The philosopher Bertrand Russell believed that leisure was an essential component to living the good life and described it as the time when ‘the soul is refreshed’ and ‘civilisation is created’.

He claimed that humans only had time to think big thoughts and come up with new ideas (like the wheel; dry shampoo; gin and tonic in a can etc.) when given time to rejuvenate - and that the pursuit of personal interests was a necessity for healthy living. Old Bertie proposed that we should all work just enough hours a day to meet our needs. This way, everyone gets time for work, rest and play - something the Danes just have licked.

Come 4pm, my neighbours will be paddle boarding, or singing in a choir, or going on a bike ride, or hanging out with their kids, or cooking together, or cracking open a beer in the beautiful Scandinavian spring…er…snowstorm…

So in the spirit of living Danishly, I decided to join them and signed up for a few extra curricular activities of my own, which meant I had to stop working and clock off – even as a freelancer. After a hard day at the not-at-all coalface, I hovered the cursor over ‘Shut Down…’ on my laptop, and clicked.

There was silence.

I could hear my fridge whirring and the dog snoring. But other than that? Nothing.

Nobody called up to shout at me for not answering an email. No bat-light went on over the North Sea to summon my expertise. I had a startling realisation that I was not nearly as indispensible as I thought I was – and this was A Good Thing.

Now, I stop work at 4pm every day – and the world does not end. I have a life; hang out with my family; exercise; see friends. And it feels great.