06Dec13

Lose the Kettle Culture at Work

What do we mean by kettle culture? Well, it’s the tendency to hang around waiting for the kettle to boil at work.

The UK runs on tea and coffee, so it’s important to provide hot drink making facilities wherever possible. But when you add up the time it takes for all your employees to make their drinks with a kettle throughout the day, it equals a whole lot of lost productivity.

That’s not even factoring in things like kitchen catch-ups, and the time taken to organise drinks runs.

The problem here isn’t your employees. Everyone needs to catch a bit of downtime throughout the day.

Instead, the blame could well lie with your kettle.

Kettles are inefficient things. They take a long time to boil, and because they boil a batch of water at once, you tend to get a bunch of employees standing around with little better to do than wait for the thing to finish. Or, even worse, waiting for a batch of water to boil and then boiling another litre or two!

This doesn’t just mean your employees are out of action whilst they’re waiting. It also means you could be paying for heaps of electricity too.

This is obviously bad for your budget. But it’s bad for the environment too – which isn’t good news in these times, when it’s more important than ever to cut down your carbon footprint.

There is a solution. An eco-friendly, mains-fed water boiler could increase your kitchen efficiency factor exponentially.

Forgive the analogy, but a kettle treats water like Rambo. It goes in all guns blazing to heat a batch of water as quickly as possible – though in reality, the boiling time isn’t that fast, and it uses up lots of electricity.

An eco-boiler works differently. It uses energy efficiently to keep water at a constant, drinkable temperature.

This means there’s no need to wait for a batch of water to boil – it’s simply a case of pressing a button to dispense hot water directly into your cup. No more waiting around in the kitchen, and no more taking the kettle to the tap to fill up again.

And because they’re more energy efficient, your budget should be a bit happier too.

  • Latest news from Angel Springs, leading UK supplier of office water dispensers, bottled and mains-fed water coolers and eco boilers.

  • 05Dec13

    Keep Yourself Well Watered On A Work Night Out

    At work there will always be the occasional reason to celebrate and hit the town, a promotion, a birthday, a work anniversary, people will always look to celebrate a big bit of news.

    Although it might not be the first thing on your mind on one of these nights out, staying hydrated is essential for keeping yourself well at any party.

    Picture the scene, it’s the work tenth anniversary party and some classic cheesy tunes had you dancing like David Brent. So you’ve made a fool out of yourself, but you’re cool with that – now instead of going from silly dancing, to silly drinking, look to get a cup of water instead.

    Think about it, all that raving around like a nutter will have got you thirsty, and while a beer might feel like a thirst quencher at a summer barbeque, in a hot stuffy room after dancing this is definitely not true.

    In fact, it is a recipe for a thumping headache akin to the speaker pumping out beats at the night in question – wanted on the night, but most definitely not on the morning after!

    It is recommended that instead of going and constantly topping your glass up with your favourite alcoholic beverage, you instead opt for the occasional glass of water between your tipples.

    If you opt for occasional low or no-alcohol drinks, you will also be doing your body a big favour, rather than drinking the alcohol laced cocktails that will soon get the room spinning.

    If you have a feeling the party is likely to be a heavy one, you can prepare yourself more by drinking water in the build up to the big event itself.

    A work party is supposed to be about fun and enjoyment, but don’t forget to look after yourself at the same time. Take it as an extra reward to yourself to make sure you don’t wake up with a hangover the following morning!

    • Latest news from Angel Springs, leading UK supplier of office water dispensers, bottled and mains-fed water coolers and eco boilers.
    04Dec13

    Its Christmas Time, Fresh Water and Wine

    Ok so it might be taking a little bit of poetic license with the Sir Cliff song, but drinking plenty of water over the festive period is much more important than sharing a kiss under the mistletoe – especially if you’re drinking plenty of wine!

    Christmas is the season of indulgences, however, and more than a few of us are likely to end up having a drink or two as we go to work Christmas parties or even as we gorge ourselves on turkey, nut roast or whatever your household eats during the festive period.

    Factor in the probability of exercise being shelved somewhat over the build up to Christmas (unless you count the carrying of shopping bags to the car), and you’ve got the recipe for a very unhealthy December.

    Drinking water can help alleviate some of the negatives of the Christmas period though. If you intersperse water breaks with your usual tipple it will help combat the hangover before it begins.

    But on the day after, continuing to drink plenty more water will keep you hydrated and feeling a bit better, and you could even count the walk to the water cooler as a little bit of an exercise! (Although a tad more than that is obviously recommended).

    Keeping up with your five a day is another good way to keep yourself hydrated over the festive period. Instead of reaching for a second mince pie, look for an apple or orange instead.

    Of course, the main thing about Christmas is to enjoy yourself, hopefully with these tips you can make sure you continue to feel in a good mood the day after the party too!

    • Latest news from Angel Springs, leading UK supplier of office water dispensers, bottled and mains-fed water coolers and eco boilers.
    03Dec13

    Adding Festive Cheer to the Office with Water

    Why not bring some festive cheer to your office or home using a range of water-inspired creations?

    No doubt over the Christmas holidays there will be a number of parties going on. For your work party why not use water-themed decorations?

    A bowl filled with some water and red or white flower petals, with the addition of some candles is a very simple way to brighten up the table. Just make sure you buy some candles that will float on water, as otherwise your display will be a bit of damp squib!

    Similarly, keep your eye out for the one member of staff at the Christmas party who has a drink too much and thinks it a good idea to drink the water – there’s always one!

    Coloured water in vases can make nice decorations too, just make sure if you use colouring and flowers together, the two mix safely. You don’t want your festive flowers looking a little droopy!

    Ice sculptures can make a captivating centre piece to your office party, especially if you go for something novel like some face carvings of team members! Other sculptures which will no doubt be popular are the typical Santa Claus, reindeer and other such festive treats.

    Of course, ice sculptures don’t come cheap so you might find the Christmas budget doesn’t quite stretch that far. In which case, why not simply look for some moulds for creating ice in the shape of various festive themes instead? These can make a cute addition to the drinks staff will be glugging down at the party, or if you’re at home will get the kids eager to join in with some of the tasks in the kitchen.

    • • Latest news from Angel Springs, leading UK supplier of office water dispensers, bottled and mains-fed water coolers and eco boilers.
    02Dec13

    Goodbye 2013, Hello H20 and a Brighter 2014

    Made it your New Year’s resolution to save money and get a bit healthier too? Well good for you, hopefully you have the dedication to see it through the whole year.

    With our little tip we’re about to impart, you may find it a lot easier than you first envisioned.

    Our tip revolves around one simple liquid, water. Yes, good old fashioned H2O. When thinking about saving money and getting healthy, this is the first thing that should come to mind.

    A lot of people will strut into the office with a take away coffee in their hands, probably a muffin stuffed secretly in their bag. Yes, treats are tempting, but in 2014, try replacing them with glasses of water instead.

    Swap your coffee for a bottle of crisp H2O and swap the muffin for a piece of fruit. In one quick swoop you’ve just saved yourself a wad of cash and gave yourself a healthier start to the day.

    Instead of nipping to the shop to pick up extra snacks during the day, why not ask the boss to incorporate a fruit box scheme into your workplace for the new year? Having these healthy snacks at hand will definitely help fight the temptation of cookies and chocolate bars.

    If you do go out a lunch, instead of having a crazy calorific 12 inch-long ham roll with all the trimmings, why replace this with a salad? Swap the cola or orange pop out for water again and once again you’ve created an easy way to help keep yourself healthy, and save a few pennies too!

    Make sure you drink around eight glasses of water a day – although this is only a rough estimate, it does give you a guide of what to aim for.  Cut down the snacks and over indulgence in coffee too, and you may find keeping up with your New Year’s resolution quite a bit easier.

    • Latest news from Angel Springs, leading UK supplier of office water dispensers, bottled and mains-fed water coolers and eco boilers.
    29Nov13

    Water Can Really Wow the Crowds

    We’ve covered a lot of ways water can have astonishing effects on your health and well-being. And it really is amazing what a little H2O can do.

    But this time, we’re going to do something a little different – we’ll look at the awesome power of water in nature.

    When we think of amazing natural sights, our minds’ eyes tend to picture land-based features like mountains, valleys and rainforests. Perhaps it’s because we’re land-dwelling animals.

    But add a bit of water to the mix, and you can turn that bland and boring cliff face into an effervescent, towering waterfall.

    On the subject of waterfalls, there can no greater sight than the natural brilliance of Niagara Falls. A collection of three waterfalls sat between the border of Canada and the United States. Such natural beauty and power has been a natural draw to areas such as the Niagara Falls for years, and will continue to amaze the crowds for years to come.

    Needless to say such natural delights have really wowed the crowds, but they have also influenced a number of manmade attractions too.

    The Trevi Fountain in Rome is a particularly famous water fountain, featuring an astonishing blend of designs and carvings. It is truly a majestic way to display a water feature, and has left tourists to the area speechless for many years.

    Possibly the most famous man made water display however, has to be the Bellagio Fountains in Las Vegas. Wowing the casino visitors with amazing shows almost every 30 minutes during the day and 15 minutes during the night, these water fountains offer a choreographed display like no other.

    • Latest news from Angel Springs, leading UK supplier of office water dispensers, bottled and mains-fed water coolers and eco boilers.

     

     

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    28Nov13

    Keeping Fresh and Hydrated On Flights

    We’ve all been there. Sitting halfway through a flight, and you start to get what can only be described as a dry, or furry mouth, much like when you wake up in the morning.

    The reason for this is simple enough – the humidity of the air in the cabin is very low. This means you may start to feel your nose and mouth getting quite dry, not to mention chapped lips and dry papery skin.

    Combating this dehydration is simple enough, though. All you have to do is make sure you drink plenty of fluids before jetting off, and maintain this level of fluid intake during the flight itself. Pick a balance between what you can drink, and what you can maintain – you don’t want any accidents whilst waiting for the seatbelt light to turn off!

    A trade secret when it comes to long haul flights is to drink coconut water before and after the flight, it gives you that extra level of hydration to complement the regular water.

    Other secrets to keeping you hydrated include the use of non-medicated eye drops for your eyes, and a non-medicated nasal spray for your nasal passages. This combination will help keep your nose and eyes from drying out.

    Unfortunately, as much as we might want to gulp them down to make the flight more manageable, or just to try and perk us up, alcohol and coffee are not a substitute for good old H2O if you want to stay fresh and hydrated.

    These tips can apply to long drives as well. If you’re in a car for a business trip you want to make sure you’re fresh for that meeting – of course you might have to forego things such as eye drops and nasal sprays while driving, but chances are the car journey will never be quite as long and dry as a flight!

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    27Nov13

    Remember To Top Up Your Water

    Whilst that certain date in November is forever drilled into adults and youngsters minds alike, thanks to the songs, fireworks and bonfires, there is something a lot more important for people to remember as we slip further into the winter months – drinking enough water.

    We might remember to wrap up warm as we stand watching the kids with their sparklers, hotdog and coffee in hand, but the colder weather doesn’t mean we can forget about getting enough water each day, oh no.

    In fact, as the nights grow gradually darker and the mornings ever colder, drinking plenty of water is just one of the ways in which you can help your body fight against the increased number of bugs, germs and colds floating around.

    After all water is great for keeping your immune system running ticking over efficiently, if you keep yourself well hydrated. It can also keep your detoxification systems running.

    Whilst people might frown over the prospect of cold water in winter, this can easily be solved by opting for warm water, graced with a bit of lemon or honey. A perfect trio of ingredients to tackle sore throats.

    Herbal teas are a great alternative to hot tea or coffee if you are looking to replace your regular morning brew.

    Winter months can also lead to dry skin, thankfully however water is also able to help add a level of moisture back to your skin.

    Water has plenty of benefits, even in the winter months. So if you want to have the wellbeing, energy and skin on a par with the brightest of firework shows, rather than simply being a bit of a damp squib this winter, then make sure you consume plenty of water.

    Latest news from Angel Springs, leading UK supplier of office water dispensers, bottled and mains-fed water coolers and eco boilers.

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    26Nov13

    Water is Essential for Exercise – Even in Winter

    If you’re into exercise and keeping fit, you’ll know that good health cannot simply be put on hold in the winter months – quite the contrary.

    Unlike many animals who take to hibernating in the winter, we humans can’t simply crawl into our beds until spring comes around – as much as many of us would no doubt like to do!

    Instead we have to endure the cold weather and keep marching on. Although having said that, many of us will of course be guilty of taking the lifting-mugs-to-our-mouths approach to exercise, possibly interspersed with the occasional trip to the kitchen or bathroom. Hardly strenuous.

    But for you brave souls who continue jogging or cycling each day, it is important to remember the importance of water, rather than those cups of coffee us not-so-committed types swear by, even in the winter months.

    When out in the searing heat of a summer day, we will soon end up feeling thirsty and reaching for the bottled water. But during the winter, although we may start to feel a little exhausted, we might not have the same immediate desire to quench our thirst.

    Despite not feeling that same need for refreshment, it is still vital to drink plenty of fluids however.

    If you do your exercise at the gym or swimming pool, you will obviously not have to worry about the cold. To get the best out of your workout, drink plenty of water before and after exercise.

    People going swimming to do their exercise in the winter months should also bear in mind they too need to drink plenty of water. It can be the last thing on your mind when you’re surrounded by the stuff, but don’t forget your H2O!

    • Latest news from Angel Springs, leading UK supplier of office water dispensers, bottled and mains-fed water coolers and eco boilers.

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    25Nov13

    Stay On the Ball This Winter With Plenty of Water

    Now we’re well into the winter, it is more important than ever to keep yourself well hydrated.

    The mornings are often dark and gloomy, and when you get ready to leave for home it is often the same as well, so keeping your energy levels high is important.

    There are a number of ways to combat this lull in work commitment. First of all, getting plenty of sleep is important – you will want to charge your batteries for the long day ahead. Similarly some exercise is handy, but one thing people often overlook is drinking plenty of water.

    Water has a lot of benefits. It helps your muscles get vital nutrients, keeps your skin moist – a particularly problematic issue in the dry winter months – lubricates the joints and even helps get all the good stuff delivered to your vital organs.

    If your workplace has a water cooler, you can make sure you keep yourself well hydrated by keeping a cup filled up. Every time it empties, just top it up.

    Of course, not everyone will fancy cold water as a drink when it’s quite chilly outside, so for those people it is possible to drink hot drinks instead. Unfortunately, you shouldn’t simply swap these out for coffee and tea, which can be calorific, and contain stimulants.

    If you are going to commit to drinking more water, you should drink green tea or a similar kind of herbal tea. This ensures you get the benefits of drinking water, but get a flavoursome warm drink too. Alternatively, just stick some lemon and a little honey in some hot water for a very healthy alternative to plain old water.

    Staying hydrated in the winter is a great way to keep yourself alert. Often you’ll find a little hunger pang you’re feeling is actually your body trying to tell you to drink more water. So keep yourself alert and help yourself get through the long slog of winter.

    • Latest news from Angel Springs, leading UK supplier of office water dispensers, bottled and mains-fed water coolers and eco boilers.

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