The average worker spends 90 percent of their time inside, especially in urban cities around the world. It’s obvious, then, that workers crave natural light and views of the outdoors, which are now the number one rated office perk, according to Harvard Business Review. The United Nations also predicts that by 2030, 60 percent of the world’s population will live in urban environments, which means that access to parks and nature within cities will continue to dwindle and the desire for light and views will only increase.
Not only is there a dearth in parks, public spaces and landscaped areas in the booming metropolises of the world, terrace opportunities within a commercial building are extremely limited as well as a huge rent increase for employers.
The World Health Organization expects stress related illness, such as mental health disorders and cardio-vascular disease, to be the two largest contributors to disease by 2020.
Understanding that the vast amount of research shows that access to nature, plants, and sunlight decrease stress and have an impact on mental health, leaders need to establish priorities for change.
But, in light of these challenges, how can leaders create the positive effects of nature within the urban environments in which reside many of the leading global businesses?
Re-designing an office or moving to a new building with glass facades are probably not within every businesses reach. Economical and cost-efficient changes can be made, though, to boost productivity and create an environment that draws staff to the office such as:
Maximize access to natural light.
Studies show more than one-third of employees don’t feel they get enough natural light, despite overwhelming evidence that access to sunlight affects our mood and overall mental health. Winter or summer, our brains rely on the release of hormones like serotonin, which is triggered by exposure to the sun. A lack of these hormones is widely believed to cause seasonal depression.
If windows are reserved for individual offices along the perimeter of your floor plan, install glass walls that will allow light through to the rest of your space. Alternatively, convert one or more of these offices into communal areas where employees can take a break or camp out with their laptop.
Some modern offices have even gone a step further by using circadian lighting systems that change throughout the day, reflecting the natural movement of the sun during the day. Doing so aligns the lighting to people’s circadian rhythm, which regulates our sleep-wake cycle and can lead to reduced fatigue during the day and improved quality of sleep. Organizations should install similar lighting systems to bring elements of natural light into their employees’ daily work experience.