In a world where we’re always available, how do you separate your personal time from your work time?
Nick Carvell: One thing that really helps me is having separate professional and personal phone numbers that dial into my mobile. I once had a job where I needed to carry two iPhones and a Blackberry at all times, so I vowed never to be in that bonkers situation again – but having one phone for both work and play can feel like you're "always on". I now use an app called Another Number on my iPhone that allows me to have a second line solely for work on my existing phone, which helps me manage my time (and contacts) far more effectively.
What’s one thing you do after the work day to help you unwind?
Sparking up a scented candle in the living room and watching something on TV that takes my brain far away from what I've just been working on. Currently, that's Emily in Paris on Netflix.
What activity do you do in your time away from the office that helps you relax and recentre after a stressful week?
Spending time with my husband exploring antique shops or going on a long walk with him and our dog, Albee, in the countryside that ends with a late morning coffee stop. Or a long bath listening to a history podcast.
What’s something you’ve read, listened to or seen in your spare time that’s helped you at work?
I think that McKinsey & Company's "Mind the Gap" newsletter and blog, dedicated to exploring the trends and talking points that matter to Gen Z in the workplace and beyond, is a fascinating read for every generation.
After home and the office, where’s your favourite third space?
Robinson Pool in Bedford, the town where I live. I've never been particularly motivated by sports, but I adore swimming. There's something about being in a pool doing laps (and the occasional wonky tumble turn) that I find immensly meditative.
On Sunday night, how do you prepare yourself for the week ahead?
I try to sit in bed and read something totally unrelated to work for about an hour before lights out.
Best reason you've had to turn your Out of Office on recently?
Just before Christmas I took my mother for a jaunt on the Caledonian Sleeper up to Ediburgh for a long weekend, culminating with dinner at the jaw-dropping new Gleneagles Townhouse on St Andrew Square. The banoffee baked Alaska we had for dessert – flambeed tableside – was utterly unforgettable.
Your go-to Out of Office outfit: Anglo-Italian indigo jeans, Drake's x Aimé Leon Dore collared jumper, Sunspel T-shirt, Myrqvist oxblood loafers, and my treasured Aquascutum x Supreme cotton-twill raincoat, topped off with a splash of Hermès Eau de Narcisse Bleu.
Your happy place anywhere in the world: Having a Negroni in the Bar Longhi in The Gritti Palace in Venice, where my husband and I spent the final two nights of our honeymoon.
Your favourite bar or restaurant: You can't beat a Martini (vodka, slightly wet with a twist) at the Coburg Bar at the The Connaught in Mayfair, London. Those endless bowls of freshly made crisps they serve with the cocktails? Perfection.
Something cultural you booked recently that you'd recommend: If you're headed to Edinburgh, make sure you make time for the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art – it has one of the largest collections of Surrealist and Dadaist artwork in the world, not to mention incredible pieces from Mapplethorpe, Emin, Lichenstein – the list goes on.
Something you've listened to or read recently that you'd recommend: Small Fires by Rebecca May Johnson. A fascinating, witty essay collection that explores our relationship with food, cooking and our bodies through a mixture of memoir, philosophy, recipe and comedy. The chapter on apron strings in particular is brilliant. I couldn't put it down.
A hobby you'd like to cultivate: I am still trying desperately to master French.
A luxury that’s actually a necessity: Sparkling water.
Best luxury under £25: A stack of international food and menswear magazines and a cappuccino from Shreeji News on Chiltern Street.
Connect with Nick Carvell on LinkedIn.
Photo credit: Adam Duke, adamdukephotography.com
