Insider Today: New status symbols

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Welcome back to our Saturday edition, a roundup of our best lifestyle reads. Will you help us celebrate?! Business Insider's docuseries, "Quiet on Set," just won the Television Critics Association Award for Outstanding Achievement in News and Information.

If you haven't read our piece on Dan Schneider's tenure at Nickelodeon and our investigation into the dark stain on beloved children's TV shows at the time, it's not too late. This reporting served as the basis of this now award-winning Investigation Discovery doc.

On the agenda:

• Men are obsessed with these new status symbols.
• Ten under-the-radar places to visit, according to a luxury travel planner.
• Not retiring early could actually help you live longer.
• Forget cookie-cutter houses. Wild, wacky homes are in.

But first: The skies are friendlier in the morning.

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This week's dispatch

A trick to avoid flight delays

It's simple: Only book early-morning flights. That's it. That's the trick.

Nabbing a seat on a morning flight, especially during the summer, will virtually ensure your flight won't be delayed.

At least that's what Denver meteorologist Chris Bianchi told Business Insider's senior science reporter Morgan McFall-Johnsen. He learned the hard way: In June, he was stuck overnight at New York's LaGuardia Airport after booking an evening flight.

"I broke the one rule you should never ever break," Bianchi said in a TikTok video. "Never book a flight in the afternoon, or especially at night, during the summertime months in the United States."

Morgan explains that the summer months in the US, and the heat and humidity they bring, are prone to create thunderstorms, wreaking havoc on flight patterns.

Even if your plane isn't in the path of a thunderstorm, your flight schedule can still be affected.

"Weather in other cities can really disrupt your travel plans," Bianchi added. It doesn't help that delays can also have a ripple effect, since late planes affect subsequent departures.

As for Bianchi, he finally made it home after he boarded a 7 p.m. flight the next day.

Men's new status symbols

Logos, lounge chairs, cold-plunge tubs. The one thing they have in common is the new social clout they're all imbued with, particularly among men in the workforce.

And, as always, the watch remains a timeless status symbol. But the two hottest styles right now — trendy socks and sneakers — are at the opposite end of the spectrum.

These are the goods.

Also read:

• This $150,000 dog is the new status symbol

Ten better getaways

It's the busiest time in the travel season, and international travel is especially hot. That means the crowds in the world's most popular destinations are likely to be even worse this year.

To avoid the masses, a luxury travel agent shared 10 under-the-radar alternatives to hot tourist spots. Her list, spanning five continents, has something for the urban explorer, the nature enthusiast, and the beach bum alike.

See the recs.

No FIRE, no problem

The financially independent, retire early (FIRE) movement has been gaining steam in recent years, with young hustlers dreaming of amassing enough wealth to retire before they go gray.

As it turns out, not retiring early might be better for your long-term health. That may sound a bit like a capitalist myth, but there's science to back it. A lot of it has to do with your sense of purpose and social needs.

Work's effect on longevity.

Wild homes are hot right now

Growing bored with the surplus of white and gray houses, some homebuyers are turning to more outlandish places to live.

The hot housing market and the rise of social media accounts like Zillow Gone Wild have made it easier than ever to find a wacky home — so people are swapping cookie-cutter accommodations for something more personalized.

Inside the wacky new real estate trend.

Also read:

• America has a serious ugly home problem

What we're watching this weekend

• "Sunny": The first episodes of the sci-fi thriller series starring Rashida Jones are streaming on Apple TV+.
• "Arcadian": Nicholas Cage's new horror movie, in which he navigates a post-apocalyptic world with his two sons, is streaming on Shudder.
• "Quad Gods": The documentary, which centers on a quadriplegic esports team, is available on Max.

See the full list.

Deals we love

• Nordstrom's biggest sale of the year: A former employee shares what to buy and what to skip at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, which is open to Nordstrom cardholders now and to the general public on Monday.
• Prime Day on the horizon: Amazon Prime Day is coming Tuesday and Wednesday, but there are plenty of deals to shop now. Here are the best ones, from AirPods to Whitestrips.
• Protect your skin this summer: The UV index measures the intensity of the sun's UV rays. Here's how to read it and what you'll need to prevent skin cancer.

More of this week's top reads:

• A scientist lost weight without trying after he stopped eating ultra-processed foods.
• We're hard-wired to feel "sunshine guilt." A neuropsychologist explains why.
• A 70-year-old was scammed out of nearly $300,000 and had to abandon his dreams of retirement.
• Nine traits of people who live past 100.
• Gen Zers don't know how to flirt. Experts say it could make dating better.
• Olympic diver Tom Daley uses this simple nutrition rule to stay energized.
• See inside Carnival's new cruise ship — and why some amenities are better than its competitors'.
• Review: Emirates' premium economy class is worth trying.
• Gen Z's newest style trend involves staring deeply into your lover's (or dog's) eyes.
• Japan's next big tourist craze: Disney cruises.

The Insider Today team: Joi-Marie McKenzie, editor in chief of life, in New York. Jordan Parker Erb, editor, in New York. Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York City. Lisa Ryan, executive editor, in New York. Amanda Yen, fellow, in New York.