By Anya Cooklin-Lofting
Falling into a less-than-ideal routine while working from home is unsurprisingly easy, especially over the winter. Long, dark mornings do very little to inspire early rising, pre-work jogging or green smoothie breakfasts while cool afternoons call for pantry raids and frothy coffees. The eradication of our commutes keeps us at our desks longer, eroding quality family time and racking up our Zoom time.
Cultivating a healthy lifestyle when you work from home is incredibly rewarding and by setting achievable goals, you can bring more fulfilment and productivity to each day. The key is to make and keep promises to yourself that helps to build self-trust, thus self-respect and a sense of pride in your day.
Here are a few tips for elevating your WFH schedule, prioritising a holistic attitude to your health and your productivity.
Keep Tabs on Your Overtime
It’s easy to work longer hours when there’s no rush to get home. Before the pandemic, leaving the office in the evening signalled the beginning of the race to hit that gym class, get back home, prepare dinner, squeeze in some wind-down time and get a full 8 hours of sleep. These days, we’re working smarter and using the time we save from our sofa-to-desk commute to tackle some life admin, get our endorphin fixes and pre-heat the oven. However, try not to fall into the trap of working overtime just because you can. If, like me, your dining table doubles as your desk, it’s important to keep tabs on the hours you spend there. If your choice of evening activities is a toss-up between binging a new series on Netflix or clearing your work inbox, why not try something new? Removing yourself from these patterns can help to curb the urge to burn the midnight oil.
Commit to Your Commute Time
Once you’ve put healthy boundaries in place around the time you spend at your desk, it’s time to look at how to enrich your spare time. Using your usual morning commute time to read, learn a new skill or language or get in a yoga session will set you up for a productive and happy day. Knowing that you’ve accomplished something before work, even if it’s just some time taken for yourself to think, provides a sense of ownership of your day. It’s easy to let work take over, so reclaiming some time before the workday starts is crucial.
Keep Moving
Moving your body throughout the day will improve your concentration, keep you physically healthy and will contribute to a more positive mindset. You don’t have to join a running club or go to a spin class to feel the benefits. A lunchtime walk or a mid-morning stroll to the local cafe for a coffee will blow away the cobwebs. If your work diary is fit to burst with unending calls and Zoom meetings, why not take one or two of those calls outside in the garden or while you walk in the local park?
Stay Hydrated
Coffee doesn’t count here! Make sure you have a glass of water on your desk at all times while you work from home. Not only does keeping hydrated help to keep organs functioning properly, but it also improves our cognition, our sleep quality and our moods. If you feel you need a reminder to drink more water throughout the day, why not invest in a beautiful glass carafe for a deskside visual cue?
Create an Inspiring Home Office Space
Finding inspiration and motivation in a plain, under-loved home office is next to impossible. Make sure your workspace, be it an entire study or a corner of the dining room table, makes you feel creative and confident. Houseplants make great deskfellows, as do framed family photographs, special stationery and a really lovely paperweight. Bring art, soft furnishings and good lighting into the mix and you have yourself a haven for the working hours that will keep stress levels low and cheerful industriousness at an all-time high.
Give Yourself Some Closure
At the end of the working day, it’s important to create physical distance between yourself and your laptop and other accoutrements of your employment. If your living room has taken on more of a multifunctional role since the beginning of the pandemic, ensure all signs of work are packed away neatly, ready for the morning. Dedicate a drawer to store your laptop, pens and notebooks to keep work out of sight and out of mind, allowing you to truly switch off in the evening. If you work from a dedicated study or office space, clear the space of clutter and close the door. You’ll thank yourself come the morning when you have fully decompressed and feel refreshed and ready to take on the next challenge…
Top Private Islands for Sale
By Anya Cooklin-Lofting
Do you ever find yourself longing, not for absolute silence, but for quietude punctuated only by the churn of sand under yawning wavelets, the fissle of leaves touseled by a warm breeze? And what about solitude? Not the reluctant entrapment of a metropolitan flat under lockdown, but the liberating aloneness that fills your lungs and deposits time and energy at your feet in an unexpected oblation? Thought I wasn’t the only one.
For some, a second home in a sleepy seaside village or atop a remote, rocky outcrop in a Bond-villain-style compound doesn’t provide the necessary distance from the ‘real world’ to induce complete and undisturbed restfulness. Luckily, there exists a plethora of paradisiacal options for these peace-pursuers, solitude-seekers and horizon-hunters. The private island is a marker of luxury living, and it’s easy to see why. From X to Z, there are islands, archipelagos and atolls to suit all sensibilities. Here are a few stand-out options on the market today.
Little Whale Cay
What and where?
Set in The Berry Islands in the heart of the Bahamas, Little Whale Cay is a 40-acre, self-sustained private island flanked by the deepest blue lagoons, sprawling coral reefs and unending seascapes. The island is accessible by plane from Florida or Nassau and features a 2,000 ft landing strip.
The hook…
The island is a wonder of surprises which include a church built from native coral stone, a private lake with flamingos, a sea-view infinity pool, a yoga deck and tennis courts. Its waters are also perfect for snorkelling and sailing.
Who?
Sotheby’s International Realty, $35,000,000.
Crown Pigeon Island
What and where?
Crown Pigeon Island lies just off the shore of the North Eleuthera, the Bahamas, and is set between idyllic white sand flats to the west and the crystal-clear waters of Harbour Island harbour to the east. Its 11 acres offers wildlife-friendly, lush flora including native hardwoods and coastal vegetation, as well as three natural beaches.
The hook…
The island’s four-acre harbour is a sea turtle sanctuary, so lucky visitors have the opportunity to observe some of the most exquisite, exotic wildlife from the privacy of their own gardens.
Who?
Sotheby’s International, $44,495,000.
Hoffman’s Cay
What and where?
Pristine in its natural, untouched glory, Hoffman’s Cay is a 350-acre island set in The Berry Islands, 50 miles northeast of Nassau. Accessed via deep water channels, the island is a short distance from Great Harbour Cay and New Providence.
The hook…
Hoffman’s Cay has its very own blue hole, a mesmerising depth of deep, royal blue water to explore.
Who?
Christie’s International Real Estate, $18,000,000.
Viscontea Island
What and where?
Steeped in history and laden with interesting architectural details, this island is around half an acre of Italian land, afloat in the waters of the River Adda. Viscontea Island is located in Lecco where a branch of Lake Como flows into the river and comprises part of the ancient structure of the Azzone Visconti bridge when the materials were deposited into the water, forming the landmass itself. The island is a mere 50-minute drive from Milan Malpensa and Milan Linate, and just 30 minutes from Bergamo airport.
The hook…
Some researchers have suggested that Leonardo Da Vinci may have been involved in the construction of the bridge and thus the island as early as 1500.
Who?
Partner Spotlight – Introducing the Whitecalm Wellbeing App
In recent years we’ve seen a seismic shift in the importance of mental health and wellbeing. We’ve reached a place where we can speak openly and freely to loved ones and professionals about how we’re truly feeling and the increase in available resources has been gratefully embraced. One such resource that has recently been launched is the Whitecalm Wellbeing app – a scientifically backed, one-stop platform that combines mental health, diet and exercise to transform our lifestyle and help us to live a healthier, happier, more balanced life. Earlier this month BBB sat down with Whitecalm Wellbeing Founder & CEO, Rebecca Tucker, to find out more about the revolutionary new app.
Let’s start with a little bit of history. How did it all begin for Whitecalm Wellness?
Having qualified as a scientist I then went on to do an MA in Education and became a teacher of human biology. I then came out of education and went into a very entrepreneurial environment. I became Managing Director at British concierge company, Quintessentially, and then after nine years, I chose to leave and set up Whitecalm as I noticed the lack of support available for burnt out women trying to juggle work and family life.
The first incarnation of Whitecalm was retreats, but it soon became apparent that women didn’t have the time or resources for such getaways. I then decided to fill the gap in the market by offering shorter luxury breaks – days and weekends that would take place in 5-star spa hotels. The shorter breaks were a resounding success! We received numerous 5-star reviews from our clients and got rated number one in Timeout and Tatler.
Six months later I secured investment for our UK expansion plan but unfortunately around this same time I got diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer. After a year of treatment and two major surgeries, I can now thankfully say that I am in remission. Whilst going through my cancer treatment I realised that there was no one place online that I could go to that would support me through my recovery. This realisation planted the first seeds of the Whitecalm app into my mind. Coincidentally this happened around March 2020, the exact same time that the whole world was forced to go digital.
Congratulations on the new app! Could you tell us a little bit more about how it works?
As I mentioned, my goal was to have everything in one place so that is exactly what the Whitecalm app offers. From exercise, sleep, mental health and lifestyle to menopause, financial wellbeing, meditation and diet, it’s all there in one place. I wanted to make the app as holistic as possible because in order to be balanced you have to consider every aspect of your lifestyle.
The app is all singing and all dancing – jam packed with interactivity and engagement for users to enjoy. Features of the app include a range of expert trainers, an organic and ethically sourced e-shop, gamification in terms of point and rewards and a virtual assistant named Luke! User can also track their water intake, steps, sleep and even their blood pressure. Not only that, but the app is also all scientifically backed, which was incredibly important to me. The Mayo Clinic has co-devised the wellbeing survey and therefore everything that we do now is scientifically validated.
A user’s journey begins by completing a comprehensive survey. Once completed the app’s algorithms will then provide them with content that is uniquely specific to them. For example, if a person is suffering badly with their mental health, the app will provide them with daily recommendations, live interactive streams, healthy tips, new classes and benefits that are tailored to their needs.
What’s also very close to my heart is that we have as much diversity on the platform as possible. We have instructors of every ethnicity, cookalongs that cover all cuisines and the aim is to make the app as rich as possible – whether that’s a disabled instructor or someone that’s partially sighted. We want to include everyone and ensure that there is as much representation as possible.
What sets the Whitecalm app apart from other apps on the market?
I think that it’s our scientifically backed programmes combined with our points and rewards systems that set us apart from other apps. We want to keep our members engaged and on track by providing them with the blueprint of a new, healthy, interactive lifestyle that works for them. It’s also very important to us that our members understand why they are doing things which is the reason for incorporating the science behind the exercises so that members can understand not just how things work but crucially why they will be beneficial to their wellbeing.
Who is the app for and what are some of the benefits of becoming part of the Whitecalm platform?
I would honestly say that our app is for everyone. Not only is it available in 108 different languages, but we have also made sure to cover and incorporate all age ranges, genders and ethnicities.
One of the main benefits of the Whitecalm platform is that everything is in one place, which eradicates the need for multiple apps and that constant search to find what you need. Also, as I mentioned previously, all of our data is scientifically backed and provided by experts. For example, The Mayo Clinic diet on the app is rated the top diet in the USA.
Whitecalm also offers workplace wellbeing programmes through the app. Could you tell us more about the initiative and why it’s so important for businesses to provide employee wellbeing solutions?
Ninety billion pounds is lost every year in absenteeism through ill health or mental illness, so for me providing workplace programmes to staff is an absolute no brainer. If companies look after their employees then their employees will look after them and their business.
We offer out our workplace wellbeing programme to businesses and also support them further with workshops, webinars and wellbeing days around specific issues. These workshops and dedicated wellbeing days are incredibly beneficial to companies and are a really nice treat for people that need time away from their routine to learn how to new habits and create a healthier lifestyle.
The last two years has seen work culture change drastically. What would be your top wellbeing tips for people working from home?
First and foremost is to take regular breaks. When you’re sitting at a computer it’s so easy to get absorbed into your daily routine and not stop. My advice is for people to take a 5-minute break every hour as this will drastically improve productivity.
Next up is to get out into the fresh air. Going for a daily walk allows you to soak up some vitamin D, boost your immunity and remain calm. Stress is one of the number one causes of most illnesses so the more that you can adopt healthy habits to combat stress, the better.
And finally, don’t snack while you’re at your desk. When you sit and snack in front of a screen your body is not engaging with what you’re eating so you will end up eating more because your brain isn’t fully registering what it’s consuming. Adopt mindful eating by moving away from your desk and taking the time to taste, smell and really enjoy what you’re putting into your body.
And finally, what’s your vision for the Whitecalm app in the future?
The vision is for the Whitecalm app to become the best global wellbeing platform in the world; emanating the fact that we are one world, functioning together through diversity and inclusion of all human beings to create a healthier, happier lifestyle for all.
Click here to become a member of the new Whitecalm app now at the discounted rate of just £9.99 per month or £110 annually.