Insider Today: Protein pro tips

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Welcome back to our Saturday edition! One mom was determined to have her daughter graduate from college debt-free. So she bought a fixer-upper mini-storage business that ultimately paid for her daughter's full tuition.

On the agenda:

• The only child is rising in popularity, and they could save the world.
• One BI reporter attempted to meet her protein goals while avoiding ultra-processed foods.
• Successful men are joining in on the luxury fragrance trend. Here's what they smell like.
• A luxury safari lodge boasts high-end amenities, stunning views, and off-road game drives. Take a look inside.

But first: Let's be serious — your meeting could've been a Slack message.

If this was forwarded to you, sign up here. Download Insider's app here.

This week's dispatch

Meet 'No Meet Week'

Last year, I told my reports that I was taking every non-essential meeting off my calendar for a week. I'd call it No Meet Week and use that time to catch up on my ever-growing to-do list, ideate, and edit.

I hate meetings — and I say this as an extroverted people person.

I'm not alone. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang doesn't have one-on-ones with his direct reports. A 2023 Microsoft survey that analyzed data from 31,000 workers from 31 countries found that inefficient meetings were the No. 1 hindrance to their productivity, pointing to 68% of respondents who said they don't have enough time to focus during their workdays.

I get it: On average, I spend about 18.3 hours a week in meetings, or nearly half my workday.

Still, that doesn't quite capture how much meeting culture shapes my job. As an active participant, I'm often preparing for the meeting, in the meeting, and then do several follow-ups after the meeting, ballooning the experience into an official time suck.

After I introduced No Meet Week to my team, one manager said she'd like to participate too, and soon, I extended it to my entire team.

What resulted was a boon to morale and overall productivity — not just for that week but throughout the rest of the year. Managers started to question if meetings were still a good use of time and came up with other more efficient ways to communicate in our hybrid newsroom.

Next week, at Business Insider, we're bringing No Meet Week back, and I can't wait to use that time to finish my Q4 strong. Have you ever tried to shuffle up your calendar? If so, write and tell me what you learned.

The coming reign of the only child

Only children have long been viewed as something of a demographic outlier, and are often stereotyped as spoiled or unable to play well with others. And for many Americans, they're viewed as the least desired family outcome when thinking about their dream lives.

But siblingless families are on the rise — and it's not hard to see why. Women are having children later in life, and the cost of raising a kid has rapidly increased. But in a country more divided than ever, the only child's social skills, idiosyncrasies, and family dynamics might be what we need to thrive in modern life.

Why only children might be our only hope.

Quitting protein powder

As a fitness and nutrition reporter, Business Insider's Rachel Hosie never paid close attention to the ultra-processed foods she ate. Instead, she focused mostly on getting enough protein and fiber in her diet.

But as more studies began pointing to the health risks of ultra-processed foods, she decided to rethink her UPF choices. For one week, Hosie attempted to hit her daily protein goal of 110 to 130 grams without consuming ultra-processed foods like protein bars.

Here's what she learned.

What's that smell?

The fragrance industry is booming, becoming the fastest-growing category within the beauty market. Not only are teenagers getting in on the craze, but men are among fragrance's top consumers.

BI spoke to successful men across different industries to learn about their favorite colognes. Fragrances from luxury brands like Jean Paul Gaultier were a top choice, especially in the finance world.

Here are their picks.

Also read:

• Inside Gen Z's obsession with luxury fragrances

Staying in the Serengeti

At the edge of Serengeti National Park in Tanzania is TAASA, a luxury safari lodge. Monica Humphries stayed in one of TAASA's 540-square-foot tents — which, by the way, go for $985 a person.

The lodge boasts 180-degree views of the surrounding nature, an infinity pool overlooking a valley, and a host of luxury amenities. That's not even the best part.

Say "Jambo" to a safari stay.

What we're watching this weekend

• "Dune: Prophecy": HBO's latest drama series, a spinoff of the blockbuster "Dune" films, premieres this weekend.
• "Deadpool & Wolverine": After making $1 billion at the global box office, Marvel's hit superhero movie starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman is now.
• "Silo": Season two of the Apple TV+ dystopian series returned for season two.

And check out our guide to the best streaming services this year.

See the full list

Deals we love

• Ballet flats for fall: Throw on a pair of ruffled socks and you can wear ballet flats all year long. Our style editors share their list of the cutest and comfiest ballet flats they've found over years of testing.
• Sweater weather picks: The colder weather means it's finally time to layer up. These are the most comfortable men's sweaters that look great, feel good, and keep you warm.
• Video game-inspired fitness: Ergatta's Smart Rowers use a competitive racing angle to help you give your all while working out. Both models are already on sale for Black Friday, so you don't have to wait to pick one up.

More of this week's top reads:

• How RFK Jr., Trump's pick for HHS secretary, promises to 'Make America Healthy Again.'
• A celebrity chef shares the red flags to look for in a Mexican restaurant.
• Taylor Swift's fans-first business strategy goes back to a childhood interaction she had with LeAnn Rimes.
• Gen Z is obsessed with manifesting their way to riches and romance.
• A woman and her husband who moved from the Midwest to Canada said they can't imagine moving back to the US.
• An iconic 'spite house' said to have been built by a man for his ex is now the center of a demolition battle.
• A growing number of actors, executives, and producers are leaving Hollywood.

The Insider Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York City. Grace Lett, editor, in New York. Lisa Ryan, executive editor, in New York. Amanda Yen, fellow, in New York.