How Surfing Changed My Work Day

I love surfing. 

I suspect with that statement you’re instantly picturing a Kelly Slater type figure, flying along a wave and being spat out of a deep barrel. It’s more accurate to picture someone floundering and flapping around in the white water, using his board as a flotation device as much as an actual surfboard. 

But still, I love it. 

My Mum used to have an old cottage in deepest darkest Cornwall, near a great surf break. 

When I was freelancing I’d go there twice a year to surf and work. The first half of the day I’d surf, and then after a hearty lunch I’d get stuck into my work. 

When you work for yourself there’s a weird sort of guilt about doing this. And for reasons of that guilt I decided to technically call these half days (as far as self-imposed holiday allowance went). 

But to be perfectly honest, the amount of good quality, high impact work I got done was more than on a regular 8 hour working day in the city, not less. 

I attacked my work in the afternoon with real vigour and purpose. No doubt aided by the flood of endorphins from all that exercise in the water (trying not to drown). 

Thinking about it now, the sense of ‘surf guilt’ I got was very silly. 

When you reflect on a regular work day in town, how many hours of really good work do you actually get done? 

According to this data “Nearly half of workers say they work 4 hours a day”. If anything I think 4 hours is even a little generous in my case. I’d say I have a maximum of 4 hours good work in me. Certainly when it comes to seriously engaging my brain. 

I wonder what number of hours we spend slumped over laptops, mindlessly ticking things off lists. Doing the sort of work that doesn’t really move the needle. Following our routine, but wishing we had a little more energy and inspiration. 

When it comes to working rhythms, creativity tends to work best in sprints. 

work —--> rest —---> work —--> rest —---> etc.

For me surfing is my ideal form of rest. It’s immersive and active, so it takes me out of my head. I stop being so cerebral and start being present in my surroundings. And those surroundings just happen to be the beautiful Cornish coastline. 

What’s your ideal form of rest? 

My guess is it also includes doing something in nature.

Walking the dog?

Swimming in the sea?

Doing a bit of gardening?

Going for a run through a forest?

Recently Rhys and I met the folks from Ashore. What they do is inspired. They’re a platform where you can book remote working retreats, in a variety of beautiful places, all outside of the city. 

So if you don’t happen to have a relative with a cottage in Cornwall (which now includes me as my Mum selfishly sold it), then they are the perfect stand in!

With that I am very excited to announce that we’re launching a partnership with Ashore.

As part of the partnership:

• Hanbury Hall Members get a 15% discount on their first Ashore booking.

• We will have a beautiful (and very premium) Ashore work station at Hanbury Hall. Available to book by the day for £35. 

If you want to find out more, please grab me or Rhys. Or, even better, Steph from Ashore is now a Hanbury Hall Resident member - so we can lead you to her desk where she’ll tell you all about it :)

We’re constantly on the look out for how we can support our members, and provide benefits that will help their work/life balance. And fuel their creativity. 

This collaboration with Ashore fits the bill perfectly. 

Jamie