by Fern Shaw | Mar 19, 2020 | Water, water cooler
If you’re used to the buzz and busy of the office, school or workspace, adjusting to working from home can take some getting used to. Here are a few practical tips guaranteed to keep the productivity up and you on track:
Tidy up your home – you wouldn’t work in an untidy environment elsewhere so it should be the same at home.
Don’t work from your bed on your laptop. That route is a guaranteed non-starter.
Dress as if you’re off to work. No pj’s at your desk.
Create a defined workspace, if possible in a separate room and if you aren’t home alone, close the door.
Get up as early as you would have if you were still commuting to work. Use that commute time (unless you’re under quarantine) to go for a walk. The exercise and fresh air will contribute to your feeling of well-being and being prepared for the day ahead.
If you have pets that enjoy walks, walk them – they will benefit from the exercise as much as you will.
Invest in a decent chair (or borrow yours from the office if permitted).
If your type of work allows and/or your family/children are home, wear headphones.
Make sure your family and friends understand you are working, so no popping in during working hours.
Don’t snack at your ‘desk’. Eat proper meals at designated times away from your work area.
As always, maintain good hydration habits. Although you may not have the convenience of water cooler breaks at home, make sure that you replenish your water as often as you would at work. Good hydration habits can only contribute to your health and well-being.
Set a schedule and stick to it.
Unless you work in social media, stay off it. That said, there’s no harm in creating an online work community so you are all still connected.
Do not switch on the telly. I repeat, do not switch on the telly.
by Fern Shaw | Mar 10, 2020 | water boiler, water cooler
Now that March has arrived, it would be nice to believe that spring isn’t too far off (and it isn’t that far as the new season arrives officially on the 20th of March).
As we Britons are used to radical weather patterns whatever the season, it’s no surprise that the topic remains at the forefront of our communication. Whether (ha) we’re topping up our water at the water cooler station at work i.e. chatting to colleagues (not the water cooler, although should you wish to, please, feel free – even a water cooler can benefit from some attention) or chatting with family or friends or indeed, speaking to strangers.
Irrespective of our opinion about the topic of the weather, there is no denying it has a huge impact on our behavioural patterns; moods; what we eat; our travel patterns; what we wear and what we drink.
Although we may not think about how different our drinking water patterns are depending on our environment, they very much are. When it’s warmer we tend to exert ourselves more and are always on the lookout for the perfectly chilled water, while come the colder months there’s nothing better than a piping hot drink to stave off the chill. This usually means you are more likely to be on the lookout for a hot water boiler that can dispense a constant supply of hot water throughout the day.
If you’re prone to drink more water when it’s warm and less when it’s cold – a gentle reminder that you’re just as likely to become dehydrated in winter as you are in summer, so remember, whatever the weather, make sure to have AquAid address all your hot & cold water cooler requirements. We are always happy to help.
by Fern Shaw | Feb 25, 2020 | water cooler
While the weather seems determined to keep our pursuits indoors for the foreseeable future, it may be time to refresh suitable topics of conversation to chat about while you’re on a break out at your water cooler station with your colleagues.
Tech: comparing notes about the latest upgrade of your mobile – the eternal question, iPhone or Android – acceptable. A 20-minute stand-off insisting that your brand of tech is better than that of your colleague’s – less acceptable. Plus, raising your blood pressure when you’re supposed to be upping your hydration levels is counter-intuitive.
Architecture: Always a good option. Irrespective of the periods: from the majesty of St. Pauls or the stalwart croft dwellings of the Outer Hebrides, architecture is always a good reminder of how nation building is achieved.
Health & Fitness: Can be tricky, especially if a person is prone to boasting about their weight-lifting prowess or how their bodies were made for Aerial Fabrics however, it can also introduce a more sedentary colleague to a new form of exercise that they may not previously have considered.
International sporting events: Only if you are all rooting for Team GB or any competitor representing the UK.
Media: Again, potentially iffy. Whereas you and a few stalwarts may find it fascinating to give minute by minute examples of why the last season of Game of Thrones was so awful, this may not appeal to everyone and there will be (unbelievably) many who have no idea about the series …’Winter is what?’ Try keeping it more inclusionary – ‘Garden Rescue’ or ‘The Great British Bake Off’ are usually safe bets.
Now that you’ve hit topic refresh on your refresh your drinking water intake time, why not make a beeline to your office water cooler and try out a new topic of discussion about any of the above? At worst you will be upping your hydration levels and at best increasing your knowledge and exercising your brain in a most pleasant and engaging manner.
by Fern Shaw | Feb 12, 2020 | water cooler, Water Coolers
There’s no doubt the day can instil an equal amount of horror and dread in many, so for Valentine’s this year, we have come up with an (almost) fool-proof plan that will not only be kind to your pocket but will also make your intended view you in a more rosy coloured light.
What is this trickery you may well ask? What cunning plan is percolating at AquAid?
As with most successful concepts, the trick(ery) is in the simplicity. So, without further ado we present our ‘How to (almost) guarantee a good reaction from your intended romantic target’:
Drink water more.
Before you leave the page in disbelief, allow us to elaborate:
Your skin is an organ. As with all your body’s organs, in order to function at its best, your skin requires water.
Reduce puffiness. Our skin will swell most often because of water retention, usually due to dehydration, where the body retains water to protect itself. Unless you’re aiming for the sympathy vote, puffy does not equate to attractive.
Dry, itchy, flaky skin can indicate a lack of hydration. It’s always good practise to keep our skin washed and clean, but without feeding our skin internally by drinking enough water, it is unlikely that the skin’s appearance will improve.
Reduces sagging skin and wrinkles. Drinking more water helps tighten your skin, as it provides more elasticity and the ability to bounce back from sagging.
Conclusion: when you hydrate properly, your skin plumps up and becomes smoother and brighter.
The final bonus to this amazing plan is how easy it is to action, especially if you have an AquAid Water Cooler installed at your work place.
Include a visit to your water cooler station when you are taking that much needed break.
Replenish your drinking water often.
If straight H2O is a little too much to contemplate, not to worry – your AquAid hot water dispenser will keep you filled to the brim with whatever hot water drink you might fancy.
In addition, in no time at all, you will be smooth skinned, clear-eyed and bursting with good energy – just in time for your intended to take note of how truly gorgeous you are!
by Fern Shaw | Feb 12, 2020 | Uncategorized
As we pile on the layers, wrap up warmly, turn up the heat and miss the usual thirst signals, it’s understandable that we may believe that we need to drink less water than we would when it’s warmer.
The exact opposite is true though.
Expelling water vapour means you’re dehydrating. Although we aren’t sweating as much, our bodies lose moisture in other ways – a clear indication is the water vapour we puff out from our nose and mouth when we’re outside in the cold.
Exercise as much as you do when it’s warmer. If you’re experiencing mid-afternoon slump or need a serious shot of caffeine post lunch to stave off feeling fatigue, you are most likely already dehydrated. We function more slowly when dehydrated, to avoid this, maintain regular hydration habits: at the very least ensuring that you’re drinking water throughout the day. As when it’s warmer, treat the water cooler at your premises as your new best friend, visit often and replenish your water. By keeping moving and active, you’re helping your body function better.
Keeping winter hydrated helps your body’s immune system. Another factor of dehydration is the weakening of our immune system barriers: the mucous membranes in our lungs and sinus passages can dry out, thereby reducing their resistance to infections. By keeping ourselves properly hydrated, we can better ensure that the barriers used to protect our bodies from colds and flu remains intact and functioning properly.
Stave off winter weight gain. The temptation to hibernate is (understandably) strong during dark days and cold nights. Sadly, we’re not bears and we don’t get to sleep through winter living off the fat we’ve accumulated through the summer months. Ignore the instinct to reach for the comfort food – at the very least, drink a glass of water before your next meal. Our brain often mistakes thirst for hunger, which means that after drinking water, not only will that hunger trigger be satisfied, but you will also be a little better hydrated.
When the temperatures plummet, it is not as difficult to maintain hydration levels as one would think – in fact, with AquAid, your options to up your water intake increase quite a bit. We offer a range of high quality hot and cold water coolers; hot water dispensers; hot water boilers and Instant Taps: tailor-made to suit all your hydration requirements – whatever the weather.
