As another year in the capital whizzes by at lightning speed, we take a moment to pause and reflect on some of the top Office Break outings of 2017. From submerging myself in a floatation tank to exploring the foothills of the Himalayas, it’s been an action-packed year full of adventure.
Annapurna sanctuary trek in Nepal
As the acclaimed dish-du-jour of Japanese restaurant, Nobu, black cod miso is reserved for wealthy City workers. But for those who can’t afford to splurge £42.50 on a main course, why not learn to make this Asian foodie delight at home for a fraction of the cost? If you’re yearning to upgrade your culinary skills, Sozai Cooking School is now helpfully offering black cod miso cooking lessons after work.
learning to cook black cod with miso sauce at Sozai cooking school
A fun palace made out of giant inflatable Liquorice Allsorts is the first thing that springs to mind when I stumble across Villa Walala during my lunch break this week. A bold mirage in a sea of corporate glass and chrome, the villa invites you to fling off your work shoes and jump head first into this bouncy castle on steroids.
Sign post for Villa Walala, Exchequer Square, Broadgate
“Wouldn’t you prefer two weeks lying on the beach?” exclaimed my bemused work colleague on hearing that I had signed up to a two week trek to Nepal. Sipping cocktails while sinking my toes into warm sand versus slogging up mountains for days on end. It would seem he had a point. But deep down, I know that a beach holiday can never compare to the exhilaration of an adventure holiday. If you fancy shaking up your annual leave, here’s my top 5 reasons why you should swap the beach holiday for adventure this year.
Rob Empty beach sun loungers, Cuba
Tucked away on the south coast of Wales lies a land of golden beaches, winding coastal paths and shady forests. Having just signed up for a trek to Nepal in November, I decided it was time to venture out of the South East and explore new hiking territory in the Gower Peninsula – one of the most remote and un-spoilt corners of the UK.
Hiking across Oxwich beach in the Gower Peninsula, South Wales
Selling a record-breaking £75 billion bricks in 2016, Lego is officially the world’s most popular brand. Such is its popularity that Lego mini figures now outnumber humans on the planet. Staggered by its enduring appeal, I went to visit the Lego Headquarters to find out how this plastic fantastic trend translates into their workplace design. As cool office spaces go – this one was a brick too far.
Looking down on the spiral staircase at the London Lego HQ
Second only to a salary increase, working from home is one of the top perks that office workers look for in a new job. Sadly only 6% of jobs advertise this benefit. But if you’re one of the lucky few who can kiss goodbye to the commute, how do you cope with this new found freedom? Here’s my top 5 tips to getting the most from working from home.
mo1229 knitted sock monkey slippers
Deviating from my usual route to work this week, I decided to venture out of the Square Mile to the hipster enclave of Shoreditch. Better known for its beards and skinny jeans, it’s also home to an explosive graffiti art scene where skulls, starfish and eagles scream out from derelict buildings.
Graffiti art on Sclater Street in Shoreditch, London
Tucked away below the City’s high-rise monoliths is the Bevis Marks Synagogue. Dating back three hundred years, it is Britain’s first ever Jewish house of worship. Retaining all of its original features, it’s a hidden gem that passes most office workers by as they scurry to and from the Gherkin. Intrigued, I popped along during my lunch break to take a look.
Front entrance at the Bevis Marks Synagogue in the City of London
With the dreaded end of year appraisals under way, now’s the time to reflect on your year’s achievements. Did you get everything done that you wanted to? Or were there certain tasks that remained neglected all year? To mark Work Wise Week 2017 , we’ve come up with 5 easy ways to boost your productivity at work. If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you always got, so now’s the time to grab the bull by the horns and turbo-charge your work efficiency in 2017.
Dean Hochman Post-it notes