Walpole: In a world where we’re always available, how do you separate your personal time from your work time?
Helena Lee: I’m quite stringent about not working before I officially begin. I’m at work early around 8.00am or 8.30am, but before that I resist the temptation of checking emails or replying to messages so that I’m ready for the day without work stuff seeping in or getting diluted. I’m also quite strict about what creeps into WhatsApp, Instagram etc. Unless it’s essential (or fun), I try to keep it a work-free zone.
What’s one thing you do after the workday to help you unwind?
Food, wine, Netflix – all at once.
What activity do you do in your time away from the office that helps you relax and recentre after a stressful week?
Cooking, hosting and having friends round. I love cooking Chinese food – or variations of – because it’s plentiful and generous. All aided with margaritas.
What’s something you’ve read, listened to, or seen in your spare time that’s helped you at work?
I love BBC Radio 6 Focus Beats as a constant background soundtrack for getting through a list. I absolutely loved Elif Shafak’s new novel There are rivers in the sky – it reminds me that thinking big and creatively can yield the most brilliant results. Elif also wears her scholarship lightly, and I think that’s very admirable.
After home and the office, where’s your favourite ‘third space’?
If I had a series of spare afternoons, I’d wander the streets of London – and probably a different area each time. There is so much art to see, and it’s always interesting to look at it in context, to see it in conversation with the buildings, the architecture, the people and imagine.
On Sunday night, how do you prepare yourself for the week ahead?
Go to bed at a reasonable hour.
Best reason you've had to turn your out of office on recently?
Jumping aboard Belmond’s Royal Scotsman and heading into the Cairngorms.
Your go-to out of office outfit: I live in sportswear – Nike, Under Armour, Sweaty Betty, you name it. Otherwise, I'm in Uniqlo jumpers and Citizens of Humanity jeans.
Your happy place anywhere in the world: In bed reading the Greek myths or Chinese folktales with my children.
Your favourite bar or restaurant: The Quo Vadis bar upstairs. I always order – though never intentionally – a martini, oysters and fries.
Something you've listened to or read recently that you'd recommend: Desert Island Discs with Steven Knight. Not only did he write Peaky Blinders (his Snoop Dogg anecdote is great), he conceived and launched Who Wants to be a Millionaire?. His range is out of this world.
A hobby you'd like to cultivate: Playing tennis.
A luxury that’s actually a necessity: Time.
Best luxury under £25: Torres Black Truffle Crisps.
