On average, we spend most of our waking hours at the office, with about four in 10 workers logging more than 50 hours a week! With so much time spent in the workplace, it’s understandable that we’d want to make it as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.
Having a pleasant workspace is about more than just our comfort levels. According to a recent survey conducted by CBRE, people tend to function and perform significantly better in a healthy work environment. This extends to home life, too, inspiring workers to be more conscious of their overall health and to lead a healthier lifestyle both in and out of the workplace.
As the new year approaches, learn how you can incorporate these findings into building a happier, healthier environment for both yourself and your employees in 2019.
Find Natural Space
This one’s easier than you might think—it could be as simple as adding a potted plant to your desk or bringing greenery into the office. A pop of greenery in the workplace is aesthetically pleasing and beneficial to employees, and promotes a sense of relaxation, enhances mood and improves concentration. Plants balance the energy of a space and absorb noise levels.
Get Outdoors
Having an outdoor seating area or courtyard for employees to take breaks in is another way to add a touch of nature to the office, since 76 percent of workers felt more energized and 78 percent felt happier after implementing this change. Plan social events outdoors or wellness experiences outdoors so employees can reap the benefits of fresh air. Some ideas include a make-your-own trail mix bar, an essential oil blending station or a walking club.
Focus on Healthy Nutrition
It’s no secret that maintaining a healthy diet has many benefits. At work, eating wholesome foods lead to a 45 percent increase in performance. Access to healthy lunches and unprocessed snacks (think nuts and fresh fruits and veggies) during the day can help employees make better decisions about their nutrition. Do employees a favor and host socials centered around eating well, such as juice bars, kombucha happy hours, or build-your-own salad bars, or host educational workshops about nutrition. Certain workplace wellness programs offer these wellness experiences as part of their packages, taking the load off HR managers to plan and execute themselves.
Get the Right Lighting
Believe it or not, lighting plays an important role in your productivity and wellbeing in the workplace—especially for those of us that work in front of screens. Having circadian lighting and/or access to daylight in the office resulted in an 18 percent improvement in performance. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory reviewed the effects of natural light on building occupants, and the results showed higher levels of serotonin, Vitamin D and melatonin, These are vital in regulating mood, sleep, and alertness. You can tap into these benefits by situating desks near windows. If your conference rooms have windows, consider opening the blinds to let natural light in. Your employees won’t be daydreaming at the view, that daylight will radiate positive vibes.
Achieve Mental Balance
Workplace wellness includes mental health, too. Activities like yoga, massages, and power naps help workers reduce stress while improving productivity. Finding a comprehensive workplace wellness program that incorporates these mental wellness programs into their programs is key. Focusing on mental wellness can improve employee performance and happiness while increasing energy by up to 66 percent.
Make Time for Physical Exercise
Physical exercise can work wonders for both the mind and body. Staying active during the week lead to improvements in both performance and wellbeing while also fostering a sense of community within the office. IF you’re worried about lacking the time and bandwidth to plan a fitness program, hire a workplace wellness program. These companies bring workouts to the workplace and do all the planning from finding trainers to getting equipment and setting a schedule.
About the Author
Sammy Courtright is the co-founder and COO of Fitspot Wellness, a fully-managed, customizable workplace wellness program for companies and properties. Sammy wears many hats at Fitspot, doing everything from sketching app screens to managing the customer experience. She’s an attention-to-detail aficionado from the “Land Down Under” who’s been with Fitspot from the very beginning. She brings a blend of grit and imagination to the zillions of tasks that confront every startup.