By Anya Cooklin-Lofting
In today’s fast-paced and technology-driven world, time is a precious commodity, and productivity is paramount. As professionals, we often find ourselves overwhelmed by an ever-increasing workload, endless meetings, and the constant need to stay on top of information. Thankfully, advancements in artificial intelligence have given rise to powerful tools that can transform the way we work, and one such tool that is making waves is ChatGPT. ChatGPT, powered by OpenAI’s cutting-edge GPT-3.5 architecture, is an advanced language model designed to understand and generate human-like text. With its ability to comprehend context, respond to prompts, and generate coherent and contextually appropriate responses, ChatGPT has emerged as a game-changer for streamlining our working lives.
Believe it or not, I didn’t write the above paragraph. Instead, I gave ChatGPT a simple prompt: Write me an introductory paragraph for an article that explains how the Chat Bot can streamline your work day. To many, the very concept of such a responsive and, as to which the term alludes, human-like artificial intelligence is a scary thought. Indeed, there is still work to be done when it comes to accuracy. After all, Chat Bots like this only ever reflect the contents of the internet in their answers to prompts, and we know the internet is full of lots of untrue (often horrid) stuff, too. There are various caveats that ChatGPT users will see on screen to bring these issues to attention. This includes warnings that the tool may occasionally generate incorrect information, harmful instructions or biased content.
But, if you can crack the code, you can make ChatGPT work for you in ways you never thought a robot could. From planning the most efficient work day to stepping up the reach of your research, ChatGPT is fast becoming a back-pocket tool for office workers worldwide. This month, hopefully without spooking anybody out too much, I’m rounding up some of the best beginner tips for using ChatGPT to help you get through your workday in the most efficient way possible.
Optimise Your 7.5 Hours
Forward planning is a huge part of the working day. I know my most productive days are those that have a clear beginning, middle and end, or a framework on which I can lean to give me a sense of how much there is to do in the given time. Using ChatGPT to plan your day, perhaps hour by hour or task by task, is a fantastic way to easily plot out how you’ll meet your objectives come 17:30.
Distill Information And Make Decisions Quickly
One of ChatGPT’s undeniable strengths is in summarising large amounts of information or data. Not only can it read and digest huge datasets, but it can also pull trends and analysis from these inputs. This can be incredibly useful for statisticians and marketers alike and everyone in between. If you have huge amongst of numerical data, ChatGPT can give you headlines on patterns, or if you’re working with a long, complicated brief from a client, you can plug it into the tool for an easy digest.
Abridge Wordy Documents
In a similar vein, ChatGPT’s capabilities when it comes to producing summaries of reports are unrivalled. And of course, the best part is, you don’t need to wait for whoever was in the meeting or whoever wrote the report to provide a precis. The best way to get ChatGPT to give you a solid, accurate and useful summary is to give it information about the objective of the meeting in which the minutes were taken, for example, or the context in which the report was written and for whom.
Take The Jump
One of the most compelling benefits of using ChatGPT to help you get more out of your working day is to use the answers that it generates from your prompts as ‘jumping off points.’ For example, if you have a piece of work such as a report on your mind that you’re not sure how to start, ask ChatGPT to break it down into sections and use the format or layout it suggests as a starting point. You can also use the tool to kick off company brainstorms by asking ChatGPT for lists of ideas relating to any given topic. For example, if you’re trying to come up with a new company strapline or a title for a piece of work, give ChatGPT all the context you can think of and ask for any number of creative ideas to discuss over the boardroom table.
Unusual Places to Stay
By Anya Cooklin-Lofting
As the summer descends in rays and frittering hours, I find myself longing for an escape from the daily grind. Instead of quick deskside sandwiches and (increasingly humid) tube journeys, I’m pining for something a world away, for something unusual, where I can be free of the iron grooves of modern life and briefly settle somewhere remote to press pause. This lust for escapism simply hasn’t been quelled by watching Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story on my phone on the District Line. Neither has it been appeased by short walks around the local park or any of the books or podcasts doing their best to offer a taste of different worlds and ways of life. What I really need is a clean break from the everyday cues to the quotidian and the corporate, a step away from busy life into a world defined by quite how different it feels from my own. So, this month, I’m on the hunt for places to stay that will tick that escapism box. And though most of these spots boast great WiFi, it’s your call as to whether you decide to connect.
First up, it’s follies, or as the architects would have it, decorative structures built without practical purpose, often in the form of castles or ruins in miniature. They tend to be set picturesquely against quintessential countryside views; nestled in copses, topping knolls or flanking gates. It wasn’t until I discovered journalist and author, Catriona Gray’s delightful Instagram account dedicated to living in such a building that I realised these places could be habitable, let alone beautifully appointed inside. There are many options should you wish to experience folly life in the UK, even if it’s only a long weekend.
A quintessential example is Grotto Lodge at Highclere Castle (the Sir Charles Barry-designed castle at which Downton Abbey was filmed). The Grotto, which is a strange, stone, circular cottage, has been decorated and restored by Lady Carnarvon, who took on the responsibility of the grand Highclere estate in 2001. Wallpapers by Colefax & Fowler and Robert Kime lend each room a classical feel, and the retention of the original features such as the curved walls and arched windows make the grotto unique and characterful.
Another incredible option includes The Towers at Penrice Castle in Gower, Swansea. The extravagant Gothic folly was built to resemble a ruin but now features delightfully cosy interiors. Or, there’s The Bridge House, a strikingly unusual river-spanning cottage in Ballintuim, Scotland. The home, which is listed on AirBnB, is reminiscent of an Arthur Rackham illustration, all turrets, arches, gables and finials, towering over the rushing River Ardle.
Next up, the remote, dramatic coastal locations of lighthouses should offer a surefire way to prompt your mind to switch off. Lighthouses, often perched rather majestically atop craggy edifices, provide sweeping views, charming architectural features and a delightful vintage feel (see also: windmills). Coolstays.com has several lighthouse listings, including this lighthouse cottage, Eilean Sionnach Lighthouse Cottage, a four-bedroom home off the Isle of Skye, Scotland. Situated on its own four-acre island, guests can access a private beach, plus a traditional highland pub, bars and restaurants are within walking distance. While Eilean Sionnach boasts the views and remoteness of a lighthouse, it isn’t in the lighthouse exactly. Instead, it sits just behind the rather pretty yellow-topped tower.
However, Sally Port Cottage in St Mawes, Cornwall, offers the opportunity to stay inside the lighthouse itself. The two-bedroom home also features an observation room with blankets and a wood-effect stove to keep you warm while storm-gazing. Better still, The Lost Gardens of Heligan and the Eden Project are nearby if you did fancy dipping a toe back into reality (ie. interacting with other humans, queuing, etc.), albeit via visits to otherworldly attractions.
Winterton Lighthouse is also an excellent option for a luxurious, remote, lighthouse getaway with all the curved walls and spiralling staircases you could possibly want. Located on the edge of the pretty village of Winteron-on-Sea, Norfolk, the lighthouse is close to a great pub and a national nature reserve, which is part of the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The lighthouse itself was mentioned in Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe and was used as a lookout during the Second World War. At the top of the tower is the Lantern Room, accessed via an almost vertical staircase, which has wrap-around seating and panoramic views of the Norfolk Countryside and the North Sea.
And finally, for the ultimate in nostalgia-first escapism, seek out cosy treehouses to while away your annual leave allowance. Canopy and Stars, a great website for sourcing unique, creative places to stay in the outdoors, has a range of gorgeous treehouses to choose from. Treetops Treehouse in Devon, for example, is a curious hodge-podge of luxuriously furnished rooms, including a bathroom with a deep rolltop bath, a cosy double bedroom, a living room with a wood-burning stove and a generous deck for watching the sunset over the trees of the local Heywood Forest.
Another great option is The Treehouse in Herefordshire, which sits amongst a lush canopy on 18 acres of land, which happens to be a local wildlife reserve. It is also a short drive away from Hay-on-Wye, perfect for book lovers, whether you coincide your visit with the Hay Literary Festival or not. Its many bookshops, markets and restaurants make it the ideal location for a relaxed day out. A perfect romantic retreat, The Treehouse is not suitable for children (its sole super king-size bed looks too divine to leave), but fur babies are very much welcome.
Auckland’s Most Delicious Restaurants
By Amira Hashish
As New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland has garnered a reputation for delicious food that champions the country’s fresh produce. From a Lebanese tasting menu to yummy yakitori and European inspired dishes, the multi-cultural cuisine is a feast in every sense. Here we choose some of our favourite spots for unearthing the best of Auckland’s restaurant scene…
Ada
Under the arches of a nunnery turned hotel (aptly named The Convent), Ada is the kind of buzzy, light-filled restaurant you dream of when planning a long, leisurely lunch. Beautifully designed to make the most of the high ceilings and architectural details, this is a hearty slice of Spanish-Mission in Auckland’s quiet Grey Lynn neighbourhood. The focus is on Italian food with pasta hand-rolled on the dining tables during service. For a taste of some of the most delicious offerings book in for Sunday lunch. Kick off proceedings with a glass of Prosecco before enjoying a five-course shared feast. If you fancy making a night of it, check into one of the thoughtfully styled boutique rooms in what could easily scoop the title of chicest small hotel in Auckland.
Book: adarestaurant.co.nz, theconventhotel.co.nz
Gemmayze Street
In the centre of Auckland’s hip K’ Road lies the Twenties built St Kevin’s Arcade. The original Art Deco facades are now home to shops, restaurants and bars which make for a thriving gathering spot in the evenings. The must-visit is Gemmayze Street, the Lebanese-inspired restaurant owned and operated by chef Samir Allen whose family have lived in New Zealand for over 130 years. Despite living across the other side of the world they have kept their Middle Eastern culture alive through this vibrant eatery with the most delectable menu of food, wine and cocktails. We would recommend sampling a bit of everything with the $90 per person Jeeb (Arabic for “to bring”) menu. From the signature hummus to the falafel and Arnabeet roasted cauliflower, you will not go home hungry.
Book: gemmayzestreet.co.nz
kingi
In the mood for seafood? Make a beeline for kingi which celebrates sustainably caught seafood fresh from New Zealand’s oceans, dunes, river mouths and reefs. On the ground floor of the heritage Masonic House, underneath the strikingly designed Hotel Britomart, the restaurant is open all day but we would recommend dinner for wood fired dishes and a well curated wine menu. The most popular dish comes in the form of Buttermilk Blue Cod Wings, with blue cod caught by a third-generation family of fishers in the Chatham Island.
Book: kingibritomart.com
Amano
Part of a collection of acclaimed restaurants under New Zealand’s Savor group, Amano is a big, bustling and warmly designed ode to Italian cuisine. Produce is seasonal, sustainable and local from the country’s growers and farmers. Opposite Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour and spanning Britomart’s historic Altrans and Quay buildings, the bakery and restaurant is a staple for anyone seeking wholesome food and a great vibe. Be sure to book in advance as tables get snapped up quickly.
Book: savor.co.nz/amano
Daphnes
We have a soft spot for the Ponsonby district when it comes to dining, drinking or shopping. Awash with independently owned spots, it is a fabulous place to meander the day away. Despite being spoiled for choice with great restaurants in the area, we were especially taken by Daphnes. Run by husband and wife team Clare and Joost van den Berg, this place was inspired by their travels to Greece and Europe in 2018. The modern taverna captures the Mediterranean spirit with an impressive interior designed by Clare. Dim lighting and dark rich tones of wooden furniture alongside rich burgundy and navy upholstery make for quite the setting. The small but perfectly formed menu lives up to the surroundings with highlights including sourdough flatbreads, brussel sprouts and Agria potatoes.
Book: daphnes.co.nz
Barulho
What started as a humble tapas bar has evolved into a solid Spanish restaurant in the Parnell area. Signature dishes such as paella, empanadas and patatas bravas are accompanied by some more experimental options. The cocktail list is strong too with the Caipirinha proving to be a hit. It is also worth popping into the neighbouring Faradays concept store for a truly luxurious fashion and interiors experience.
Book: barulhoparnell.com
Omni
Centering on yakitori cooked over binchotan (low-smoke white charcoal), Omni is a small and considered offering in Mount Eden. For the best value, we recommend the “feed me” option, which is priced at $65 and lets you try over half the menu. Just make sure the crunchy prawn toast wings its way to you. Low-intervention wines from small scale producers make excellent pairings.
Book: atomni.co.nz