Why Your Office Should Incorporate Elements of Nature
If you had the choice, would you prefer to work on a project at a desk in a grey room, or in a park where a small creek runs through a grove of luscious evergreens. If you’d choose the park, you’re not alone. As humans, we are naturally drawn to life and nature. Seeing or hearing sounds of nature is supposed to reduce stress and make us feel more at ease.
Psychologists from Exeter University found that employees were 15 percent more productive with just a couple of house plants in the office. The findings suggest that when people look at greenery, it boosts their brainpower and improves their mood, resulting in a more attentive employee.
Another study found that students who take tests in a classroom containing windows with a natural view performed better than students in windowless classrooms.
We can take this powerful truth and use it to our advantage in the workplace. Incorporating bits of nature throughout the office would help boost creativity and productivity. Here are a few ways you can sneak nature into the workplace.
Succulents
Big Windows facing a natural scene
As one example, an analysis of a university building in Oregon showed that workers who could see out a window facing a natural scene took 19% fewer sick days. + Natural sunlight
Natural sounds
Natural sounds such as flowing water can help drown out distracting noises. These natural sounds can also have a restorative effect on people’s cognitive abilities. Give it a try – Listen to nature sounds on your computer to help soothe your time at work.
Desktop and Walls
Something as simple as changing the background on your computer to an outdoor scene may help improve your mood. Painting the walls to a natural green color can also give you a better sense of nature in the office.
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