• Careers site Indeed will lay off roughly 1,000 employees, or 8% of its workforce.
• In a memo, CEO Chris Hyams said the company is profitable, but not set up for sustainable growth.
• Hyams said the cuts are more targeted than last year's across-the-board reduction of 2,200 workers.

Careers site Indeed says it will lay off roughly 1,000 employees as it looks to simplify its organization.

In a memo released publicly on Monday, CEO Chris Hyams took responsibility for "how we got here," but said the company is not yet set up for growth after last year's global slowdown in hiring caused multiple quarters of declining sales.

Unlike last year's across-the-board reduction of 2,200 workers, Hyams said the latest cuts will be more concentrated in the US and primarily affect R&D and Go-to-Market teams.

The move is also aimed at reducing "too many organizational layers" at the company. That echoes Mark Zuckerberg's move last year, in which the Facebook cofounder said that he sought to "flatten" the org-chart at Meta.

"We have been working to simplify every aspect of our business, but without meaningful change, we can't get where we need to go," Hyams said.

Hyams also said the company worked with HR, Legal, and DEI teams to ensure that underrepresented groups were not disproportionately affected by the cuts.

The company will hold an internal town hall Tuesday and provide an updated org chart Wednesday, Hyams said.

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While big-screen TVs get a lot of attention, some spaces aren't large enough to fit a massive display. If you have a smaller living room or are shopping for a secondary TV to put in a bedroom, a 50-inch set is a great option. Though there are fewer midrange and high-end models to choose from at this size, the best 50-inch TVs still offer a reliable viewing experience, and they're often a lot more affordable than their larger counterparts. 

Our top pick is the LG C3, one of the few OLED TVs you can buy in under 55 inches. When it comes to premium performance on smaller screens, this model is an outlier since it delivers top-notch contrast and perfect black levels in a compact form factor. But if you want a budget-friendly set, we recommend the Hisense U6HF, which has features like quantum dots and local dimming that are missing on most competing 50-inch displays in this price range. 

Below, you can find all our picks for the best 50-inch TVs, including an entry-level LED display for casual viewing and a QLED designed with gaming in mind. 

Note: LCD-based TVs (including LED and QLED models) are usually sold in a 50-inch screen size, while OLED TVs are sold in a slightly smaller 48-inch size. For that reason, we've included a 48-inch OLED in this guide. 

Our top picks for the best 50-inch TVs

Best overall: LG C3 – See at Amazon

Best budget: Hisense U6HF – See at Amazon

Best entry-level: TCL S4 – See at Amazon

Best midrange for gaming: Vizio MQX – See at Amazon

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Best overall

The 48-inch LG C3 is the ideal TV for people who want a smaller display that doesn't skimp on picture quality. It uses an OLED panel, which is rare for TVs smaller than 55 inches. This type of screen gives it key benefits over the cheaper LED and QLED sets that round out the rest of our guide.  

The C3 offers all the perks that OLED screens are known for, including pixel-level contrast control and wide viewing angles. On LED and QLED displays, black levels can look elevated when you watch TV with the lights off, and colors and contrast can distort if you sit to the side of the panel. But on the C3, black levels disappear into a dark room without any blooming around bright objects, and picture quality remains consistent even if you're off-center from the display. 

The 48-inch C3's peak brightness of around 600 to 700 nits is very respectable, especially compared to other displays in the 48-to-50-inch class. Though Sony and Samsung sell brighter OLED TVs that use quantum dot filters, that feature is only available in larger sizes. Simply put, there are few TVs this small that look this good. 

Outside picture performance, the C3 offers solid smart TV streaming via LG's webOS platform. The interface isn't our favorite, but it still provides reliable access to all of the best streaming services, along with built-in support for Alexa voice control. The C3 is equipped well for the latest consoles, too, with a 120Hz refresh rate that can support smooth gaming on a PS5 and Xbox Series X. However, unlike Samsung's OLED TVs, the C3 does not support a 144Hz refresh rate when paired with a PC.

At a typical sale price of just under $1,000, the C3 is pricey for a 48-inch TV, but the jump in picture quality you get over our other picks is substantial. Buyers should note that LG does sell a 2024 edition of this display, called the C4. The new model can get brighter, but it costs a lot more. For now, we think the C3 remains the better value for most people. 

Best budget

Hisense's U6HF is an older version of its U6K QLED. The newer U6K is the top budget pick in most of our best TV guides, but it's unavailable in sizes under 55 inches. However, the U6HF is still sold in 50 inches, and it remains a great option for the money. 

Like the U6K, the U6HF uses a QLED panel with quantum dots to produce a wide color gamut and a solid peak brightness of about 600 nits. It also has local dimming to help control the TV's contrast, enabling it to brighten and darken across specific areas. But unlike newer U6 TVs, this model uses regular-sized LEDs instead of Mini LEDs in its backlight. This means it has fewer zones to work with, which makes it a bit more prone to halos around bright objects on dark backgrounds.

Still, for the money, few 50-inch TVs can achieve this level of image quality. Most competing models at this price are missing local dimming entirely and many lack quantum dots as well, so they're limited to a more narrow range of colors. 

However, the U6HF can't avoid other common pitfalls of TVs in this class. Most notably, it has subpar viewing angles, so contrast and colors fade if you sit off-center from the display. It's also limited to a 60Hz refresh rate, so you can't get high frame rate support when paired with a console or PC. 

The U6HF uses the Fire TV interface and features Alexa voice control. Hisense used to sell a version of this set, simply called the U6H, that used Google TV instead, but that edition is now hard to find in stock. Though we prefer the Google TV model since it has more picture calibration options, there's no denying how much value this set offers. For a typical sale price of under $400, the U6HF is the best 50-inch TV you can snag on a budget. 

Best entry-level

The TCL S4 is the best 50-inch TV for buyers who want an affordable display for casual viewing. This entry-level model lacks advanced picture quality features, but it's an inexpensive option for basic smart TV needs.

The S4 uses a regular LED panel without quantum dots or local dimming. This means it can't produce a wide color gamut, and it can't control its light output across different segments of its screen. As a result, black levels will veer toward gray or slightly blue when watching movies in a dark room, and HDR movies and shows won't play with the same peak brightness and color accuracy as they would on a QLED or OLED TV. And like most TVs in this class, viewing angles are poor, so colors will look faded if you sit to the side of the screen.

All those cons might make it sound like the S4 is a bad TV, but that's not really the case. It's just that this isn't a model geared toward videophiles, home theater buyers, or serious games. It cuts costs to offer the bare necessities for a decent image at an affordable price, and in that sense, it's a worthwhile set. This is a display meant for people who want a cheap but reliable 50-inch TV that gets the job done but nothing more. 

The S4 is available in Roku TV, Fire TV, or Google TV variants, so you can choose which smart TV interface you like best. We like Roku for its simple navigation, but the Fire and Google options have the benefits of built-in support for Alexa or Google Assistant, respectively.

Best midrange for gaming

Vizio's MQX is designed with gaming in mind. This midrange TV is one of the few 50-inch QLED models available that supports a 120Hz refresh rate in 4K, and it can even support up to 240Hz if you game in 1080p on a computer. 

This enables a smooth experience when you play games with frame rates higher than 60 frames per second on a PS5, Xbox Series X, or PC. The TV also uses a QLED panel with wide color support and local dimming to help control contrast and black levels. However, the display only uses 16 dimming zones, which is low and can cause more noticeable blooming (halos around bright objects) than you'd see on QLEDs with more zones or on OLED TVs with pixel-level contrast. 

At a peak of around 400 to 500 nits, the MQX's brightness is decent for a TV in this class but a bit under the minimum of 600 nits that we recommend for entry-level high dynamic range performance. If you're buying a 50-inch TV with HDR movie-watching in mind, we think you're better off with the Hisense U6HF since it can get a little brighter and has double the number of dimming zones. However, the U6HF only has a 60Hz refresh rate, so the MQX has a clear edge when it comes to gaming. Both TVs have subpar viewing angles, so neither has an advantage there.

How we pick 50-inch TVs

To choose the best 50-inch TVs, we use a combination of testing and research bolstered by more than a decade's worth of expertise covering the home entertainment product industry.  

When we test TVs, we usually evaluate 65-inch models since most brands consider that the flagship size. However, if a specific TV model is offered in multiple sizes, that model's overall performance usually remains similar across different sizes. For example, a 48-inch LG C3 OLED and a 65-inch C3 OLED have the same basic specs and features. The only major differences are the sizes of their screens and their peak brightness. 

However, it is important to note that the best 50-inch TVs with have local dimming, like the Hisense U6HF and Vizio QMX, use fewer dimming zones in their smaller variations versus larger options. This can result in differences in contrast performance when comparing a 50-inch model to another size. Sometimes, there are bigger variations in features and design across sizes, so we note those instances when they pop up.  

When evaluating TVs, we consider factors like clarity/sharpness, contrast, peak HDR brightness, color gamut, off-angle viewing, refresh rate, smart TV interface, and general value for the money. We use an X-Rite iDisplay Plus colorimeter to assess brightness when we review a TV and use test patterns on the Spears & Munsil UHD HDR Benchmark 4K Blu-ray disc to check other objective image elements. 

We also watch plenty of real-world content on every TV we test and get a feel for what it's like to use a TV daily. We play key scenes from movies and TV shows to examine local dimming, HDR performance, upscaling, and more. Sources include Blu-ray discs, streaming services, and live TV in various levels of quality, from standard definition to 4K. Testing is conducted in bright and dark rooms to see how TVs perform in different conditions. 

50-inch TV FAQs

Is 50 inches a good size for a TV?

The best 50-inch TVs are a good option for buyers who need a compact display for a smaller room, but the selection of midrange and high-end TVs offered in this size is limited compared to what you'd find when shopping for a larger display.

For instance, many of the best OLED TVs are only available in 55, 65, and 77 inches. Likewise, several of our favorite QLED TVs from brands like Hisense and TCL, like the U7K and QM8, are unavailable in 50 inches. 

However, there are a few high-end exceptions, like our top pick in this guide, the LG C3, one of the few OLED TVs made in smaller sizes. But generally speaking, most 50-inch TVs are built with entry-level and lower-midrange performance in mind. 

If you want a larger selection of mid-tier and premium display models to choose from, check out our guides focusing on larger TVs:

• The best 55-inch TVs
• The best 65-inch TVs
• The best 75-inch TVs
• The best 85-inch TVs

How much should a 50-inch TV cost?

The best 50-inch TVs will set you back between $200 to $1,000, depending on what type of display you buy. 

Entry-level LED models from value-friendly brands like TCL, Hisense, and Vizio can be found for around $200 to $250. These options are good for casual viewing but often lack advanced features like quantum dots and local dimming. Lower-midrange QLED sets range from $300 to $550, and these options will deliver better color, higher contrast, and brighter panels. However, many of our favorite upper-midrange QLED models are unavailable in 50 inches.    

Likewise, high-end 50-inch TVs are hard to come by, but you can find a couple of OLED models, like the LG C3, and top-tier QLED models, like the Samsung QN90C, in this size for around $1,000 to $1,200.

Is 4K worth it on a 50-inch TV?

Though the benefits of 4K resolution are best appreciated on larger TV sets, 50 inches is still big enough to make 4K worthwhile, especially if you plan to sit close to your display. 

However, the debate about whether 4K is worth it on a TV this size has become a moot point since major brands no longer sell 50-inch HDTVs. Most HDTV models are now restricted to 43 inches and under. If you're buying a 50-inch or larger TV in 2024, 4K is the standard.

For more 4K display recommendations in multiple sizes, check out our guide to the best 4K TVs.

• Tesla is rescinding job offers for incoming full-time employees.
• The move is part of broader cuts at Tesla, which plans to eliminate over 10% of its workforce.
• The company began rescinding internship offers shortly after the layoffs started.

Tesla has begun clawing back job offers for incoming full time employees, according to two sources with knowledge of the issue, amid sweeping job cuts at the EV maker.

"Tesla has made changes to our hiring growth plans," emails sent from Tesla to the workers and seen by Business Insider said. "Unfortunately, this change impacts your future employment with the company. We regret to inform you that we have made the difficult decision to rescind your offer of employment with Tesla. This means that you will no longer be joining the company on the previously agreed start date. We understand the inconvenience this may cause; this was not an easy decision. We will circulate your credentials internally should there be an opportunity for you to join the company in the future."

Two other workers posted online about having their full-time offers rescinded, including one who wrote on social media that Tesla walked back their offer two days before their start date after they'd entered the US on a work visa.

The rescinded offers are part of broader cuts at the company. On April 15, CEO Elon Musk told staff that Tesla planned to eliminate more than 10% of its workforce in preparation for the next growth phase.

Tesla also sent out another round of layoff notices over the weekend, according to four people impacted by the cuts. Workers at the automaker are entering their fifth straight week of layoff notices.

A spokesperson for Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI.

Earlier this month, several college students said Tesla had rescinded their internship offers. Over the past month, it has removed more than 3,400 job postings from its careers page.

Do you work for Tesla or have a tip? Reach out to the reporter via a non-work email or device at gkay@businessinsider.com or via 248-894-6012.

• The US will keep growing for several quarters, but 2025 will see a hard landing, Apollo's Torsten Slok told Bloomberg TV.
• Debt is fueling the growth, and both consumers and corporations are already feeling distress.
• These problems will come to the forefront when unemployment starts to meaningfully rise.

The US economy will stay afloat through the next few quarters, but growth drivers could turn into headwinds as soon as next year, Torsten Slok said.

According to the Apollo chief economist, that's because current strength stems from high debt loads, both among US consumers and the corporate world. Eventually, those trends will start to falter, triggering a hard landing in 2025.

Slok pointed out that delinquencies are rising on credit cards and auto loans, despite an economy with low unemployment. Meanwhile, economic momentum hasn't done away with highly-levered firms, which extend across industries.

"That tells you once people do begin to lose their jobs, once the economy does begin to slow down, you already have a lot of distress," he told Bloomberg TV. "Imagine what the process would look like if you finally get the unemployment to move higher."

Slok also pointed to commercial real estate, a sector that's been the source of widespread fears amid higher interest rates. These hikes have caused borrowing costs to rocket for the industry, and many fear a tsunami of debt defaults if rates don't come down soon. 

Office properties have been a particular sore spot, impacted heavily by remote work and faced with declining values. In April, office loans made up 54% of new 60+ delinquency volumes, Fitch Ratings reported last week. 

For his part, Slok expects the Federal Reserve to deliver no rate cuts this year, citing that it would require a dramatic slowdown for the central bank to meet its 2% inflation mandate anytime soon. 

But while that keeps a hard landing on the table, the next few quarters will still deliver solid performance, he said.

"We still have behind us a very strong tailwind. That comes from easy financial conditions," he said, adding: "And on top of that we also have a tailwind from fiscal spending. We still have strong spending in the pipeline from the Chips Act, Inflation Reduction Act, the Infrastructure Act." 

Looking into 2025, others have also cited caution, citing deteriorating labor-market conditions as proof of a looming recession. 

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Apple launched new iPad Air and iPad Pro models, as well as new iPad accessories, during its video-streamed online event on May 7. 

The iPad Air and iPad Pros got significant updates, including a brand new iPad Air with a larger display, and iPad Pros with a brand new Apple processor, a focus on AI, OLED display panels, and a thinner design.

Apple also revealed a new Apple Pencil Pro that can register squeezes and rolls to enable customizable functions, as well as a new Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pros with a sturdier design and laptop-like controls.

All products are set for release on May 15 and are available to order now from Apple and retailers like Amazon and Best Buy. 

New iPad Pros with AI and OLED displays

The new iPad Pros come with several significant updates. Of them, the most notable is a previously unreleased Apple M4 processor and a focus on AI for creative work with updates of the Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro apps, as well as third-party apps. 

Almost as exciting are the OLED 11-inch and 13-inch displays for the Pro models. Apple is using its own "Tandem OLED" panels, which the company says are essentially two OLED panels layered together to achieve a high brightness level that a single panel couldn't. Apple calls its new OLED iPad display "Ultra Retina XDR." There's also a nano-textured glass option designed to reduce glare. 

We haven't yet tried the OLED displays on the new iPad Pros, but they have the potential to bring dramatic improvements to viewing videos and whatever you do on an iPad that uses the display. 

An unfortunate consequence of the superior displays is even higher price tags than the previous iPad Pro series, which started at $799 and were already the most expensive devices among the best iPads. The new 2024 iPad Pros start at $999 for the 11-inch model and $1,299 for the 13-inch model. 

Beyond a totally new display, the new iPad Pros have noticeably thinner designs at 5.3mm for the 11-inch iPad Pro, and an even thinner 5.1mm for the 13-inch iPad Pro. Apple says the 2024 iPad Pros are their "thinnest" products to date, and they're just as strong despite their new thin design. 

The front-facing cameras have also been moved to the horizontal long edge for a more centered video of yourself while on a video call.

As mentioned above, the 11-inch iPad Pro starts at $999, and the 13-inch iPad Pro at $1,299. Both are available to order now from Apple, Amazon, and Best Buy, with full availability on May 15.

New iPad Airs and a first-ever large model 

Apple announced not one but two new iPad Airs, including a fairly typical 11-inch model and a brand new 13-inch model with 30% more screen space. Anyone who's wanted a larger iPad but couldn't justify the 12.9-inch iPad Pro's previous $1,100 price should rejoice at the news. 

Like the 2024 iPad Pros, Apple also moved the front-facing camera to the horizontal long edge on the new iPad Airs for a more frontal and centered video calling experience. The new iPad Airs also feature landscape stereo speakers, and the 13-inch iPad Air has twice the bass as the 11-inch model. 

The 2024 iPad Air models are upgraded from Apple's M1 processor to Apple's M2 processor, which was introduced in 2022 for various Mac laptops, like the 2022 MacBook Air and 2022 13-inch MacBook Pro. It's a welcome upgrade for professionals using the iPad Air for creative visual work, but it's unlikely to make much of a difference for basic iPad use, like video streaming, social media scrolling, web browsing, emailing, or even playing games. 

Base storage for the iPad Airs also starts at 128GB — double the 64GB storage of the previous iPad Air.

The 11-inch iPad Air starts at the same $599 price as the previous generation, and the 13-inch iPad Air starts at $799. You can order both now, with availability on May 15.

An Apple Pencil 'Pro' you can squeeze

The brand new Apple Pencil Pro contains a new squeeze sensor for novel interactions with the 2024 iPad Pro and Air models, like bringing up a new tool palette while drawing.

The Apple Pencil Pro delivers a haptic response when you squeeze it to give you control and feedback while using the feature. Third-party app developers will be able to add squeeze controls to their apps to offer various functions for their apps, too. 

The Apple Pencil Pro also supports Find My tracking and a new control feature called Barrel Roll that uses a gyroscope to let you roll the Pencil for more control, like changing the angle of the Pencil's input on the iPad display. 

The Apple Pencil Pro starts at $129. It's available to order now, with full availability on May 15.

An upgraded Magic Keyboard

The new Magic Keyboard designed for the 2024 iPad Pros has an aluminum palm rest and a larger trackpad. It also features a new function row for controls similar to what you'd find on a Mac laptop, like screen brightness and playback. 

The Magic Keyboard for the 11-inch iPad Pro starts at $299, and $349 for the 13-inch iPad Pro. You can order both now, and they'll be available on May 15.

• Alma Rex-Ezonfade took a yearlong sabbatical after years of working non-stop.
• She saved $51,300 for her sabbatical, which she spent on travel and exploring personal interests.
• Despite initial struggles, she found joy in her time off and plans on taking more sabbaticals in the future.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with 31-year-old Alma Rex-Ezonfade based in Toronto, Canada. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

On my 29th birthday, I opened a savings account and put $500 in it. I had told myself that for my 30th birthday, I would gift myself a one-year sabbatical, and this was my first step in making that dream of taking an "adult gap year" a reality.

I was tired of working and always being on top of things. I immigrated to Canada from Nigeria when I was 22 for my master's degree and started working right after graduating. It felt like I had been running on a hamster wheel, and I was just going, going, going, going.

I calculated my budget for the year

Before taking my gap year, I was a customer success manager at Astreya, making around 110,000 CAD ($80,500). I was also a content creator and was making nearly 200,000 CAD ($146,600) a year between my 9-to-5 salary and my income from working with brands and doing campaigns.

I calculated how much I actually needed to save based on my spending at the time.

For necessities like rent, car payments, groceries, gas, phone bill, and utilities, I estimated around 4,200 CAD ($3,100) a month. I also decided I wanted to travel, which I knew would be a bit pricey because I'm not a budget traveler. I planned for 18,000 CAD ($13,200) for two big trips and a number of smaller ones.

Altogether, I calculated that I would need to save around 70,000 CAD ($51,300) for my sabbatical, which I did by putting most of my content creator income into my sabbatical fund. If I didn't have my job as a content creator, I would've picked up a part-time job to generate that supplemental income.

I also cut back on expenses. I was never too shy to just say, "I can't afford that" or "I can't do that activity," because I was planning for something that had way higher priority than going out and spending $200 in one night.

I left my job but struggled to not do anything

Saving up took me a little longer than I had planned, but in April 2023, I quit my job.

The day I quit, I just spent the whole day at home, watching the TV blankly. I didn't do anything else; I just needed my brain to shut off.

On Monday, I woke up at 8 a.m. as usual because I forgot that I didn't have a job. Then I remembered I could sleep in, but I was already awake, so I tried to figure out what my new routine would be.

I started to put together a plan, and then I realized that would just defeat the whole purpose. The plan was to let go.

Still, I didn't feel like I could just not do anything. I found myself planning for my upcoming trips, brainstorming content ideas for my YouTube channel, and posting more regularly on my Instagram page. I had thought about starting my own clothing brand for years, so I started working on ideas for that too.

One of my friends said to me, "The whole point was for you to not work. Why can't you not work?"

The week after I quit, I checked myself into a hotel for a couple of days, ordered room service, and cried the entire time. They were tears of gratitude, tears of exhaustion, tears of relief. I was letting myself feel like, "Okay, I did it, and I'm here."

I was used to being a high performer, managing a team, having deliverables, and doing all these things. I had to get used to the idea of not working and get over feeling like I wasn't useful because I wasn't being productive. I had to shift to having my validation come from my own happiness and seeing my value beyond my work output.

Three weeks into my sabbatical, one of my former bosses reached out to me to tell me about a contract role at Google that she wanted me to interview for. Honestly, I almost took it because I wasn't used to the idea of not having work.

It took some getting used to, but eventually, I was able to go a whole week without doing any work.

Did I make the right decision?

The first few months when I was on sabbatical, I was so sad.

I looked at all the money that I had put in my sabbatical account and thought of everything else that I could have done with that money rather than lounge for a whole year.

Maybe I should just take it out and buy a house, I thought. I even asked my real-estate agent friend to look up properties for me, but I knew that if I bought the house instead, I'd be miserable, always wondering what I could've achieved if I just took the year off.

I remember talking to my therapist and trying to validate the decision time after time. At the end of the day, I realized that I was at the best point of my life to give this gift to myself. And when I settled with that a few months later, I started to have fun with the idea that I was on a sabbatical.

I learned to enjoy myself

I enjoyed having the luxury of time to do whatever I wanted.

I fell in love with working out again. I started coloring, drawing, and doing ceramics. I started reading again and got back into writing. I spent more time with myself and with my family. I picked up childhood hobbies again, like building Legos and taking Polaroid photos. I also cooked more and tried new coffee spots in Toronto.

Some of my favorite memories from my sabbatical are the many days I spent just sitting on my couch watching TV and only getting up to eat. I finished all six seasons of Downton Abbey in one week. I also watched all of Schitt's Creek as well as a lot of Korean shows.

Working on my clothing brand became a passion project. I learned about fabrics and the fashion industry — I enjoyed just learning things for the sake of learning.

I visited friends and family in other countries, did some birthday trips with friends, went on a seven-day cruise to the Caribbean, and spent four weeks traveling Europe.

I plan to take many more sabbaticals

After a full year of my sabbatical, my sabbatical funds are almost fully drained, and my income as a content creator is keeping me afloat now. I thought I would be panicking about my finances, but taking this time off helped me develop a mindset shift; I know I'll figure it out one way or another.

My fashion brand is launching this month, so I'm giving myself until around September to figure out what's next. My plan is to then work in a corporate job for another three years to get more experience and knowledge, and then take another year off at 35, and I'll repeat that cycle until I retire.

One of the biggest things I'm taking away from this sabbatical is realizing that a lot of things are not that serious. When you're an immigrant, a lot of things are that serious; I had to start life over again in Canada and I had to excel at this life. But I realized that I needed to enjoy life.

I've never been this happy, and I'm the most broke I've ever been. To me, this year has really been about redefining what happiness looks like at different points in my life. My loved ones have pointed out that I'm less grumpy and controlling, and I shout less.

I just feel kind of sad that I had to take a whole year off of work to find joy in my life.

If you took a sabbatical and would like to share your story, email Jane Zhang at janezhang@businessinsider.com.

• Chinese fighter jets are targeting Australian aircraft able to detect submarines with risky air maneuvers.
• China is making efforts to strengthen its submarine fleet and access deep waters.
• Chinese aircraft interfering with Australian aircraft is reminiscent of Soviet Cold War-era harassment.

Chinese fighter jets keep targeting Australian aircraft capable of finding and defeating submarines with hazardous maneuvers, suggesting that subs may be what the Chinese jets are guarding so fiercely.

"Concealing its submarines and discretely accessing deep waters are seen as ongoing challenges for China," Justin Burke, a senior policy advisor at the National Security College, wrote for the Sydney-based Lowy Institute's publication The Interpreter.

"It is therefore worth contemplating that Australia's aircraft are being targeted because of their crucial role in submarine detection and the undersea balance of power," he said.

Earlier this month, a Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force fighter jet released flares in the path of a Royal Australian Navy MH-60R helicopter over the Yellow Sea, compelling the Australian military to release a statement calling the risky maneuver "unsafe and unprofessional."

Two years earlier, a Chinese fighter jet dropped chaff in front of a P-8 Poseidon aircraft operating above the South China Sea. At least some of the metallic debris entered the plane's engine. That same year, a Chinese warship was accused of using lasers to interfere with another P-8.

Burke says this may be a way for China to give warning and protect its undersea capabilities that have been in the works, noting that "while a detectable submarine is virtually useless, a stealthy one is priceless."

MH-60R helicopters, like the P-8, are anti-submarine warfare platforms. They are able to detect submarines using detachable sonar and sonobuoy mechanisms.

"Even if these aircraft are performing routine flights, their known capabilities may simply lead to the assumption by the Chinese military that they are 'spying,'" Burke said.

China's undersea presence is not insignificant, as submarines are able to act as a survivable nuclear strike option, preserving China's second-strike capabilities. China has been working to expand its fleet to 65 submarines by 2025 and 80 submarines by 2035, according to the Pentagon.

These incidents remind Burke of harassment cases from Soviet ships during the Cold War in which a Soviet vessel would purposefully bump into a US ship as a means to disturb US sea operations and also make a "diplomatic point."