Walpole: In a world where we’re always available, how do you separate your personal time from your work time?
Sophie Cracknell: I’ve always struggled to switch off - it’s part and parcel of loving your work. However, having two young children has given me the best incentive to compartmentalise. It’s not always possible to make specific 'clock-on, clock-off' times sacred (the nature of the work we take on is far too varied for that), but when I’m with my children, I’m with them. Whether it’s watching The Gruffalo for the hundredth time, discussing the pros and cons of a particular dinosaur species, or packing a ballet bag, I try to be fully present. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
What’s one thing you do after the workday to help you unwind?
It’s a cliché, but name a better way to relax than indulging in a long bath – the kind you need to top-up with hot water because you’ve stayed in so long it’s started to go cold. Add a good book and a decent glass of malbec, and you’ve got yourself a self-care moment that rivals any spa. I always have a candle burning too — Diptyque’s Baies in the winter and The White Company's Calm in the summer — and a generous splash of Aromatherapy Associates bath oil. Bliss!
What activity do you do in your time away from the office that helps you relax and recentre after a stressful week?
Running. It’s my time to be alone and decompress. I’ve always been active and have been a keen runner for as long as I can remember. It’s incredible for clearing the mind, and I always feel refreshed and more like “me” after a decent run. It’s the best stress release. My husband can always tell when I’ve not been out for a run in a while!
What’s something you’ve read, listened to, or seen in your spare time that’s helped you at work?
The Dopamine Expert on The Diary of a CEO podcast by Steven Bartlett. I did my degree in psychology, so I love understanding further about how people tick, understanding what drives people and the addictions people develop with regards to chemicals. However, also in relation to the social stimulus and work - it's so relevant to everything around us these days. There is a huge amount to take from this into work and is really insightful into so much of real life.
After home and the office, where’s your favourite ‘third space’?
We’re regulars in Salcombe and have created so many memories escaping to the coast there, whether for a long weekend or a transformative fortnight. We’ll take the boat out, pin down our excited children just long enough to secure their life jackets, and head out on the water. That combination of sea air, being on the water, and indulging in some fantastic local food never fails to leave me feeling elated.
On Sunday night, how do you prepare yourself for the week ahead?
Syncing up the schedules of two energetic children and a job packed with back-to-back meetings doesn’t happen on its own! I dedicate a couple of hours every Sunday evening to getting everything organised for the week ahead. I plan menus, sort out childcare, choose outfits (mine and the children’s — my husband is on his own!), and mentally prepare for upcoming school projects (you only nearly forget about World Book Day once). Occasionally, I’m even organised enough to finish the Ocado order. Believe it or not, I find this process relaxing. I’ll usually be curled up on the sofa in loungewear with a glass of full-bodied red. For every note added to my weekly to-do list, I close another tab in the overcrowded browser window in my head and sink a little deeper into the cushions.
Best reason you’ve had to turn your Out of Office on recently?
A long weekend with my sister and her family. She’s my absolute rock, sense-check, and best friend, so being with her is my happy place. With children running everywhere, it wasn’t exactly a holiday, but as the saying goes, a change is as good as a rest.
Your go-to out of office outfit: Lululemon leggings and an oversized jumper. The comfier, the better!
Your happy place anywhere in the world: The Pig hotels — any of them. They’re filled with such special memories, as they were a favourite getaway spot of ours and the place where my husband proposed. Their décor is so cosy and comforting, it always feels like a home away from home.
Your favourite bar or restaurant: Scott’s in Richmond. Blackened salmon and cocktails are my go-to.
Something cultural or sporting you booked recently that you’d recommend: The ballet. I adore the elegance, artistry, and talent of the performers.
Something you’ve listened to or read recently that you’d recommend: I recently re-read The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. It’s a poignant, thought-provoking reminder to appreciate the beauty of life’s choices and possibilities.
A hobby you’d like to cultivate: I’m a qualified Pilates instructor, but it’s been years since I’ve had the time to teach. Even just 20 minutes on the mat, whether outside in summer, on holiday, or in my bedroom at home, it leaves me feeling physically and mentally recharged. The Pilates hundred never fails to work wonders.
A luxury that’s actually a necessity: Time. If I could attend every work event, every friend’s birthday, catch every West End production, enjoy countless date nights sampling London’s newest restaurants, and still spend precious time with my children, I would, but that’s an impossible dream. A Harry Potter time-turner would be the ultimate luxury.
Best luxury under £25: A White Company candle. A beautifully scented home instantly transports me to that serene, welcoming feeling of walking into a boutique hotel.
