Time to think

A very busy manager from the private sector once said to me: “You have time to think. That is luxury.” These words stayed with me — probably because they describe what we call “quiet luxury” in research on luxury. This form of luxury manifests itself subtly and often only becomes noticeable at second glance.

That is exactly what luxury in everyday work means to me: time, space and the freedom to think. I also value inspiring exchange with others — and the white chocolate candies gifted to me by wonderful colleagues.

Working on the water

When I am out on a lake and pause to look across the water and the surrounding landscape, I feel privileged to call this my workplace, even if only for a short while. The freedom to develop projects according to my own interests, to experiment, remain curious, and even be allowed to fail is also a great luxury to me.

What I see as particularly enriching in my work is the exchange with colleagues as well as with school and university students.

Safety

Luxury in everyday work primarily means safety to me. It is a relief not to constantly carry the question in the back of my mind whether, as a trans person, I need to be especially cautious during the workday. This is not personal comfort, but a prerequisite for being able to think, research and teach freely.

My work as a doctoral researcher also shows that secure funding is a luxury — especially as funding opportunities within academia are becoming increasingly scarce and uncertain. In both cases, safety is the often invisible luxury that makes good scholarship possible in the first place.

Making knowledge accessible

The University Library Bern stands for a knowledge society in which information is accessible, clearly presented and reliable. It preserves cultural heritage, strengthens information and media literacy and offers high-quality services for students, researchers and the public.

Being able to make this visible and communicate it feels like a professional luxury to me: translating strategy, services and future-oriented topics into clear and effective messaging that provides orientation, builds trust and demonstrates the impact of our work.

Blossoms and aromatherapy

In spring, it is the colourful crocus meadows; in summer, the cries of alpine swifts beneath the Lorraine Bridge; in autumn, the vibrant canopy of leaves; and in winter, the colours of the southern summer inside the Gondwana House — I have the most beautiful workplace in Bern.

Walking through the heart of the Botanical Garden is my true luxury: a quick check whether a newly planted specimen is thriving; a memory of an excursion to collect plants. The walk to my office could not be better. Pink morning skies or playful squirrels are the deluxe version of this daily ritual — trade it for something else? Never.