Proving more than a mere flash in the pan, Pancake Day has endured since the
15th century. Providing a spot of light relief before the privations of Lent, what better excuse to indulge in some wanton Nutella indulgence. Never missing a treat, London’s office workers have also got in on the act with pancake races taking place across the capital. Grabbing my frying pan, I nipped down to London Bridge during my lunch break to catch a slice of the action.
Office Breaks Better Bankside Pancake race
Creativity, spontaneity, playfulness and relaxation are just a few of the fringe benefits of the hot new trend in mindful colouring. With a 300% increase in sales of adult colouring books in Waterstones last year, it’s clear that doodling’s not just for kids. Capable of slotting into even the most meagre lunch break, could mindful colouring de-stress me from more grown-up PowerPoint pursuits? Packing my felt tips in my work bag, I prepared myself for a mindful lunch break filled with whirls and swirls.
Office Breaks Mindful colouring
Following my last forays to Sculpture in the City and Covent Garden’s mass balloon invasion, I was intrigued to hear that trees had taken root overnight in the Royal Academy’s majestic Annenburg Courtyard. Providing much needed solace in the traffic clogged chaos of Piccadilly, Ai Weiwei’s Tree also offers the perfect lunch break sanctuary away from the stress of the working day. Intrigued, I slipped away from my desk to go and explore.
Office Breaks Ai Weiwei Tree
One of the things I love most about working in London is the amazing art installations that suddenly pop up out of nowhere to startle us out of our daily routines. Who would have guessed that the 19th century Covent Garden market would be suddenly taken over by a mass balloon invasion? Blown away by the prospect of witnessing 100,000 giant white balloons, I popped along during my lunch break to find out if it was all just a lot of hot air.
Office Breaks Heartbeat Charles Petillon
As we get stuck back into the working routine this week, in the desert wilderness of Nevada, tens of thousands of citizens are getting to work on building their own creative metropolis. Dedicated to community, art, self-reliance and self-expression, Burning Man has captured the global imagination with its jaw-dropping installations, burning effigies and free-spirited vibe. If you can’t get away from your desk to join them, you can catch a glimpse of the highlights at the Lights of Soho art gallery and member’s lounge.
NK Guy photography Art of Burning Man
How often do you notice the area you work in? Caught up in the frantic rush of getting to and from work on time, we barely register our surroundings. But while we’re dashing in and out of revolving doors; sprouting up amidst the sky-scrapers of the Square Mile are some of the world’s most cutting-edge pieces of contemporary art. Featuring leading names such as the legendary Damien Hirst and America’s Bruce Beasley, Sculpture in the City aims to enhance our urban environment and make us see our work environment from a fresh perspective.
Office Breaks Damien Hirst, Charity
As a champion of tiny museums, I was delighted to stumble across the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Gallery on my way to a meeting. Telling the tale of Britain’s first female doctor and founder of London’s first women’s hospital, the pint-sized gallery proved an inspirational lunch break find.
Office Breaks The Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Gallery
Adopted by global giants: Deutsche Bank, Apple and Astra Zeneca, mindfulness is the latest buzzword sweeping through offices. Claiming to improve memory and performance, reduce stress and lower blood pressure, the simple act of becoming aware in the present moment, is set to revolutionise the way we work. If you fancy giving it a whirl, here are my top four tried-and-tested techniques which take no more than ten minutes in your lunch break.
Office Breaks Mindfulness
Love them or loath them, there’s no denying that beards have sprouted back into fashion over the last few years. Once the preserve of homestead hill-billies, they’re now as likely to be sported in the boardroom as they are down on the pig farm. Combed and coiffed into submission, today’s facial topiary bears no resemblance to the mutton chops of yesteryear. Hot in pursuit of the new hursuit trend, I popped down to Beard at Somerset House to put in some face time.
Office Breaks BEARD
In the frantic rush of the working week, do your find yourself mindlessly munching on the same things week-in, week-out? In a bid to widen my culinary horizons, I left my desk for a lunch time browse around Borough Market. Brimming with home-grown and far-flung bounty, London’s millennial market is the perfect place to seek out wholesome products while also treating myself to a little of what I fancy. From breakfast al-desko through to post-work tipples, here’s a few of my top recommendations.
Office Breaks Borough Market Vegetable stall