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So many of us spend most of our working lives being sedentary – Every. Single. Day. From the commute to work in the morning – spent sitting in our car or on public transport, to sitting behind our desk, to commuting home again on the train or in our cars before finally plonking ourselves down on the couch in front of the tv and then jumping into bed. Not a lot of time spent being active, is there?

While it is important to stay active while working a desk job, sometimes it’s hard to motivate ourselves when our days seem to drag on forever. Living a sedentary lifestyle can lead to all sorts of health problems – including obesity, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, anxiety and depression. The World Health Organisation advises that engaging in regular physical activity – specifically 150 minutes spread throughout the week – can help reduce your risk of being overweight or obese.

We’ve put together four ways that you can stay active while working in an office, so you can rack up 150 minutes each week!

 

1. Join a gym

*Cue internal groaning* Ok, ok we know – joining the gym usually only seems like a good idea when we want to make a new year’s resolution, or our pants feel a little bit tight, but joining a gym can actually be fun! Hear us out – signing up for a gym membership doesn’t always mean you have to go to walk aimlessly on a treadmill for hours, or to pump weights next to body builders (but hey, if that’s your cup of tea – go for it!) There are plenty of different options depending on which gym you sign up for, including group exercise classes, swimming, meditation, yoga, reformer pilates and so much more.

If you find a gym you like, you can also talk to the staff about working one on one or in a small group to do some personal training, where you will be able to work with a trainer who targets your specific needs, provide dietary advice and can help answer any questions you have.

If you’d rather give a presentation to a room full of serious board members than walk through the doors of a gym, try signing up with a friend or partner to make you feel a bit more comfortable.

 

2. Invest in a fit ball

Fit ball? More like SIT BALL! Investing in a fit ball for your desk instead of a normal office chair is a small way to keep your body active without you even realising and encourages something called “active sitting”. Sitting on a fit ball for up to 20 minutes a day can help to activate your core, improve your posture and increase your energy expenditure due to the ball prompting frequent position shifts.

However, while using these balls in place of an office chair can promote active sitting, experts warn against using a fit ball full time in the office. Body Smart Health Solutions advise that our postural muscles fatigue quickly, and most people have a maximum of up to 20 minutes before these muscles get too challenged. Once they are fatigued, many of us tend to slouch or recruit larger muscle groups for postural stability which can lead to dysfunctional muscle recruitment patterns being established. So while a fit ball is great for engaging different muscle groups, remember that it shouldn’t be a permanent alternative for a good office chair.

 

3. Walking meetings

In your Monday morning team meeting, why don’t you try taking it outside? Departmental brainstorming? Hit the pavement! For many corporate jobs (depending on your role) your day can often be moving from one desk to another as you shuffle between meetings. The next time you have a meeting, why not go for a walk and have it outside? Walking meetings are becoming increasingly popular within corporate environments, as they promote activity while still being productive at work. Besides this, the fresh air can sometimes spark some new ideas instead of the stale office air, as studies show that walking increases creative output by up to 60%.

It is important to note that if you are going to run a walking meeting, you will need to give your staff the heads up. There would be nothing worse than being told you have to walk around in 6-inch heels on a small outdoor trail, or not bringing a warm enough jacket on a windy day! Additionally, it pays to have an agenda written up beforehand, so you know exactly what you need to discuss during the meeting, and a plan on how you are going to take notes if needed. A great way is to take voice memos, or even record the whole session so you can listen back later.

 

4. Desk stretches and exercise breaks

A study done by Fitness Coach Nicole Crawford talks to the fact that even for desk workers who are doing an hour of exercise a day, this isn’t enough when the rest of your day is spent sitting at a desk, not moving. Depending on your job, it might not be fully feasible to get up every half an hour, but Nicole recommends that every 30 minutes of sitting needs to be combatted with 5 minutes of standing. Standing and stretching can be a better way to go too, as it allows you to stretch your muscles and shake out any tension you’ve been holding.
If you work with a small team, perhaps introducing a morning and afternoon 5-minute stretch can be a fun activity that you can all do together. It might feel a bit silly at first, but we promise the more frequently you do it, the better you’ll feel! You can also do other small exercises at work, such as leg raises at your desk, squats in the kitchen while waiting for the kettle to boil, calf raises up the stairs and choosing to take the stairs over the lift where you can – even if it’s only a few floors!

We spoke to Owner and Founder of Aptitude Fitness Centre, Sophie Froidevaux, about how to stay active at work and she has kindly shared her top tips:

Park further away from your office or train station so you can get some steps in to start the day.

If you have to take a long phone call, get up and walk around.

Utilise things such as stand-up desks, fit balls, moving meetings outside, or taking the stairs over the lift.

Get outside on your lunch break and get those steps up!

Take team meetings and team building events and make them physical or set up a step challenge in the office.

Set goals so you have something to work towards.

Keep exercise fun and enjoyable so you look forward to doing it.

We asked Sophie if she had any other advice for office workers. “Get a gym buddy and just go – you’ll never look back and will hold each other accountable. Gyms aren’t as intimidating as you think and if you are unfit – perfect. You’ll be exactly where you need to be.”

Sometimes it may seem tough to stay active while working a desk job, but while sedentary behaviour can soon become an unwanted pattern, it can just as easily be replaced by healthier, more active habits!

With all the accessibility afforded to us by technology, it’s easy to still be caught up at work even after leaving the office. There are many factors that have folks putting in 50-hour or even 65-hour work weeks, both at work and at home: fears of job loss, financial pressure, or struggling to meet the expectations of colleagues. However, the compounding stress of your job along with a lack of downtime can damage your health. Prioritising your work over your personal life can also hurt your relationships as well as your physical and mental wellbeing. The best preventative measure against burnout is a healthy work-life balance. This can look different for different people, but the following tips could put you on the path to finding harmony between your personal and professional lives.

Finding Balance At Work

Time management: Minimise disruptions and limit time-wasting activities and people by becoming strict with your daily schedule that is built around your personal and professional priorities. Don’t be afraid to limit time-wasting activities and conversations either. You are allowed to politely excuse yourself from a conversation with the office chatterbox or bow out of going out for drinks after work in favour of getting a decent night’s sleep.

 

Reduce email access: Your daily habit of checking your email first thing in the morning may be hurting your productivity throughout the day. You may have walked into work knowing what you wanted to accomplish that day, only to have those plans derailed the minute you got a look at your inbox. Rather block off an hour or two later in the day to review and respond to emails. This will allow you to get the most out of your mornings without burning out by lunchtime.

 

Learn to say no: There more responsibilities you commit to, the more people will believe you can take on. It’s alright to admit to your boss or even to yourself that you already have a lot on your plate and have to decline managing that team or starting on yet another project. There is certainly a time when going the extra mile pays off, but these commitments should never be made at the expense of your health and personal relationships.

 

Exercise/meditation: Exercise is a sure-fire way to reduce your stress as it pours endorphins into your system, while putting your mind into a meditative state. The happy hormones and oxygenated blood rushing through your brain can help you solve issues that you’ve been grappling with all day. So, try jogging up the stairs in your office building or start a lunchtime walking group with some of your coworkers. If you don’t have the time or space to get in a proper workout, consider trying some exercises that can be done at your desk or simply take five minutes to meditate or practice deep breathing at your desk.

Balancing Life Outside Of The Office

Healthy living: Stick to a predominantly Mediterranean Diet – emphasising fresh fruit and vegetables and lean proteins – which promotes brain health and physical stamina. Getting enough sleep can do much of the same, so avoid electronic devices like phones and tablets before bed, and aim to get a full eight hours when you can.

 

Leave work at work: Whether you’re telecommuting or simply expected to jump for your boss outside of work, an expectation of constant accessibility can make the work day seem unending. Constant phone notifications can take you out of a personal moment and leave you stressed about issues at work that shouldn’t be a problem until you’re back in the office where you can actually do something about them. So, shut off your phone and allow real quality time for the things that matter in your personal life – family, friends, hobbies.

 

Dedicate time to having fun: Be intentional about your quality time and schedule activities (or even complete inactivity) that you enjoy, whether with friends or on your own. Spend time on a hobby that builds you up or discover a fun, new pastime. Even better, find a hobby you can do with a friend, your partner or your family, like hiking or dancing.

 

Volunteer: While you should be careful not to overschedule yourself, performing random acts of kindness and selective volunteering may reduce your sense of burnout and improve your social and emotional wellbeing. By giving back to your community, you are reminded of the things you are grateful for in your own life and can feel more connected within the community you’re serving.

 

Get the most out of your free time so you can put in that extra energy at work when it counts.

The Industrial Revolution, which rumbled to life in the mid-1700s, gave the world a number of handy inventions, such as steam engines, that improved the lives of many. However, this doesn’t mean the employment ethics had developed alongside the inventions that enabled the joys and benefits of mass production. Since the new technology meant there was no longer a need for skilled tradesmen, the many labourers were easy to abuse and replace. Men, women and even children, who worked in factories and mines, were treated miserably by their employers and had little to no recourse if they should be injured on the job or unfairly dismissed. If you think you hate your job, think again! Here are some of the woeful working conditions suffered by the people of the Industrial Revolution.

Low Wages

You did not need a high-level education to work the steam-powered machines at the time and even the most skilled tradesmen struggled to compete with the speed and efficiency of the mechanised assembly line processes. As such, employers could get away with employing largely unskilled workers, whom they would pay abominably low wages. Women could expect to earn only half, if not a third, of a man’s wages and children earned even less for the same number of hours worked (anywhere between twelve and sixteen hours each day). Due to the fact that there were droves of desperate people flooding urban areas looking for work, employers had a massive labour pool to draw from and could set their wages as low as they liked.

Occupational Hazards

During the Industrial Revolution, most people worked in obscenely dangerous environments. Machinery in those days didn’t have safety covers or fences and children were often used to clean them, since they were often the only workers small enough to reach the innermost parts of the machines. There was very little sunlight in the factories and whatever light was present was choked out by the smoke from the steam-powered machines. The smoke from the coal-fed machinery, aside from covering factory workers in soot, would also cause eye and lung problems. Things were much worse for children in these work environments. The lack of sunlight and exercise outside of their work caused many young children to develop physical deformities and stunt their growth. Young girls were made to pull carts of coal out of the mines, which would deform their pelvises and led to many deaths during childbirth. Like these long-term health issues, accidents were just as common.

No Sick Leave

You would think factory owners would at least compensate their employees for working under these dangerous conditions. No such luck! You see, the benefit of employing low-skilled workers from a massive labour pool meant that your employees were in every way expendable. If you, as a worker, were injured on the job or were otherwise unable to work, you would likely be dismissed (aka fired) immediately without pay. Employers were also not obliged to pay their employees’ medical expenses for any injuries sustained at work.

All Work, No Play

A typical work environment of the Industrial Revolution was very fast-paced and centred around production. Chatter between the workers on the factory floor was strongly discouraged and anyone hoping to take some time off to visit their family in the country was hoping in vain. There were no breaks allowed outside of an hour-long break each day. Any child caught sleeping on the job – and after working sixteen-hour days, who could blame them? – would be beaten. How’s that for an office culture?

Lack Of Rights

At the time of the Industrial Revolution, the political ideology of the day prevented the government from interfering in the operations of private businesses. This meant that employers were quite free to make use of child labour, pay terribly low wages, and abandon any employees who were injured or deemed unfit to work. The overall abuse of workers eventually led to the introduction of child labour and minimum wage laws, as well as the formation of labour unions, which sought to combat the long hours for low pay and force employers to take responsibility for employees, who were injured as a result of their poor work environment. However, these labour unions would often fail due to the fact that many workers were still willing to work, despite the unfair treatment.

 

So, to recap: If you were working during the Industrial Revolution, you would be earning next to nothing, working in dangerous conditions that could easily lead to injury and long-term health problems, you could be dismissed at a whim and couldn’t do anything about any of it.

 

Say it with me now: “I love my job.”

The average person spends up to a third of their life at work. This means that they probably see more of their co-workers than they do their own families. Most companies are often too preoccupied with putting on a happy face for their customers to ensure their employees are genuinely happy in their work and this can negatively affect productivity, work ethic, and social interactions between co-workers. So, wouldn’t it make sense to make the office a home away from home, full of people, who feel free to speak their mind and be more willing to contribute to the growth and innovation of the company?

 

You don’t have to reinvent the wheel in terms of your current office culture. If anything, a 180-degree switch-up would probably leave more people unsettled. Speak with your employees, find out what is working and look to enhance those aspects with some small changes. You’ll be amazed at the change you’ll see in your employees’ work ethic and productivity. Here are five things that promote a positive office culture.

Think of your employees’ health

Unsurprisingly, it is pretty difficult for an unhealthy employee to contribute to a positive workplace culture. Employee wellness – physical, mental, emotional – has had a big role to play in recent years, so much so that it is unimaginable for a company to not have even a first aid kit on the premises, if not some special rates with a medical aid as part of the employees’ benefits. While not at the cost of the organisation’s professionalism, a company should encourage a healthy amount of self-care. For example, supply your employees with information on how to deal with anxiety or tricks for getting a full night’s sleep. Some organisations even go so far as to allow for employees to take the odd five-minute break to stretch their legs or get in a quick workout.

Give your employees a purpose

Meaning and purpose do more to inspire commitment and innovation in a working environment than almost any other factor. Now, more than ever, a great deal of job satisfaction hinges upon a work culture that is built around core values that are attractive to employees and which are expressed in a clear and compelling mission statement. A clear idea of how an employee’s efforts can make a positive impact on the organisation and its clients is guaranteed to motivate them to go the extra mile. When goals are positively reinforced by recognising  employees’ achievements, they can have a noticeably positive impact on the attitudes of your colleagues.

Provide clear goals and incentives

Aside from the company’s overall mission statement and vision, a clear set of achievable goals for each team within the organisation can give individual employees a better idea of their priorities and where they can innovate and improve on already existing processes. These measurable performance indicators, along with a transparent policy on how to progress or be promoted within the organisation, will also ensure that all employees are treated equally and can benefit from healthy competition, which breeds new ideas and closer cooperation within the different teams or departments.

Encourage positive social connections

When it comes to forging healthy workplace connections, the right attitude is gratitude, so congratulate your employees on a job well done or thank them for going above and beyond on a project. Any work environment can get rushed and tensions can run high; it’s important to check those heated feelings before communicating with your colleagues, especially when you are called to give constructive criticism (“constructive” being the operative word). To really create an environment of comradery amongst your employees and team members, treat your colleagues to the occasional lunch, or do something special on a national celebration. Your company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) policy could include a work day once a year or once a month, on which colleagues commit to an act of community service.

Empower social initiators

Some people have a natural talent for bringing out the best in people, whether they are cheering up someone in a bad space or encouraging another person to pull out all the stops in a project. These are individuals, who best embody the ideals of your company’s mission statement. Identify them and encourage these employees to keep their colleagues feeling motivated and included.

 

Never underestimate the impact of a positive office culture. A warm, friendly and overall positive work environment can create a powerful sense of loyalty and ownership in your employees, driving them to dedicate more time and effort to the goals of the business. An effective leader recognises the importance of rewarding hard work by his or her employees by creating an environment where progress is celebrated, and teamwork grows innovation.

Imagine your job involved making a sale in only 7 seconds. What if I told you this is in fact the case every time you meet someone new? A first impression is typically formed within 7 seconds of meeting someone. And the real trick? Most of this 7-second sales pitch happens with little to no talking. Speech only makes up 20-30% of the conversation, but it is effective non-verbal communication that really gets people’s attention. In other words, there may be more to the old maxim of “actions speak louder than words” than you think. So, what can you do to make your first impression count without saying a word?

1. Smile

While much of the specifics of non-verbal communication can vary in each culture, facial expressions appear to be more or less universal. Most people can recognise facial expressions linked to happiness, sadness, anger, and fear at a glance and from this, can guess the mood you might be in when you talk to them. Going in with a smile lets the other person know that you are happy to speak with them and open to what they have to say.

2. Stand up straight

Your posture can tell the other person a lot about your emotions, attitude, and intentions. A “closed” posture (i.e. arms folded, legs crossed, body turned slightly away from the other person) can indicate discomfort or disinterest, while an “open” posture (i.e. directly facing the other person, with one’s hands resting on the arms of the chair) can help the person you’re talking to feel more relaxed themselves. This open posture tells the other person that you are, not only open to hearing what they have got to say, but very interested in what they are saying. Leaning toward the speaker slightly is another way of saying (without speaking), “Please, tell me more.”.

3. Look the other person in the eye

There can be a fine balance to eye-contact in a conversation: frequently breaking eye-contact indicates disinterest and can make the conversation stilted, while eye-contact that is too intense tells the other person that you are trying too hard or possibly that you’re lying. That said, eye-contact is more likely to be continuous, when one is listening rather than speaking. Once a person has said all they wish to say, they may look directly at the other person to indicate that the floor is theirs. On the other hand, if a person is determined not to be interrupted, they may avoid eye-contact while speaking.

4. Be good with your hands

While fiddling with your hair, collar, sleeves or jewellery can give the impression of low confidence and nervousness, certain hand gestures used in a conversation can get people to pay more attention to what you are saying. That said, be purposeful in how you use your hands in a conversation; use them only emphasise certain points of your speech or discussion, not to compensate for a lack of important or interesting information. Some examples of effective hand gestures to compliment your speaking include:

• Listing important points on your fingers.
• Use your hands and fingers to indicate increasing or decreasing amounts.
• Gesturing to yourself or someone else (some sneaky life coaches suggest subtly indicating to yourself when talking about something positive).
• Use your hands to indicate separate ideas or sides.
• Hold your hands at a 45-degree angle with the palms facing to tell the other person that you are speaking honestly.

5. Be a snappy dresser

Your choice in colour, hairstyle and clothing can say as much about you as the rest of your verbal and non-verbal communication. Dressing appropriately and grooming well makes a good impression on any occasion. On the other hand, showing up in a mismatched ensemble and greasy hair can send the message that you are unable, or at worst unwilling, to take responsibility for your own well-being. While some companies do make allowances for casual dress in the workplace, these same companies may also prefer you to put your best foot forward when meeting with clients. So, put a consistent grooming routine in place and get yourself a wardrobe full of office-appropriate work wear. They say, “clothes make the man,” and with the wide selection of professional styles available on Clothing Direct, you can speak volumes without saying a word.

 

A final word of advice: communication ultimately exists as a sum of its parts. You cannot look at any of the aforementioned forms of non-verbal communication on their own. Nevertheless, keep an eye out for these non-verbal cues to gauge how well your own are being received. Bring these tips, plus an upgraded work wardrobe, into your next meeting and you are sure to nail it in the first 7 seconds.

The invention of high-visibility clothing (a.k.a. Hi-Vis clothing) has been life-changing (and for many, life-saving). This category of safety wear has been a standard part of the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for uniforms at many an airport and construction site, amongst other work environments. As the name suggests, hi-vis clothing increases the visibility of workers, who may be exposed to hazardous situations under both day and evening low-light conditions. From warning signs to traffic cones, the bright yellow/orange/green neon hues have become a common feature in day to day life. However, it may surprise you to learn that safety had not been the original purpose for this type of clothing, but rather it went through a gradual transformation over the last century into this final, more practical incarnation.

The makings of a bright future

The evolution of high-visibility clothing started with the broken dreams of one Bob Switzer in 1930’s California. A young Bob suffered a critical head injury in an industrial accident, which put him in a coma and cost him his dream of becoming a doctor. After waking from his coma, doctors told him that his vision was damaged and that he should stay in a dark room until he recovered.

 

As it happened, Bob’s brother, Joe, who was an amateur magician, had been experimenting with florescent chemicals for his act and used them to entertain Bob during his convalescence. Once he recovered, Bob continued to experiment with these chemicals, combining them with wood varnish in his own bathtub. Before long, Bob and Joe had developed the world’s first florescent paint, which they christened “Day-Glo” for its glowing appearance in daylight. Bob could also be credited with the invention of the first piece of hi-vis clothing, since at one stage, he elected to paint his wife’s wedding dress with his luminescent paint. I’m sure he must have had a very comfortable couch at home.

 

Under the name “The Day-Glo Brothers”, Bob and Joe brought their invention to magic and stage shows, and marketed their product for use in movie posters.

High-visibility technology in World War 2

In the wake of the Second World War, the U.S. Government found plenty of use for the Day-Glo Brother’s invention. Its application increased soldier visibility and reduced the instances of friendly fire. Additionally, the paint was used on fabric panels to send signals from the ground recognisable at great distances in the air. Aircraft crewmen wore florescent suits and held ultraviolet lamps as they directed pilots. Areas of ocean that had been scanned for floating explosives were demarcated by buoys that had been painted with the hardy hi-vis paint.

Lighting up the world

After the second World War, hi-vis clothing was introduced in the United Kingdom and was mainly worn by Glaswegian railway maintenance workers in the beginning. Seeing how effective this safety wear proved in this context, the popularity of this workwear exploded – particularly after the introduction of the 1974 Health and Safety At Work Act and the Personal Protective Equipment At Work regulations of 1992, which placed legal safeguards on those industries operating in potentially hazardous environments.

 

Findings from a U.S. study in 1981 further promoted the use of this clothing in other contexts of both work and leisure. The study found that two-thirds of crashes between motorcycles and cars occurred when motorists failed to see an approaching bike. This inspired a number of safety campaigns urging both cyclists and pedestrians alike to wear the brightest clothing possible to minimise the risk of collisions.

 

In other parts of the U.K., hi-vis vests have been used in “walking busses”, large groups of children walking to school together. In other parts of Europe, like France and Italy, these vests and other hi-vis clothing have become even more prevalent, with cyclists obliged to wear them after dusk and motorists storing hi-vis clothing in their cars in case of a breakdown. In 2008, iconic fashion designer, Karl Lagerfeld, even appeared in an awareness campaign to promote the use of the safety vests, saying, “It’s yellow. It’s ugly. It doesn’t go with anything, but it could save your life.”

Get affordable Hi-Vis clothing for your business

While arguably not the most fashionable item of clothing, these bright, synthetic clothing items have indeed done their part to reduce road accidents. If you ride a motorbike or bicycle, you’ll want to be seen on the roads. If you are a parent, you want to make sure drivers are aware of your children. Protect your family and friends on the road, and colleagues and employees on the job with effective and affordable hi-vis clothing from ClothingDirect.com.au’s vast range of offerings.

Valentine’s Day, or at least its origins, has been a long debated topic for a while now. There is no clear-cut documentation stating that the 14^th of Feb shall here forth be declared the day of love, no questions asked. Valentine’s traditions as we know them are filled with lavish dinners for two, flowers, chocolates and cute cuddly stuffed animals. But, did you know the origins of the day of love are a little darker than the light-hearted, fluffy holiday we celebrate now? Read on below for a few, blow-by-blow accounts on how Valentine’s Day has been celebrated through the ages.

Meanwhile, Back In The Roman Empire…

During the age of the Roman Empire, the time frame that Valentines Day falls on now used to be quite a different celebration indeed. From the 13^th to the 15^th of February, the Romans would celebrate the festival of Lupercalia. In this pagan festival, the guys would hit on the girls by quite literally hitting them. You see, this festival saw the young men of Rome strip naked and give an animal sacrifice to the Gods above. They would then take a whip and beat the young women of the village in hopes of making them more fertile. Whilst this may sound barbaric to the feminist movement of today, young woman would actually line up, hoping for their bodies to be blessed with virtue through this questionable practice. The next time you want to complain about where your date takes you for Valentine’s dinner, count your lucky stars he isn’t taking you down to the town Lupercalia fest.

The Love Struck Bard

As time passed, so the holiday became sweeter, thanks to the likes of literature from Chaucer and Shakespeare. The men romanticized love, and as such, the holiday became more PG than the Roman fertility festival. During the middle ages, Valentine’s Day gained mass popularity through Britain and most of Europe, and was celebrated by gifting your loved one with a hand made card.

Valentines Day As We Know IT

It was only in the 19^th century that the holiday began to spread to the new world, with the industrial revolution issuing factory-produced card in mass. 1913 marks the first ever batch of iconic Hallmark Valentine’s Day cards being dispatched in Kansas City, and the rest is history. If you were planning on going all out for your love this Valentine’s Day, why not avoid stripping down to make an animal sacrifice and whipping her into fertility? Rumour has it that both men and woman of today appreciate simpler, less barbaric tokens of love. Ladies, why not help your gent look dapper this Valentine’s by gifting him with an amazing blazer? And gentlemen why not help your lady feel lovely with a beautiful dress? Take a look at the great range of items available for you and your other half at Clothing Direct, and give the gift that will keep on giving this Valentine’s Day!

January is a time of new beginnings for many people. Some find new years resolutions in giving something up; others find theirs in taking on more. So with all the new beginnings in the air, why not turn your working wardrobe around in 2018? Though going back to the bump and grind of the working world isn’t necessarily a joyous occasion for all, it can be exciting if you have a brand new wardrobe to look forward to! Read on below for a few ideas on how you can spruce up your working wear in the new year and feel great whilst doing it.

Add A Pop Of Colour To Your Life

Many of us tend to stick to the safer grey scale wardrobe when it comes to work wear. But one of the easiest (and most enjoyable) ways to spruce up your look on the new year is to add a splash of colour here and there. We’re not suggesting you throw out all of your black, white and grey attire and show up to work in the new year looking like you ran through a rainbow, but why not add a colourful blouse or button up shirt to your look? Colour has an incredible power on the human psyche, and maybe a little splash of happiness is all you need in your professional appearance.

Be Daring And Change It Up Completely

If you’re looking for the ultimate kind of rejuvenation for your wardrobe, why not be daring and change it up completely? If you usually pull together a very casual look, step it up a notch and dress your look up with a blazer. You could go all out and suit up one day a week in the new year! Alternatively, if you’re used to rocking the straight up and down look day in day out, why not drab down a tad? If your profession allows, switch up your button up top for a golf neck tee every Friday. Changing your style in a daring way can really make a big difference to your working wardrobe, so why not give it a try in 2018?

Get Everything You Need For Your Wardrobe New Years Resolutions Today

Revamp your style completely in the new year with the help of Clothing Direct. We have a ton of different professional pieces for you to choose from. Be sure to get the perfect look to transform your style in 2018 today!

What does a decorated war veteran, neurosurgeon, prisoner and schoolgirl all have in common? They all wear uniforms! The uniform has been around for years and years, but have you ever stopped to think just where these pieces of clothing came to be? The history of the uniform is scatted throughout the ages, and Clothing Direct will take you on a trip down memory lane below so read on!

The First Documented Uniform

To be fair, there is no real ‘first ever uniform’ in history. However, the first know – or suspected – uniforms belonged to those of the Roman legion. Formally established somewhere around 500 B.C. the roman military legion used to wear a basic tunic uniform, which was loosely regulated. This however grew in popularity through the ages, with many countries developing their own colours to wear into battle.

Other Common Uniforms Throughout History

Another highly common uniform, and one of the oldest, is that of school goers. The first documented school uniform in history pertains to the cappa clausa, a kind of robe ordered to be worn by school goers by the archbishop of Canterbury, England in 1222. Although being thought out early on, the school uniform only became a truly common thing in the 16^th century in England.

 

Another common uniform is that of the medical practice. However, did you know that up until the 20^th century, surgeons were not required to wear any kind of uniform at all? Up until this point, doctors would operate wearing no protective gear but a butcher’s apron to cover their own clothes from blood spatters. Yes, that means they’d operate bare handed and unmasked! However, the nurses’ uniform was developed a century prior to doctors. Derived from a nun’s habit, the nursing uniform first began to appear in the early 19^th century. It was only in the late 1970’s that the short sleeve V-neck scrubs that we know today began to emerge.

If You Are In Need Of A Uniform

If you need to get your hands on a uniform fast, the Clothing Direct is here to help! We have all sorts of outfits for various professions including spa tunics and surgical scrubs, to hospitality wear! Take a look at what’s on offer for your profession today.

Fashion is fickle. It is ever changing and often hard to keep up with. However, Clothing Direct has come up with three fashion essentials everyone (men and women alike) cannot go without! Read on below to discover what fashion essentials are waiting for you at our online store right now.

The Blazer

A blazer is a fashion MUST. This timeless piece of clothing can be worn to a high to do business meeting with a great pair of slacks, or over a comfy tee to dress up a look for a night out on the town. A blazer is really something not closet should be without, so take a look at the great pieces available for you from Clothing Direct right here.

The Denim

A good pair of denims is a must have in every ones closet. Think about how often you wear jeans. You can dress them up, dress them down, wear them out, wear them in. Wherever you are, the trusty old pair of denim jeans has its place. Being around for over a hundred years, its easy to see why these are a staple of all wardrobes. Find the perfect pair for you with Clothing Direct right here.

The Tee

The tee shirt is one of the most worn items of clothing around the world. Weather being worn as a statement, or simply as a comfy, round the house piece of clothing, the t-shirt has really come a long way in society over the years. You can wear this item of clothing in a ton of different styles, making it a wardrobe must have for anyone. Take a look at Clothing Direct’s great rage of tees right here.

 

Get These Fashion Essentials Today

Whether you wear these three fashion essentials together, or as individual statement pieces on their own, Clothing Direct cannot see a single cupboard in the world that wouldn’t benefit form this trio. Take a look at our other items available for you now and get yourself looking extra stylish today!