9 Ways to make your Office a happier and healthier place to work
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It doesn't matter if you work from home or travel into an office every day; we've all had to adapt to new working conditions. And while we all have different work setups and job roles, there's one thing we can all agree on from CEOs to interns: our health, both physical and mental, needs to come first. Here are nine tips to help you create a more productive, inspiring and healthier office.
1. Hire green friends to improve the office mood and productivity.
We've spoken about the benefits of biophilic design in the Office of the Future. It's all about bringing the outdoors inside. For starters, you can invest in new office plants, as they don't just recycle air, they can boost productivity and improve your mood. Research from Exeter University found that adding plants to your office design can increase wellbeing by 47%, creativity by 45%, and productivity by up to 38%. Remember to choose ones that can thrive indoors and in low-light conditions.
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2. Improve ventilation and natural light.
It may not be practical or possible for all companies, but if your company is downsizing or renting new office space, there may be an option to increase your natural lighting by placing desks closer to windows and skylights. Studies show that natural light can improve your concentration by as much as 15% and improve your sleep quality. Neurology researchers at Northwestern University found that staff working in offices with windows receive 173% more sunlight during work hours and sleep an extra 46 minutes every night. That extra bit of sleep results in better productivity and frame of mind. It can also reduce stress: a worldwide study revealed that bright morning light could help reduce agitation and anxiety.
3. Invest in a better-smelling and higher-performing workplace.
In most post-COVID office workplaces, most people's sense of smell is limited to smelling sanitiser liquid through their masks. However, stimulating the sense of smell can also increase productivity and even reduce the number of employees' typos! A global study found that scents such as lemon, lavender, and jasmine stimulate brain activity and cause employees to be more productive overall. Lemon is the most stimulating scent, reducing the number of errors by 54%. To take advantage of this (and get rid of sanitiser smells), create simple air fresheners by mixing water with a few drops of essential oils.
4. Install touchless technology.
It's the ideal contactless option for our COVID-conscious working conditions. COVID-19 has been shown to survive up to 28 days on hard surfaces. By investing in swipe sensors, infrared sensors, gesture-controls and even voice-activated technology, you can drastically cut down on the risk of transmission of COVID-19. It can also speed up entry, sign-in, and exit processes. But it doesn't all have to be fancy, expensive technology – foot-operated pedal bins can also help reduce hand contact and surface touching substantially.
5. Create quiet rooms and safe recreational areas.
With most businesses downsizing in office space, now is the perfect opportunity to do a little redesign. While open-plan offices have their benefits, now, more than ever, employees need a quiet space to retreat to where they can concentrate or work on a solo project with no interruptions. It can also be a place to take a break or have lunch – it reduces the need for 'al desko' eating where your employees eat at their desks. Some companies, such as Google, even provide nap rooms and pods for 30-minute power naps – studies show that they can be better than a cup of coffee for a boost of energy!
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6. Use this time to deep clean and declutter.
With a forced shake-up in office space and working patterns, it offers the perfect opportunity to do a proper clean and overhaul. It's an opportunity to sell unused equipment, turn physical files and archives into cloud-based digital records, discard broken items and fix any cranky equipment or machinery. In the best-case scenario, you can also use the money earned to upgrade kitchen appliances and furniture in the shared spaces and add some colour to the walls. A study by Science Daily shows that blue and yellow spark creativity while red can increase your attention to detail. These small tweaks can help craft a streamlined, cleaner, more practical office with more space and flow for better productivity and office mood.
7. Redesign your working space with outside space in mind.
This starts with a disclaimer: most offices don't have outdoor spaces. However, now many businesses are downsizing and finding new workplaces; this is something that can be part of the wish list. The good news: you also don't need massive amounts of space: even if it's a small terrace, balcony, or courtyard, it can offer huge benefits if you transform it into a shared workspace or community area. A study by outdoor retailer LL Bean found that 74% of respondents think working outside would boost their mood, while 71% agree it would reduce stress, and 66% agree it would improve general health and wellness. Research from Stanford University also revealed that being surrounded by green scenery can boost concentration by 10%.
8. Invest in office ergonomics.
Equipping an office with innovative ergonomic products and furniture doesn't have to cost ridiculous amounts of money – you just need to choose wisely and place inclusivity as the primary goal. For example, you should invest in height-adjustable office furniture to serve the needs of all employees. Get it right, and there are plenty of benefits, including improving productivity by 15%. However, the most crucial benefit is the positive impact on employee health. This includes relief from back and neck pain, spine alignment issues and can even improve mental wellbeing. From stand-up desks and spine-saving chairs to ergonomic mousepads, there's a wide variety of ergonomic products for you to choose from.
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9. Upgrade your video conferencing technology.
We're talking about fully-fledged 'zoom' rooms that seamlessly facilitate digital and analogue meetings, but it doesn't end there. You can also invest in interactive 'smart' boards that show visuals for both in-person and remote workers and upgraded presentation tools.