𝚃𝚘𝚙 𝟷𝟶 𝙰𝚖𝚊𝚣𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝙾𝚌𝚎𝚊𝚗 𝙼𝚢𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙿𝚑𝚎𝚗𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚊

𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝟭𝟬 𝗔𝗺𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝗰𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗠𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗮 

The oceans contain great mysteries within their depths. While many of these mysteries have been explained by scientists and analysts, there are still quite a few unexplained oceanic enigmas that intrigue us. A variety of mysterious ocean phenomena have been seen and experienced by sailors around the world.

These various unexplained mysteries of the oceanic domain thus become interesting subjects of discussion and debate. Some such oceanic enigmas – both solved and unsolved ones – that have been popular topics of verbal analysing can be itemised as follows:

1. Milky Sea Phenomenon:

Milky Sea refers to the unique milky glow of the waters of the Indian Ocean. The ocean phenomenon occurs on account of bioluminescent bacterial action and in turn, causes the water to turn blue, which appears to the naked eye as being milky white in colour in the darkness. The Milky Sea phenomenon has been documented to be in existence for over four centuries.

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2. Bioluminescence:

Bioluminescence is the light produced by marine creatures as a defence mechanism. Certain chemicals in the creatures’ body when counteracted with atmospheric oxygen results in the emergence of bioluminescent light. Know more about Bioluminescence Ocean mystery here. 

3. Convergence of Baltic and North Seas:

This oceanic phenomenon has been a highly debated topic. The convergent point of the North and the Baltic Seas occurs in the province of Skagen in Denmark. However, because of the differing rates of densities of the seas’ waters, the sea waters continue to remain separate in spite of their convergence. It is said that this ocean phenomenon finds a mention in the holy Quran.

4. Steaming Black Sea:

Called as the ‘sea smoke’, the steam arising out of the Black Sea is caused due to the humidity of the oceanic water counteracting with the coolness of the wind over the water’s surface. Apart from explaining the ocean mystery behind the steam rising from the Black Sea, experts have also proved that the phenomenon is quite common to even smaller water bodies.

5. Green Flash:

The ocean phenomenon of green flashes occurs during sunset and sunrise. Usually seen for merely a couple of seconds, such green flashes are the result of the natural prismatic effect of the atmosphere of the earth. During sunset and during sunrise, the light cast by the sun gets diverged into multiple colours, which is seen by the emitting of the green flash.

6. Baltic Sea Anomaly:

The Baltic Sea Anomaly was accidentally discovered by a team of diving experts in the year 2011. The divers found a 60-metre thick circular entity nearly at a depth of 90 metres in the Baltic Sea.

A track seemed to lead towards the entity, which the divers measured to be around 300-metres. Though various scientists have offered innumerable suggestions about the entity’s origins, the Baltic Sea anomaly still remains one of the unsolved intrigues and ocean mysteries of the world.’ Learn more about the Baltic Sea Mystery here. 

7. Brinicle:

Concentrated salt water escapes from within the frozen ice formed above the ocean’s surface and seeps into the depths of the water. However, once the concentrated salt goes under the surface of the water, on account of natural processes it freezes and gets formed into brinicles. Brinicles occur in the frigid oceanic waters around the poles.

8. Red Tide:

The occurrence of red tide is technically called as ‘Algal Blooming’ by scientists. The ocean phenomenon occurs when there is rapid growth or blooming of algae in the oceanic waters. The presence of red tide is highly dangerous as these algae can be fatal to birds, animals and even humans.

9. Sea Foam:

The foaming of the seas is caused by the disturbance to the organisms present on the water surface due to the constant tidal action. Alternatively, in certain cases, seafoam can also be caused due to disturbances caused by human activities like dispelling of waste toxicants into the oceanic water.

10. Underwater Crop Circle:

Once regarded to be objects of high intrigue, the underwater crop circles have been explained to be a creative demonstration of pufferfishes’ quests for finding their mates. These underwater circles have circumferences of over six feet and are often decorated with shells and other decorative items found at the bottom of the sea. The underwater crop circles were discovered under the waters of the Japanese island of Anami Oshima. Some consider these ocean mysteries as the work of aliens.

 Ten Interesting Facts about Coffee

 We love making great coffee and have been doing it since 1993. Esquires Coffee was created to provide a cool and comfortable space while promoting a sustainable ethos. More importantly, we pride ourselves on delivering the best coffee around to every customer that visits.

Great coffee is at the core of our business, and we have learned plenty of things about these beans throughout the years. Take a look at some of our favorite facts about coffee!

1. Coffee dates back to the 9th century

There are many different stories relating to the origin of coffee. One of the most popular stories is that of Kaldi, a young goatherder from Ethiopia. When he noticed how energetic his flock would get when chewing on the local berries, he tried them himself and brought them home. You can learn more about the history of coffee in our blog, the evolution of coffee shops.

2. Coffee beans are actually seeds.

The ‘coffee bean’ as we know it in the pit of a coffee cherry, the berries from which the process of delivering great coffee begins. They are called beans due to their shape and are technically seeds that will grow if planted in the right conditions.

3. The word ‘coffee’ originated from ‘wine’.

The earliest word for the drink was the Arabic “Yahweh”, which referred to a type of wine. Later on, the Ottoman Turks used the term “kahve”, which was followed by the Dutch word “koffie”, from which the English name was derived in 1582.

4. Around 10 million tonnes of coffee are produced every year.

Many people claim that coffee is the second most traded commodity in the world. This is an exaggeration, but there is still a tremendous amount of it created every day.

5. Espresso comes from the Italian word for “pressed out”.

Espresso machines date back to the late 1880s, but it didn’t become popular in the UK until the 1950s. The term refers to the method of production, which still involves pressing a low amount of boiling water forcibly through ground coffee beans to produce a smaller, thicker drink.

6. People once tried to ban coffee.

Many different groups sought to ban coffee in its early years, both across the world and in the UK. These bans were often a result of the stimulating effect of the drink or the crowd it attracted, as coffee houses often became places for free thinkers to discuss ideas. Nowadays, coffee is available almost everywhere in the world!

7. The most expensive coffee in the world is Kopi Luwak.

The most sought-after variety for coffee collectors, Kopi Luwak, originates from Indonesia. It is a production method involving palm civets, small animals that eat coffee cherries and secrete the beans. The finished product can cost over £530 per kilo.

However, there are modern companies that are now looking to overtake the Kopi Luwak as the most expensive coffee. Black Ivory Coffee from Thailand is produced through the digestion of cherries by elephants and can cost as much as £800 per kilo, or £30 a cup.

8. The largest ever cup of coffee was over 11 feet tall.

Created in Honduras, the Guinness World Record cup contained over 18,000 litres of coffee. That is enough for over 120,000 regular cups.

9. Finnish people consume the most coffee.

Coffee is an integral part of traditions for many Scandinavian countries, which sees nations like Norway and Sweden also rank highly on coffee consumption lists. However, for many adults in Finland coffee is a cornerstone of daily life, with coffee breaks a regular part of work and coffee drunk with almost every meal.

10. Coffee can help you live longer.

Coffee remains one of the healthiest beverages in the world, particularly due to the antioxidants present. When consumed as part of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle, coffee can help people live longer, happier lives.

As you can probably tell, we love serving coffee every day. If you share the same passion for coffee and are interested in opening your own local coffee shop, why not discover our franchising opportunities? As one of the top coffee shop franchises in the UK, explore the opportunities available with Esquires today.

😊 𝟼 𝚂𝚒𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚆𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝙺𝚎𝚎𝚙 𝚈𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚂𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚆𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚈𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚆𝚘𝚛𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝙸𝚗𝚜𝚊𝚗𝚎 𝙷𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜😜

 

6 Simple Ways to Keep Your Sanity When You're Working Insane Hours

These days, everyone’s busy. But for you, busy is an understatement. Maybe you’re working on a huge project with a looming deadline, are deep in your industry’s prime season, or have a generally taxing job that requires long hours year-round. Whatever the reason, you’re not just busy—you’re knee-deep in 80-hour workweeks.

It’s no surprise that constantly working crazy hours can easily turn into burnout and mental fatigue. So when the going gets tough and the hours get long, it’s not enough to just hold on for dear life until your next vacation. Learn how to stay energized, focused, and—most importantly—sane with these tips.

1. Nail the Basics

When you’re overwhelmed with work, it’s easy to let everyday necessities fall by the wayside. You opt for takeout over a balanced meal, pound cups of coffee rather than water, and skip the gym, convincing yourself that pacing up and down the hall during a conference call can suffice as your daily dose of cardio.

While these options may seem necessary, they can quickly take a toll on your physical and mental health, leaving you irritable, lethargic, and even more stressed.

So, first things first: Make sure you take care of yourself. Schedule fitness in your daily routine (even if it’s just a 15-minute morning stretch session before work), keep a stash of healthy snacks at your desk or find a quiet place to take a 20-minute nap instead of grabbing another cup of coffee. Your mind, body, and boss will thank you.

2. Simplify Your Routine

Mark Zuckerberg wears a gray t-shirt every day to pare down the number of decisions he has to make, allowing him to spend that mental energy on more important matters. Adopting a “work uniform” is a simple change that can enable you to be more productive.

However, you can apply that idea to other parts of your daily routine, too. For example, you could pack all your lunches for the week on Sunday afternoon, so each morning, you can just grab and go. Or, maybe you schedule a food delivery service, such as Blue Apron or Plated, so you never have to decide what to cook for dinner or shop for ingredients.

When you’re extremely busy, every minute—and decision—counts. Simplifying your routine won’t only heighten your ability to stay focused on work; little by little, it will add free time to your schedule that you can use to do something other than work.

3. Make the Most of the “Me” Time You Have

When work hours increase, free time often gets completely edged off your calendar. The hours you once dedicated to hobbies or friends are taken over by reports and meetings. But that doesn’t mean you should throw in the towel on taking some personal time—you just have to get creative with the little time you have.

For example, when you’re on the subway on your way home, it’s easy to zone out with your phone in your hand, mindlessly browsing social media. And suddenly, you’re home, and you just missed out on 30 minutes you could have spent doing something that fulfills and energizes you.

Especially when you’re in a situation where you have very little extra time, it’s important to take advantage of those little pockets of precious free time—like when you’re walking to work or sitting down to eat dinner. Figure out what invigorates you and spend your time doing that, whether it’s listening to a podcast, calling a friend, or reading a book.

4. Find an Outlet at Work

You may be working 10-hour days, but you shouldn’t have to endure those hours alone. Finding a friend at work won’t change the fact that you’re working nights and weekends, but he or she can make those extra hours a whole lot more enjoyable.

When you’re feeling overworked or overwhelmed, a work friend knows exactly how you feel (after all, he or she works there, too) and can provide a moment of laugher or distraction from your work-induced stress.

Keep in mind, constant complaining and venting can get toxic, so that shouldn’t be the primary purpose of your encounters. But being able to walk down the hall and take a few minutes to chat with a co-worker can keep you refreshed and in a positive mood.

5. Learn to Compartmentalize

Long days at work are already tough—but when you can’t stop thinking about your looming to-do list when you get home and are trying to wind down for the evening, it’s going to be increasingly hard to relax or get a good night’s sleep. And that’s not going to do anything positive for your productivity or mental health.

So when you do have a moment to leave work, make sure you really do leave it there! Learning to compartmentalize is so important to staying sane—and with a few easy strategies, it’s easier than you may think.

For example, to stop thinking about work when you finally make it home, you have to stop talking about it. Venting to a friend or spouse only continues to center your mind on your job. But by paying full attention to someone else and engaging in conversation that’s unrelated to work, you’ll give your brain a well-deserved break.

It can also be as simple as finalizing your to-do list for the next day before you leave the office at night. With a list of outstanding tasks and a plan for how to accomplish them, you can walk away from your desk with confidence—rather than with that constant nagging feeling that you’re forgetting something.

For more ways to turn off that part of your mind, try these three tips.

6. Keep the End Goal in Sight

In many cases, a period of constant over time is linked to an eventual stopping point—e.g., the deadline of a big project or the end of your industry’s busy season. Keeping that goal in mind (and remembering that you’re not eternally confined to 80-hour work weeks) can help you avoid burnout and muster up the drive to keep going.

Of course, it’s not that simple for everyone. Maybe crazy hours are just the nature of your chosen career—and as far as you’re concerned, you’ll be working evenings, weekends, and every moment in between until you can cash in your 401K. If that’s the case, there’s still something driving you to work long and hard, whether you’re pursuing a promotion, a career switch, or the experience you need to start your own business. Push that to the forefront of your mind—rather than the constant reminders that it’s 9 PM and you’re still at the office—and you’ll have a much healthier outlook on your busy schedule.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result. You want to avoid going crazy when you’re working overtime? By making a few small changes, you can stay motivated, focused, and—yes—sane.

𝟷𝟶 𝙿𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚎𝚜 𝚃𝚘 𝚅𝚒𝚜𝚒𝚝 𝙱𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝙳𝚒𝚎

                              𝟷𝟶 𝙿𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚎𝚜 𝚃𝚘 𝚅𝚒𝚜𝚒𝚝 𝙱𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝙳𝚒𝚎

1. Walk along the Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China is 21 thousand kilometers long, so you might not want to walk it ALL! The most beautiful section of the Great Wall of China to walk is from Jinshanling to Simatai. This walk takes about 3-4 hours.

Find cheap flights to Beijing.

2. Stand on top of Preacher’s Pulpit Preikestolen, Norway

There’s a beautiful, moderately demanding 6km hike to reach Pulpit rock. For an even more spectacular experience start the hike at night to see the sunrise once you get to the top. The best time to go is during the warmer months of May to October.

Find cheap flights to Oslo.

3. Take the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru

Hike through picturesque ever-changing environments including cloud forest and alpine tundra. The Classic Inca Trail takes 4 days but you can do longer or shorter treks to suit you.

Look for Machu Picchu flights.

4. Wander among the temples at Petra, Jordan

The temples of Petra in Jordan are a must-see place to visit before you die. Discover for yourself why it is one of the New7Wonders of the World.

Check cheap flights to Jordan

5. Take a pilgrimage route along the Camino de Santiago in Spain

Whatever your faith, the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage should be on your travel bucket list. Some set out on the Camino for spiritual reasons; many find spiritual reasons along the way. 

See flights to Spain

6. Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef, Australia

The Great Barrier Reef is the largest living thing on Earth, often visible from outer space! 

Flights to Australia

7. Camp on the Island of Mozambique

Clear white sand and turquoise sea, Mozambique is a destination of dreams.

Book your Mozambique flight

8. See the sunrise on Mount Bromo, Indonesia

You’ll have to get up early to reach the top before sunrise, but trust us – it’s worth it. 

Flights to Surabaya, Indonesia

9. Feel small before the power of the Iguazu Falls, Argentina-Brazil

The Argentinian side has arguably the best place to see the Falls from – called the Devil’s Throat. The hangover the most powerful section of the Falls for an invigorating experience.

See flights to Argentina, if you dare!

10. Take a walk through the baobab trees in Madagascar

Live out your childhood Lion King fantasies with the fantastic variety of wildlife and nature in Madagascar! 

10 EASY THING TO DO BEFORE GOING TO BED

😜   𝟏𝟎 𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐎 𝐃𝐎 𝐁𝐄𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐆𝐎𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐎 𝐁𝐄𝐃

1. Think of what happened during the day

Even if it was a bad day, it’ll help you avoid them next time.

2. Take 3 deep breaths

If it was a tough day, it’ll help you shave it off. If you had a good day instead, it’ll be an awesome moment just for yourself.

3. Read, read, and read some more

You can read novels, poetry, something you wrote the night before. The goal here is to disconnect from the outer world because that gives you more chances to connect with your inner self. Try to avoid reading gossip magazines or tabloids, they don’t bring any good thoughts into your mind.

4. Turn your cell phone off

Actually, what I do know is I leave it 10 feet away from my nightstand. Maybe with the excuse of having the charger far away, you can invent a valid excuse. Leave it far from your arm’s reach. What if there’s an emergency and someone needs you in the middle of the night? Well, I guess that’s the risk you have to take in order to have a better and less stressful life. Statistically, nothing will happen during the night. And if indeed happen, maybe there’s actually nothing you can do about it.

5. Close your eyes and think of the people you care about the most in your life

I actually bring my mental pictures of them. I think a good thought about each of them, and wish them good night.

6. Think about your breakfast

I know, this might sound a bit extreme, more so when you just finished having dinner, but the fewer decisions you have to make in the morning, the better. Even if the decisions are “micro-decisions” still impact you, and they do count. Ideally, you can lay out a “breakfast plan” for the entire month, so you don’t have to think about it, you never run short of supplies, and you get a good healthy most important meal of the day.

7. No email, no news

Ideally, you can avoid it altogether. But if you can’t, set a deadline, a stop time, let’s say no email, news, or technology after 9pm so you can reconnect.

8. Clean up your bedroom

It’s your sanctuary. Try it as such.

9. Relax your eyes

After long days, mostly in front of a screen, whether it’s a computer, laptop, TV, cell phone, I spend most of my days looking at a screen. And many nights my eyes get so tired they hurt. A tip I use: I put both hands like creating a spoon feeling in front of my open eyes. Keep tweaking your hands until you can see no light coming in. That’s simple and very relaxing. I do it for 30 seconds and it works wonders.

10. Wish good nite to all people that you care

It doesn’t mean you’ll have to call them up or text them or email them or FB them. No, just think of them. I just bring mental pictures of friends and family I want to wish them good night, and I think a few words each at a time.