5 . In the more than 6,000 years of living in cities, humans have always had to find solutions to problems concerning how they live and work, such as sanitation, transportation, crime and environmental protection. Today, using cutting-edge technologies, smart cities can cover them all. We are now in the era of being “smart”.

According to the European Commission, a smart city is “a place where traditional networks and services are made more efficient with the use of digital solutions for the benefit of its inhabitants and businesses”. It means smarter urban transport networks, upgraded water supplies and waste disposal facilities and more efficient ways to light and heat buildings. It also means a more interactive and responsive city administration, safer public spaces and meeting the needs of an aging population.

The origin of the concept of smart cities can be traced back to the 1960s and 1970s, when the US Community Analysis Bureau began using databases, aerial photography and other digital methods to collect data and do analysis so that the cities could direct services, relieve the influence of disasters and reduce poverty.

Smart cities rely heavily on automation, connectivity to the Internet , and the Internet of things (IoT). According to TWI, a global organization dedicated to technology engineering, a smart city operates according to four basic steps: collection, analysis, communication, and action. In this approach, a set of smart sensors will collect real-time data about people and infrastructure. After the data collected is analyzed, the result will be communicated to the decision-makers, who will take action to improve the quality of city life for its residents.

Smart city technologies have already been applied in some countries and cities around the world. Singapore, for example, has introduced a wide range of smart technologies in both its public and private sectors since launching its Smart Nation initiative in 2014. To help with the aging population, it introduced a digital health system allowing video consultations as well as wearable devices to monitor patients.

6 . From sweeping landscapes to amazing buildings, Taiwan is an island that many tourists visit frequently. That’s why it can seem odd that one of its most famous landmarks is two humble mailboxes. Located in the Zhongshan District in the city of Taipei, these unique mailboxes have caught the public’s imagination thanks to their appearance. Unlike most mailboxes, these two are severely bent.

Due to its location, Taiwan tends to be struck by typhoons, as it is usually hit by three or four windstorms a year. In 2015, a particularly bad one known as Typhoon Soudelor struck the island. During the storm, a billboard got loose due to the heavy winds and hit the mailboxes. While it bent their posts, it didn’t tear them down. After the storm was over, people came across the newly leaning mailboxes and fell in love with them. Not only did they look adorable, but they were also a symbol of resilience(坚韧) and survival.

Social media quickly caught wind of these new landmarks and people began visiting them. It wasn’t long before they started staging fun photos with the new landmarks, using forced perspective—similar to the way tourists pose in Italy with the Leaning Tower of Pisa. This led authorities to accept the symbolism of the mailboxes willingly, and instead of repairing them, they added a board telling their story in Chinese, English, and Japanese.

The board reads: “On August 8th, 2015, Typhoon Soudelor struck Taiwan. We were hit in the heads by a signboard as a result and couldn’t help but lean over from the pain. It was so painful in fact—we can’t stand up straight anymore. But we persevered: we didn’t fall over after all. We have to take life as it comes and in a way, I think we look more artsy and sophisticated this way! Do we inspire you? Take a picture with us to remind yourselves that we are all survivors and can persevere no matter what.”

The best part of this Taipei attraction is that the mailboxes are still operational. The letters in the boxes are even marked with a special stamp that shows the famous mailboxes.

7 . Going on vacation every week might sound like the very unattainable dream.    1    . All you need to do is get in the habit of treating your weekend like a vacation, suggests Cassie Mogilner Holmes, a professor at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management. We asked experts to share their favorite tips for adopting a vacation mindset at home.

    2    . Some people have to bear weekend schedules packed with work. You could still make the best of a Thursday evening, Holmes suggests. Or, spare an hour on Sunday morning for chores, but protect the rest of the weekend as your vacation time.

    3    

Decision scientist Nika Kabiri recommends doing something totally new so you can disconnect from the same old routines governing your life. Among her favorite ideas: Drive to a part of town you’ve never been to before, go for a city walk, and grab lunch at the first cute café you see. Or take a bike or boat tour of your city.    4    

Treating your weekend like a vacation doesn’t mean it needs to be a delicate affair. If your “vacation” encounters a few unexpected affairs or lasts for only a few hours, don’t be annoyed.    5    .Don’t put pressure on yourself to have this “perfect vacation”. It’s meant to be fun. Plus, there’s always another one just a few days away.