Are Employees Using It If AI Saves Time At Work? How Are Employees Using It If AI Saves Time At Work? I have worked in jobs where I had to be present for eight hours even though they only gave me an hour or two of actual work to do. I was willing to take on more, but they just told me that was all there was to do. I sat through long days doing nothing useful, staring at a clock, waiting to go home. It was so boring and felt like such a waste. When I worked remotely, if there was not much to do, I could still get paid and move on with my day. That felt easier, but the company was still spending money without getting much back. Everyone knew that there wasn't a lot of work to do, and no one wanted to say anything because they got paid to do very little. Even the leaders knew this because they were once employees who did the same thing. The thought process might have been that as long as goals were met, it didn't really matter how long it took. What Are Other Companies Doing When AI Saves Time At Work? What Are Other Companies Doing When AI Saves Time At Work? Now with AI freeing up so much time, some organizations have started to address what to do with that time. Omega Healthcare used AI to handle a large volume of documentation and administrative work. That saved over 15,000 hours a month. Instead of eliminating roles, they shifted employees into reviewing exceptions and solving cases that required human thinking. At Duolingo, AI tools helped engineering and design teams complete their work faster. Instead of filling that space with extra assignments, they used it to develop new learning tools, test fresh ideas, and build more interactive content. At Telstra, employees using Microsoft Copilot gained as much as 20 hours per month. Some used it to balance their day better. Others were expected to take on more. The reaction depended entirely on leadership. The software may have saved time, but the way that time was handled came down to culture. How Can Managers Use the Time AI Saves At Work? If AI Saves Time At Work, How Can Managers Use That Time? With all of the free time, it can help to ask people what they would like to do with it. Most employees know what slows them down. Managers can use that information to reshape goals. If AI saves 10 or 15 hours each week, that time can be set aside for work that often gets ignored. That might include coaching, documenting knowledge, building stronger team communication, or identifying inefficiencies that affect others. This also opens the door for learning and development. Employees can use part of that time to observe other roles, build new skills, or explore areas that support their long-term career path. Giving people room to grow builds engagement. It also helps the organization retain talent with broader capabilities. When AI Saves Time At Work, How Does That Connect To Employee Experience And Retention? When AI Saves Time At Work, How Does That Connect To Employee Experience And Retention? Gallup research shows that people care about how their time is spent. If the work feels useful, they are more likely to stay and contribute. If it feels like the company is filling the day with low-impact tasks, people disengage. AI is giving leaders a window to rethink how time is used. If companies continue to manage hours the same way they did before, nothing will improve. If they treat the saved time as an opportunity to rethink roles, priorities, and development, they can create a better experience for everyone involved. When AI Saves Time At Work, Do Employees Always Tell The Truth About How Busy They Are? When AI Saves Time At Work, Do Employees Always Tell The Truth About How Busy They Are? When people work remotely, it is easy to say they are busy when they are not. No one is standing over them, and no one knows how long something actually took. If a task takes 15 minutes, they might say it took an hour just to avoid getting more to do. I have seen that happen a lot in multiple industries. People do not want to admit they are done, because they know that means they will get more work and if they are home, they'd rather do something else. It happens in person too. I have worked with people who clearly had extra time but never said a thing. Some just liked having a quiet day. Some had spoken up before and either got stuck doing something they hated or ended up with a task that was not even part of their job description, and it should have paid more to do. After that, they figured it was easier to keep their mouth shut and do as little as possible. This is where leaders need to step in to decide if it is enough to meet goals and let people stop at that point or if they need to revise job descriptions and pay people for what they actually do. If the work changes, the role and pay should too. If AI Saves Time At Work, Should People Be Paid By Task Instead Of Time? If AI Saves Time At Work, Should People Be Paid By Task Instead Of Time? Some organizations are rethinking whether they should pay for tasks instead of time. This question keeps coming up, especially now that AI is exposing how much time is spent doing work that no longer needs to be done. It sounds simple to pay people for what they complete instead of how long they sit at a desk. But most jobs do not work that way. In jobs where the output is easy to measure, task-based pay might make sense. But in many roles, the job includes problem solving, decision making, and knowing what to focus on without being told. Paying by task could cause people to rush or avoid the harder work altogether. On the other hand, paying for time often leads to waste. If companies are paying for time, they should at least be clear about what they want people to do with it. Otherwise, they are just funding inactivity. The best approach might be to keep the structure but raise the expectations and pay if those expectations require more than they were initially hired to do. If someone finishes their tasks early because AI made it easier, that time should be redirected toward something useful. That could be helping others, improving a process, or learning something that benefits the team. Time always needs to have purpose. Why Does It Matter How AI Saves Time At Work? Why Does It Matter How AI Saves Time At Work? When AI saves time at work, the real question is whether anyone knows what that time is for. Saving 15 hours a week sounds impressive, but it only matters if someone decides how that time should be spent. Leaders who take that seriously will create better teams and waste fewer hours. Everyone else will still be watching the clock.
