“So shines a good deed in a naughty world.”

The Merchant of Venice.

This is my first blog post in quite some time, and I feel immensely privileged?to have written it in the Italian city of Venice, where it seems that I am following in the footsteps of a great number of other people who have discovered that the city has a favourable influence on their mental health.

It was written by the Swedish art collector and museum director Pontus Hulten?that "Paris is an ideal place to become informed, while Venice is a place to think and write."

I couldn't agree with him?more!

I have previously written about the difficulties I have while attempting to disconnect from my work and taking digital detoxes to disentangle myself from a job I love, and I am well aware that I am not the only one who feels this way.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that one in four adults will be affected by burnout at some point in his or her active life. The situation is so widespread in developed countries that the?World Health Organisation has included burnout as an ‘occupational phenomenon’.

While it is not a medical condition, it has been classified as a syndrome.

WHO defines burnout as a syndrome of “chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed” which “includes feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion, which results in increased mental distance from one's job and reduced professional efficacy.”

While I am writing this, I am coming to the realisation that I am really lucky that I have never experienced burnout in the past, I?have come very close to it, ?and that the company I work for encourages colleagues to take holiday time. Nevertheless, I am aware of the warning signs of stress, and I feel that it is beneficial to be open and honest about a difficulty that a great many of us are confronted with.

In January this year Mental Health UK published its first annual burnout report to highlight the growing challenge that prolonged stress places on people.

Their research, which they will now undertake annually, shows that nine out of ten adults experienced high or extreme levels of stress last year, a figure that cuts across almost all generations.

Twenty percent of workers (one in five)?were required to take time off from their jobs because of poor mental health brought on by an excessive amount of pressure or stress.

When asked about the factors at work which have caused them stress and may have contributed to burnout in the past year, the majority of working adults agreed that ‘a high or increased workload or volume of tasks at work’ (54%), and ‘feeling isolated at work’ (42%) had done so.

Their research highlights a challenge many of us are familiar with while working from home. The lines between work and home life have become increasingly blurred in recent times. Many of us are working longer hours, and the societal changes caused by the pandemic are still present.

Due to the fact that Venice is aggressively marketing itself as a destination for remote workers?to better their mental health, I feel even more fortunate to be in this city.

Italy is one of the world's most popular holiday destinations. However, with millions of people no longer compelled to work in offices and looking for that perfect work life balance, the Mediterranean country is becoming a popular destination for digital nomads - those who work outside of their home nations and frequently relocate.

Until now, digital nomads could not legally operate in Italy for an extended period of time.

However, a new visa for remote workers was passed into Italian legislation on March 28, 2022, and is now effective as of April 4.

Back in 2022 Susana Martinez was one of 16 employees for the multinational technology company 思科 , who was asked to participate in the remote working pilot in Venice.

After swapping Madrid for Venice Martinez stated that : “Relocating to this city has been nothing short of inspirational,” “Venice has given me a boost of energy. When you are exposed to new experiences, your creativity takes off.”

The participants were located in flats in the central city and were given the opportunity to work in a variety of settings. They were observed to determine how their levels of productivity, work routines, and overall welfare changed throughout the course of the study.

Mathilde Bosgiraud, another participant, says she didn’t notice Venice’s car-free silence when she first arrived. “Then I went to Rome, and it was a crazy return to reality after all of that peace and quiet,” says the 29-year-old account manager, who usually works out of Cisco’s Paris office.

“Being in Venice is good for your mental health… you have to adapt to Venice’s slower pace of life.”

One of the reasons Venice is looking to attract remote workers is because the population of Venice’s main island dipped below 50,000 for the first time in the summer of 2022.

In 1950 the population of the historic city was 175,000 so the population has dropped by more than 70% over that time.

Keen to help reverse the decline, a team at Venice’s Ca’ Foscari University and the Fondazione di Venezia, a cultural heritage group, created “Venywhere”, a project aimed at enticing those who can work from anywhere to move to the city.

After spending six days in Venice and observing the number of laptops popping up in bars and cafés while watching the world go by, I can say that Venice is unlike any other city I have lived or worked in. There are no cars, you have walk or boat everywhere… and there is so much beauty it inspires you to get out of your habitual thoughts.

You do start to get new ideas and think about how society could be in the future.

Especially when my local commute into Oxford, who have recently dropped the phrase “15-minute city” from its local plans due to fear of backlash, feels like taking part in the Monaco Grand Prix – "not a lot of speed and no final destination in sight."

The overriding reason residents have left the city of Venice has been the city’s heavy?focus on mass tourism, with thousands of visitors crowding its squares, bridges, and narrow walkways every day. We are here in quieter period of April I can see how this is a problem.

With the implementation of an entry tax for tourists who do not remain in Venice, which will go into force in 2025, may result in lower number of visitors. The tax payment method will be tested for twenty days in 2024, beginning on Saturday, April 25, and continuing every day until Sunday, May 5.

Venice is beautiful, inspiring, but it still has its problems pollution and air quality just being two of them.

While Venice has allowed me to relax and refresh, for the time being I prefer my permanent home in the UK. However, being here has reminded me of the need to make more of my downtime and to get out in the fresh air more.

As I conclude this reflection from the serene city of Venice,?I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity to immerse myself in its peaceful atmosphere.

Pontus Hulten's thoughts on Venice as a place for thought and writing strike a deep chord with me, especially as I consider the persistent issue of burnout that affects so many of us in our modern workplaces.

The attractiveness of Venice as a haven for remote workers seeking respite from the stresses of metropolitan life is clear, but it also serves as a reminder of the need of striking a balance and cherishing moments of tranquilly wherever we are.

As I prepare to start this week in the London office, I hope to bring with me the lessons I learnt in Venice: the value of disconnecting, embracing nature, and nourishing our mental well-being in the midst of daily life.

Venice may be a momentary retreat;?I do hope you have habits which have help you to sustainably improve your mental health over the long-term.