When you think about working in an office, nature and greenery probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. However, strategic use of nature in the workplace can actually have huge benefits for your team.
Access to nature has a wide variety of mental health benefits that support a productive work environment. Whether you add plants to your office indoors or spend time outdoors as a team, nature helps your team work in a more creative and collaborative way. Keep reading to learn how.
1. Supports Work-Life Balance
If you frequently get overwhelmed with work, access to nature can help you disconnect for better work-life balance. If you have a park or a hiking trail near your workplace, you can enjoy some much-needed exercise or relaxation outdoors at the end of the day.
Having nature nearby also makes it easier to spend time with family and friends. This helps break up the workday and gives you a chance to focus on the relationships that are most important to you. For example, having playground equipment outside your office gives families with children an easy way to spend time together, even when schedules are busy. Having parks nearby also makes it easy to meet friends for coffee or lunch throughout the day.
2. Reduces Stress
Spending time with nature is proven to reduce stress, which is key when you’re working in a fast-paced environment. Research has found that spending even a short time in nature can reduce your cortisol, which is the hormone associated with high stress levels. Too much cortisol can lead to a variety of health issues, including: weight gain, high blood pressure, impaired cognitive function, anxiety, depression, insomnia, weakened immune system, and digestive problems.
By spending time outside, you can reduce both your physical and mental stress levels. Lower stress levels help you be more productive at work and maintain healthier relationships with your coworkers. For many people, even just looking at trees or a body of water for a few minutes can drastically reduce tension during a tough day. This is particularly helpful if your office gets loud and you don’t have your own work space. Nature’s quiet, soothing sounds are the perfect way to decompress.
3. Creates Opportunities to Socialize Outdoors
If you have nature available near your office, this means you’ll have more opportunities to socialize with your coworkers outdoors. This is a great way to bond as a team and develop a healthy work culture. For example, consider having a picnic lunch or going for walks together outside when the weather is nice. You can even have outdoor meetings on particularly warm days. Rather than having a work happy hour at a bar or restaurant, you can host it in your outdoor space for a more affordable option.
When nature is readily accessible from your work environment, it makes socialization less forced. Building these strong social connections helps your entire team feel more comfortable and supported at work. It also helps you collaborate more effectively and find innovative solutions to challenging problems.
4. Leads to a More Comfortable Office Environment
Even if you don’t have access to parks or trails near your office, you can still use nature to make your office feel a little more comfortable. Start by bringing plants into space. This could include small desk plants, standing plants, or even hanging plants. Having greenery in your office will immediately make the space feel more attractive and sophisticated. This also applies to home offices — adding some small plants helps make the space more comfortable — so encourage workers to liven up their spaces. Office plants are a great appreciation gift.
Additionally, consider painting your walls in soothing colors inspired by nature. Greens, blues, yellows, and purples are all beautiful shades that can bring some life into your office. Finally, add photos or art inspired by nature to the walls. This could be as simple as printing and hanging pictures you’ve taken out in nature, or you could work with local artists to find soothing prints for your walls.
5. Provides a Source of Inspiration
Spending time in nature is an excellent source of inspiration when you’re feeling stuck at work. If you’re having a hard time finishing a creative project or solving a problem, a change of scenery can help kick-start your thinking.
The beautiful sights and sounds of nature are a great way to get ideas and help you reach your full creative potential. Try taking a notepad to a nearby park, trail, or lookout if you’re feeling stuck. Relax, enjoy the environment, and jot down some ideas — you might be surprised by what you come up with.
6. Lets You Connect With Your Community
Being in nature is also an opportunity for your business to connect with the community around you and foster strong bonds. There are many ways you can do this. For example, your team can take advantage of local volunteer opportunities in nature or even sponsor a community garden. This way, you can share the joy of nature with the entire community around you, so everyone can enjoy the health benefits of the outdoors.
Another way to leverage the power of nature for connecting with your community is by organizing outdoor events centered around environmental awareness and sustainability. Consider hosting guided nature walks, birdwatching tours, or workshops on composting, recycling, or renewable energy. These initiatives not only impart valuable knowledge and skills to your community but also create opportunities for you to strengthen your bonds with the community while showcasing your commitment to sustainable practices.
Final Thoughts
If your team is struggling to reach their full potential at work, spending time in nature can help everyone be more relaxed and productive. If you have parks and trails nearby, take advantage of them as part of your daily routine. If not, consider investing in a man-made outdoor space for your office.
