正文
Why loafing can be work
为什么“摸鱼”也算在工作？
What exactly constitutes work? Responding to email and being in a meeting are indubitably forms of work.
到底什么算工作呢？毫无疑问，回复邮件和出席会议是工作的某些形式。
But these familiar forms of work can deceive, for two reasons. The first is that what looks like a Stakhanovite effort may be no such thing. The second is that things that look like the opposite of work — loafing about, to use the technical term — can be very useful indeed.
但是我们熟悉的这些工作形式具有欺骗性，原因有以下两点。首先，那些看上去像矿工斯达汉诺夫般（工作狂）的苦干可能根本不存在。其次，那些看上去跟工作完全不搭边的行为——用专业点的话说，也就是怠工——实际上却可以变得极具价值。
Take daydreaming. Letting the mind wander is not simply part of being human; it can also be a source of creativity, a way to unlock solutions to thorny problems.
就拿“白日做梦”来说，任思绪漫游不仅仅是人性的一部分，也可以成为创造力的来源，带你发现棘手问题的解法。
Research published in 2021 found that tricky work-related problems sparked more daydreaming among professional employees, and that this daydreaming in turn boosted creativity.
一项 2021 年发表的研究表明，在专业技术人员中，与工作相关的难题激发了更多的“白日梦”，而这种空想反过来又提升了他们的创造力。
In similar vein, going for a walk is not just a break from work, but can be a form of it. Perambulation was associated with big increases in creativity. Being outside generally seems to improve lateral thinking.
与此类似，散步不止是工间休息，也可以是工作的一种形式。散步与创造力的大幅提升有关。一般来说，在室外似乎可以提高人的横向思维能力。
The post-pandemic rethink of work is focused on "when" and "where" questions. Asynchronous working is a way for individuals to collaborate at times that suit them. Lots of thought is going into how to make a success of hybrid work.
新冠疫情之后，人们对工作的重新思考集中在“何时”和“何处”的问题上。异步工作是一种让人能在适合自己的时间与他人合作的方式。很多人正在思考如何使混合工作模式获得成功。
加入会员可查看
The "what is work" question gets much less attention. But if you see a colleague meandering through the park or examining the ceiling for hours, don't assume that work isn't being done. What looks like idleness may be the very moment when serendipity strikes.
而大家对于 "什么是工作 "这个问题关注得就少得多了。但是，如果你看到一个同事在公园里闲逛，或者盯着天花板看了几个小时，不要直接就认为他没有在工作。看上去无所事事的瞬间，可能就是灵感迸发的时刻。
加入会员可查看
主编：蘑菇
品控：木子
审核：Jack
重点词汇
loaf
/loʊf/
v. 懒散；（尤指）偷懒
词性拓展：loaf（n. （面包的）一条）
搭配短语：a loaf of bread
相关词汇：loafer（n. 乐福鞋；游手好闲者）
constitute
/'kɑ:n.stə.tu:t/
v. 是；被看作，被视为；组成，构成
相关词汇：make up（组成，构成）
英文释义：to be considered to be something
例句：Failing to complete the work constitutes a breach of the employment contract.
indubitably
/ɪnˈduː.bɪ.t̬ə.bli/
adv. 不容置疑地
同义词：undoubtedly
词根词缀：in-（否定前缀）
英文释义：without doubt
相关词汇：indubitable
搭配短语：an indubitable truth（毋庸置疑的真理）
deceive
/dɪ'si:v/
v. 欺骗，蒙骗
例句：Appearances can deceive.
no such thing
没有这回事；不可能的事
例句：A perfect person? There's no such thing.
例句：There's no such thing as a free lunch.
loaf about
工作摸鱼，怠工；游手好闲；闲荡
同义短语：loaf around
例句：A group of kids were loafing around outside.
近义词：hang about
thorny
/'θɔ:r.ni/
adj. 棘手的，麻烦的；带刺的
相关词汇：thorn（n. 刺）
例句：Roses have thorns.
搭配短语：a thorn in sb's side（某人的肉中刺，眼中钉）
搭配短语：a thorny bush
搭配短语：a thorny problem
spark
/spɑ:rk/
v. 引起，导致，触发
词性拓展：spark（n. 火花）
搭配短语：to spark sb's interest / hope / curiosity
in turn
相应地，反过来；依次地，轮流地
例句：We can look at each grammar point of the sentence in turn.（依次地）
英文释义：as a result of something
例句：She was very angry with me and I in turn was very upset.（相应地）
In similar vein
与……类似
相关词汇：vein（n. 静脉；〔植物的〕叶脉; 〔昆虫的〕翅脉）
搭配短语：to have a discussion along the same vein
perambulation
/pə'ræm.bjə.leɪʃn/
n. 漫步；徘徊
相关词汇：perambulate（v. 漫步）
口语表达：go for a walk
英文释义：When someone perambulates, they walk about for pleasure.
搭配短语：to perambulate the park
lateral
/ˈlæt̬.ɚ.əl/
adj. 侧面的；横向运动的
词根词缀：later-（side，边，侧）
搭配短语：from side to side（左右来回（摇摆））
搭配短语：lateral eye movements
文化补充：文中的 lateral thinking 说的就是“横行思维能力”，也叫非线形思维，是可以做到触类旁通、举一反三的，这种思维模式的对立面就是 liner thinking，也就是线形思维，一根筋，思维比较定式。
asynchronous
/eɪˈsɪŋ.krə.nəs/
adj. 异步的；非共时的
词根词缀：a-（否定词缀）
反义词：synchronous（同步的）
词根词缀：syn-（同时）；chron（时间）；-ous（形容词词尾）
collaborate
/kə'læb.ə.reɪt/
v. 合作；协作
搭配短语：collaborate (with somebody) (on something)
例句：She has collaborated with him on many projects over the years.
口语表达：work together on sth.
meander
/mi'æn.dɚ/
v. 漫步，闲逛；（河流、道路等）蜿蜒，迂回曲折
近义词：go for a walk / perambulate
例句：The path meanders through the garden.
idleness
/ˈaɪ.dəl.nəs/
n. 懒散；无所事事；不务正业
相关词汇：idle（adj. 懈怠的；懒惰的）
英文释义：not working hard
搭配短语：an idle student
serendipity
/ˌser.ənˈdɪp.ə.t̬i/
n.（偶然发现有趣或珍贵之物的）机缘，幸运
近义词：luck
文化补充：单词是由 18 世纪的一位政治家基于波斯传说造出来的，因为主人公具有随处发现珍宝的本领，所以 serendipity 就是指“意外发现有趣（或有用）之物”，引申为“(意外发现新奇或有价值事物的)运气”，也就是“偶尔的幸运”。
strike
/straɪk/
v. 使产生…想法；打，击，撞
词性拓展：strike（n. 罢工）
搭配短语：go on strike
近义词：hit
例句：The ship struck a rock.
网友评论