This year, many of us are on a personal journey to find Zen—slowing down to a steady, productive pace, simplifying our lives, rejecting clutter, and choosing nature over technology (when we can!). And as the lines blur between work life and personal life, we’re looking for Zen everywhere—at home and at work.
Designing spaces that promote Zen in the workplace can help employees reduce stress and anxiety, encourage relaxation when needed, and help improve focus, performance, and overall happiness. But what makes a space Zen? And how do you design for it? It’s all about simplicity. Look to things you find in nature and the experiences they provide. Think about design elements that appeal to the five senses.
Sight
1. Daylight or white light
According to an article on Psychology Today, a recent study showed that people who work in offices lacking windows experience decreased vitality, lower quality of life related to physical problems, and increased daytime dysfunction. The study concluded that this was connected to reduced exposure to daylight, which affected sleep quality and the natural biological, mental, and behavioral rhythms that respond to light and darkness.
To keep natural rhythms in sync, the study’s co-author, Ivy Cheung of Northwestern University, recommends placing an “emphasis on light exposure and lighting levels in current offices as well as in the design of future offices.” Open floorplans, fewer solid or opaque walls, and more moveable glass walls help to flood areas with the natural light people need.
2. Colors
What’s your favorite color? Just about everyone has one. To each of us, different colors evoke different moods and feelings. Though we each may have our own “favorite color,” there are some generalizations that can be made about color, based on simple observation and experience. Think about colors you’d call “subdued,” for example. They evoke similar feelings in us—subdued and relaxed. It’s these colors that can help people find Zen and feelings of balance at work. They are grounded in nature—the shades of the sky, ocean, earth, stone, plants, and animals.
Smell
3. Aromatherapy
It’s a widely held belief that appealing to your sense of smell is one of the most powerful ways to trigger feelings and emotions. That may be one of the reasons that aromatherapy and the use of ultrasonic oil diffusers have become so popular. And now, aromatherapy is finding its way into the workplace. It seems a natural fit, as certain natural fragrances can help us concentrate, stimulate memory, feel more energetic, soothe our nerves, and de-stress. According to an article on Inc., various researchers found that these fragrances can offer Zen-like benefits:
Lemon – a bright smell with universal appeal to help increase motivation and decision-making capabilities.
Rosemary – known to stimulate the mind and memory.
Peppermint – invigorating, clean, and fresh to stimulate the brain and rejuvenate the senses.
Frankincense – may activate anti-depressive pathways in the brain to lower anxiety.
4. Fresh air
Humans have an inherent need to be a part of nature and the outdoors. There’s something about breathing in fresh air and experiencing the fragrances of nature that gets us to a more relaxed state. Not only can we use our time in the outdoors to recharge, we often find that bringing our work outside can help us focus—sometimes to such a degree that we don’t even feel like we’re working. Being outside simply affirms our connection to the natural world. Designing patio spaces for a working environment and filling them with comfortable, homey furnishings allows people to work solo or grab a colleague and collaborate in the great outdoors. For limited urban space, rooftop terraces and decks, with greenery incorporated, are being added and used as key gathering spots, as well.