By the time you read this, your thoughts will no doubt have already turned to year-end bonuses, virtual Christmas parties and a well- earned break over the holidays.

For many, it’s also a time for reflection, both professionally and personally, as we look to set new goals and examine how the past year has gone for us.

And what a year it has been. If you had told someone back in December last year that we would now be walking around in masks, adhering to strict social distancing regulations and mostly working from home, then they would have suggested that you go and lie down in a quiet room for a little while. Today, we accept these restrictions as normal, or as some people say, the dreaded “new normal”.

Everyone has suffered, in one way or another. From the tragic loss of life, to the emotional scarring, to the heavy damage absorbed by our economies, no one has been able to escape the effects of the pandemic, which are, of course, ongoing and show little s