Time for a holiday?

clock •

I'm writing this blog as I sit next to the swimming pool, in glorious sunshine, on a holiday to South Africa . This introductory sentence is not designed to provoke jealousy in the reader, but to set the context of some things I wanted to write about in this blog. This holiday, and other I have taken in the past couple of years, have taught me some important lessons that I wanted to share.

This first lesson was the experience I had on the day before I set off on holiday. This turned out to be my single most productive working day in recent memory. Before I left the office on the previous evening I spent a few minutes making a short list of the activities I had to complete before I could fully relax and leave for my holiday. Whilst I always maintain a rolling to-do list, this has not been the best productivity tool due to its never-ending nature. On the final working day before my holiday started I was able to make rapid progress through the task list. In fact, th...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Your profession

Budget 26: Initial relief from advisers turns to 'irritation at the detail'

Budget 26: Initial relief from advisers turns to 'irritation at the detail'

Tax rises ‘aimed at thrift and capital’

Sophia Panayi
clock 29 October 2026 • 4 min read
Budget 26: Savings income tax rate to rise to 44% for higher earners

Budget 26: Savings income tax rate to rise to 44% for higher earners

From April 2027

clock 29 October 2026 • 2 min read
Budget 26: Business asset disposal relief threshold halved to £500,000

Budget 26: Business asset disposal relief threshold halved to £500,000

'No change for three in four claimants'

clock 28 October 2026 • 1 min read