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In recent months, the New York City subway system has seen a string of shocking and deadly incidents of violence, including several passengers who have been shoved from the platform into the paths of moving trains. A recent report finds that misdemeanor and felony assaults within the subway system have tripled since 2009. For everyday riders and visitors alike, there is now a lurking fear that their next trip on the subway could be dangerous. Many, including the governor of New York, are seeking solutions, which range from adding more police presence to increasing surveillance to installing more lighting to combatting fare evasion. But there’s another approach that could go a long way to improving security and safety in the subway system. Through specific and targeted design interventions, the subway system itself could be retrofitted to reduce violent crime. This is one of the conclusions of What To Do (and Not To Do) About Subway Safety, a new set of policy recommendations from the urban policy journal Vital City. Based on input and research from criminologists, behavioral scientists, transit experts, and policy wonks, the recommendations include focusing on mental health and substance abuse among users of the system, increasing access to social workers, and using police forces more strategically. [Image: courtesy WXY] Claire Weisz, cofounder of the architecture and design studio WXY, contributed to the report with ideas for design interventions that could increase a sense of security and comfort for subway riders. These design ideas include improving sight lines within the system’s underground stations, increasing visibility between passengers, and reducing dead ends and other areas that can isolate people. Rather than calling for a wide scale and expensive investment in safety infrastructure like Japanese-style platform barriers, the design ideas proposed here are lower lift interventions. The standout design idea from Weisz and WXY is the addition of highly reflective surfaces throughout subway stations. Lining ceilings, walls, and even the areas right above the edge of the platform, these shiny surfaces passively increase visibility, spatial awareness, and navigation within the sometimes circuitous underground world of a subway station. A current interior (left) and a render of proposed revisions (right) [Images: courtesy WXY] “Mirrors or mirror-like surfaces, which could be stainless steel, in the right places can actually help people see around columns, see down hallways, see around corners, but also get a sense that I’m getting closer towards an exit, or I’m getting farther away, or here’s where a platform is,” Weisz says. “Right now, there isn’t kind of intuitive wayfinding.” [Image: courtesy WXY] Reflective surfaces can also increase a sense of security. Directly influenced by the violent shoving incidents that have been happening in recent months, the subway design interventions feature a curved reflective surface just overhead of the tracks, called a soffit. This gives people standing and waiting for trains the ability to catch glimpses of their surroundings without having to look behind their backs. “When you’re standing and waiting for the subway, you can see other people,” Weisz says. The soffit also visually tightens the station interior, making it feel more compact. “It closes down the space between the platform and the third rail on the tracks, so that you’re not as open to the whole track.” [Image: courtesy WXY] The idea behind these reflective surfaces comes from the world of hotel design, Weisz says. Hotel hallways and elevators are commonly outfitted with mirrors that let people see themselves but also, perhaps subconsciously, understand that they are also going to be seen by others in this public place. It’s a bit of social engineering informed by behavioral science that encourages more self-awareness and courteous behavior. The surfaces become like eyes on the platform. [Image: courtesy WXY] Adding these reflective surfaces could be a form of tactical design, improving conditions in subway stations without the need for a drastic and expensive redesign. But for a transit system with nearly 500 subway stationsand almost every one having a unique designmaking widespread improvements will not be easy. “Everything’s expensive, but I do think a couple of pilots in stations that are complex would go a long way,” Weisz says. “My hope is some of these discussions are going to bring money forth from philanthropy or from academia to do a couple of pilots that really get monitored and recorded to find out if this is changing how people feel in these spaces as they move through the subway.” Weisz acknowledges that while the shoving attacks that have been reported in the subway system are rare, they’ve created outsized impacts on riders’ perceptions of safety within subway stations. To maintain the system’s essential role in the functioning of the city, she argues, those perceptions of safety must be improved. “Good design allows people to behave in a way that optimizes the use of public space in the system,” she says.
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E-Commerce
Weve been told that the future of work is all about freedom. Companies offer unlimited PTO, flexible hours, and asynchronous communication channels that we can access anytime. The promise is that fewer constraints will make us more empowered, more creative, and more connected. Sounds great in theory, but in practice, that kind of freedom without structure often leads to chaos. Without clear boundaries, work becomes a blur. Expectations go unspoken, resentment builds, and ultimately, trust erodes. And the very flexibility meant to liberate us begins to wear us down. The healthiest organizations arent boundaryless; theyre boundary-wise. Why Boundaries Matter More Than Ever In todays workplace, where hybrid schedules, digital fatigue, and high emotional load are the norm, boundaries arent just a personal preference; theyre the cultural infrastructure. Consider this: 47% of employees say they feel burned out at work, and one of the top drivers is unclear or constantly shifting expectations. Meanwhile, 76% of remote workers report difficulty disconnecting from work. A workplace without boundaries doesnt create engagement; it creates exhaustion. Boundaries arent about protecting hours but about safeguarding capacity in all its forms: the energy, focus, and attention we need to do meaningful work. Many people resist the idea of boundaries because they sound rigid or limiting. But boundaries dont actually constrain our powerthey clarify it. Boundaries reinforce trust by setting expectations, expressing what we truly value, and defining where we end and others begin. As workplace author Greg McKeown puts it: Constraints dont block progress, they shape it. A deadline forces a start. A boundary protects your attention. We need to stop thinking of boundaries as barriers and start seeing them as containersthe structures that give freedom its form. Boundaries dont prevent flow; instead, they create the conditions for it. A Moment When Yes Was the Problem I once worked with the leaders of an innovative climate tech company that was scaling fast. Responsiveness was a badge of honor, Slack was always on, meetings were rarely unscheduled and often urgent, and everything was an immediate yes. But beneath the surface, there was extreme fatigue, frustration, and blurred priorities. The culture looked high-performing on paper, but felt hollow in practice. In a facilitated session, one team member admitted, I never know when Im allowed to shut off. And Im afraid that setting limits will make me look like I dont care. That moment shifted everything. What followed wasnt a productivity fixit was a shared reset. The team introduced core hours for collaboration, quiet blocks for focused work, and Focus Fridays without meetings or Slack messages. Within weeks, their energy felt reinvigorated. A sense of clarity returned, morale improved, and creativity reemerged. The team didnt slow down; it just aligned itself using boundaries. When you stop trying to do everything, you make space for what matters most. How to Build Healthy Boundaries at Work Boundaries arent about shutting others out but about showing up with intention. Heres a simple framework I use with leaders and teams: Be clear about your nonnegotiables. Before you can communicate boundaries to others, you need to define them for yourself. What lines cant be crossedwhether thats after-hours communication, personal ethics, or feedback norms? Clarity starts within, then becomes a shared agreement. Articulate your boundaries early. Dont assume others know. Share them out loud, and revisit them when your context shifts. Setting boundaries isnt a one-time conversationits a leadership habit that evolves alongside your role and relationships. Leave room for a buffer. Not every line is absolute. Build a pause zone for conversation and recalibrationthis could mean committing to a 30-minute delay before responding to nonurgent messages or setting up clear blocks in the week for focused work versus collaborative time. A pause zone creates space to respond with intention rather than react on autopilot. Align with your values. A boundary that protects your time but violates your purpose wont hold. Make sure your boundaries serve your bigger why. The most sustainable boundaries are those that feel not only practical but deeply principled. Notice your signals. Resentment, anxiety, and exhaustion are often signs that a boundary has been breached or needs reinforcement. Your emotional patterns are datalisten to them before they become burnout. Communicate with care and clarity. Boundaries are an act of mutual respect, not a rejection. Consideration doesnt require an apology. You can be both direct and generousand thats often when boundaries land best. Evaluate and evolve. What worked last year may not work now. Boundaries should shift with your life, your leadership, and your team. Revisit them regularly and treat them as a living part of how you work, not a fixed set of rules. Boundaries as a Cultural Practice Boundaries arent just personal; theyre also cultural. When leaders model them, teams follow. And when teams build them together, the results are measurable. Focus sharpens, collaboration becomes more intentional, burnout decreases, trust deepens, and innovation increases, not because people hustle harder, but because theyre working from a place of clarity and care. Boundaries dont diminish connection. They deepen itbecause they make it safe to be fully present. Start by asking yourself and your team these questions: Where in our work are we overextended, unclear, or always on? Whats one boundary you need to set, or revisit? Where is so-called freedom creating confusion or drift? In work cultures without boundaries, people dont thrive. They scatter and self-protect, and eventually, they burn out. But when leaders and teams get clear on their edgeson whats okay and whats notthey build something far more powerful: trust, clarity, creative energy, and a deeper sense of shared purpose. Boundaries arent a sign of disconnection, but a practice of alignment. They dont hold us back; they keep us together.
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E-Commerce
I dont know about you, but I usually cringe when I get my weekly Screen Time Report. Did I really spend that much time online? Turns out, Im pretty average. According to DataReportals 2025 Global Overview Report, adults worldwide clock in about six hours and 38 minutes on digital devices each day. While being average is comforting, I know I could benefit from more time unplugged. Yet, the thought of a full digital detox feels scary. It’s very hard to completely disconnect yourself, says Cristiano Winckler, director of digital marketing for Somebody Digital, a digital marketing agency. But anything in excess is going to have negative consequences. The question is, how can we still be present online, but not in a way that is going to cause anxiety? Worries about being offline are common, and Winckler analyzed the most common perceived career risks according to Google Trend search data. He found three of the biggest concernsand why we shouldnt stress over them so much. Being Inaccessible People who work remotely often fear that a digital detox may portray them as inaccessible or out of the loop, says Winckler. For example, in our organization we have lots of different ways of communicating with each other, he says. We have emails, WhatsApp, and Slack. Some clients like to use Microsoft Teams. If you’re managing three to five clients, you have to communicate with them, plus your team members. People are afraid of being inaccessible. Instead of being tethered to message apps all day, get ahead of other peoples expectations. For example, let your team members know when youll be offline or are doing focused work. Winckler adds that organizations should implement policies that help their employees feel more confident placing boundaries around their time. You don’t have to be 100% available all the time, he says. People will feel more comfortable having conversations, and they will become more efficient in dealing with certain tasks than before. Missing Networking Opportunities Social media, such as LinkedIn, can be a valuable networking tool, and another common worry is that a digital detox could cost opportunities if they dont act quickly enough. But that’s not the case, says Winckler. People need to understand they do not control how their posts are going to be presented, he says. I sometimes get comments from people on posts that I published several weeks ago because LinkedIn and other social media platforms dont necessarily show that post to everybody on my network at the same time. They usually pace out the exposure. Instead, Winckler recommends time-blocking an hour per week to go through your social media channels and interact and reply. You can still keep that networking element, which is quite important, while still keeping a good balance, he says. Lagging Industry Awareness In addition to networking opportunities, social media can serve as a real-time feed for industry trends and news. Implementing a digital detox may cause you to worry that youll fall behind on emerging practices and competitor updates. If you completely disconnect yourself from important channels, you will definitely miss market trends, says Winckler. Everything happens superfast in the digital world, and I would not recommend that you disconnect completely. Instead, utilize tools to curate content for you so you can spend less time staying current. For example, Winckler recommends using news alerts and filters. Or subscribe to channels and newsletters that package relevant information and events that happened last week in your field. In the digital marketing world, for example, there are amazing channels on LinkedIn and other social media platforms that will summarize everything for you and will give you a snapshot of what you need to know, he says. You can consume what is relevant to you and spend more time on the topics that will have a direct impact on your career. Its using technology in your favor. Finding Balance You dont need to go offline for long stretches of time to improve your relationship with the digital world. While its natural to be concerned about being inaccessible, missing network opportunities, and industry awareness, its also possible to create balance with boundaries, leveraging technology as a tool and not let it take over your life and habits, says Winckler. That’s a true digital detox, he says. The benefits outweigh the concerns of not always being available by quite a margin. It can take time to establish, but you will see a positive impact. The goal is to be present online, but not in a way that is going to cause anxiety.
Category:
E-Commerce
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