Spending time outdoors can help improve your overall health and wellness, but you can bring the benefits of the outdoors into your workspace. We spend more time working than any other daily activity, so it’s in our best interest to support our health and wellness at work. There’s an easy way to improve well-being and spruce up a space: Just add nature.
The head-to-toe health benefits
Adding natural elements to workspaces supports better physical, mental and emotional health. In offices with plants, other studies found participants reported greater satisfaction with their workplace, a more positive or less negative mood, less stress, improved concentration, and fewer health-related complaints at work.
Natural ways to improve workplace well-being
Consider adding plants.
ZZ plants, pothos, snake plants and bamboo can tolerate lower light, making them great choices for an office or cubicle.
Include natural materials
Include natural materials, such as wood or stone finishes and décor, which may help lower stress.
Let in the light
Using natural light can help with alertness, safety and performance, among other benefits.
Add photos or posters and play nature sounds.
Additional studies show that including images of landscapes or plants had a positive effect, and playing nature sounds, such as running water and birdsong, helped improve irritation and fatigue.
More ways to boost well-being at work
Our Best Health® wellness program offers free tools, like one-on-one health coaching, a Wellness Assessment to get insight into your current health, and activity challenges to help you feel your best. Try these and get other healthy tips and resources by creating or logging in to your Best Health account.
