Making up for the lack in weekday suit trade, the Eataly London opening has generated throngs of weekend visitors to the City. Attracting 7 million visitors a year in New York, the Italian food emporium injects fresh inspiration into the Square Mile’s retail offer. Deprived of a trip to Florence or Rome, I decided to grab a slice of la dolce vita right here in London.
As 2020 draws to a close, it is time to reflect on the crazy year when everyone left the office. While this year has certainly had its challenges, it has given the precious gift of time to be able to engage in creative pursuits. From paper printing to fermented vegetables, I’m amazed at the range of new skills I’ve learnt this year.
So here we are again in lockdown 2 but this time we’re old hands at incarceration. As we adapt, it is easier to see the silver linings to our new way of living. JOMO is the new FOMO. While nobody would have wished for another lockdown, there are undeniably some benefits in winter. Here are my own personal reasons to celebrate the joy of missing out on office life during lockdown 2.
What are you missing most about office life? After four months of incarceration at home, I’m dying to get back to the office. Ennui has set in and I’m completely over working from home. Pining for the stimulation of my former life, I have compiled my top 14 things that I miss most about office life. Here’s hoping for a vaccine soon!
The government has announced that office workers can go back to work at the discretion of their employer from the 1 August. But official government advice is still urging office workers to work from home if we can. While many of us will continue to do so – what happens if your home circumstances suddenly change? As I’ll be facing this very predicament shortly, here are my top tips for staying safe during Coronavirus while riding the tube to work.
Is it a bird, is it a plane, no it’s cinema via socially-distanced boats. As creative ideas go, the Parisians have certainly pushed the boat out in 2020. This outdoor cinema extravaganza marks the inauguration of the Paris Plages 2020 celebrations. As part of this annual summer festival, artificial beaches pop up along the Seine transforming the City into a trendy beach resort.
Did you know house plants can improve your productivity by up to 15%? This astounding fact has led to a whole new trend in office design. Garden walls, house plants as room dividers and even “plant” allowances for staff have all gone mainstream. But plants are not just for the office. They’re also the perfect companions for home workers – providing a myriad of wellbeing benefits to keep you at the top of your game.
What life lessons have you gained during quarantine? The last 100 days have certainly been a time for reflection as we grapple with our “new normal.” With our lives on pause, we have a unique window of space to decide what we do and don’t want going forward. My own life lessons have thrown up a few surprises showing me that it’s the things I take for granted that are the most precious.
Forest bathing conjures up images of sophisticated spa retreats in pine-clad Swedish forests but it’s actually much simpler than that. It’s all about taking slow walks in woodland habitats to savour the sights, sounds, scents and textures of nature. You don’t need any special clothing or equipment, it requires minimal physical exertion and is best done in social isolation – making it the perfect lockdown activity.
With the grim prospect of no foreign travel this summer, we’ve got no choice other than to holiday at home this year. Forced to use up my precious annual leave on a staycation chez moi, I’m determined to make the best of it. While these holiday at home ideas won’t compete with two weeks in Santorini, they may help to make holidaying in your own pied-a-terre on the costa-del-home feel that little bit more special.
