Offices continue to accommodate an increase in hybrid and remote work. And doing it right requires a fresh approach and mindset at work. Post-pandemic, employees expect more from their office environment, and rightly so. The office is where most of us spend her 40 hours a week. Why shouldn’t we have creature comforts? Or at least some attentive office resources. Go beyond standard problem office chairs, clunky conference rooms, and nausea-inducing fluorescent lights.
Research shows we are more comfortable at work, is actually more productive. In fact, an office can be downright unhealthy if an employer lacks mindfulness in their approach to design.
What is mindful office design? It is a way of thinking that puts people first. This shows up in everything from laying out your office, choosing furniture, acoustic considerations, lighting choices, and arranging your space. Often, you have to make difficult choices that may mean paying a little more up front in order to get a bigger return in the end. It doesn’t take. A mindful office makes employees stronger and much happier.
intentional lighting
Natural light, as opposed to artificial overhead light, reduces eye strain and headaches, reduces sick time, and provides an overall sense of alertness at the end of work. Employees who have access to natural daylight and daylighting technologies (skylights, reflective surfaces, light shelves, etc.) report increased comfort in poorly lit environments.
When it comes to revenue, lighting is the largest source of electricity consumption in US offices, meaning the savings offset by increased natural light can be significant.
attractive acoustics
Excessive noise at work is disruptive to many. Sometimes it leads to overwhelming distraction and lack of focus.When things go wrong, stress in the company combined with frustration from management doubles down on his anxiety. This can lead to long-term health problems. Mitigate this problem before it occurs. Incorporate attractive and functional acoustic furniture throughout the workplace.
Charging spaces are essential for employees to reclaim the fruitful energy spent on the job.
There are several different options on the market today. A versatile privacy screen that works as a hanging screen, mobile partition on wheels, and even acoustic furniture.
biophilia
Incorporating plants adds unparalleled beauty to a dull space.But a modern office with plants, natural light, and other elements mother nature Recipe books are more conducive to a productive and happy workforce. The advantage of nature is that you don’t have to redesign your entire office to incorporate it. This allows companies on a tight budget to introduce plants one at a time, as funds permit, transforming them into more mindful offices.
recharge space
Charging spaces are essential for employees to reclaim the fruitful energy spent on the job. But these can mean more than just a simple, quiet office with closed doors. Yoga and meditation rooms, reading nooks and tranquil gardens are perfect places to gather your scattered thoughts and find some much-needed respite. Science shows that a little downtime, a change of scenery, and a few minutes of meditation can help shift your perspective. Leave employees refreshed and ready to return to projects and take new approaches.
Mindfulness is important, whether it’s an expensive modification like adding a meditation room or budgeted for just one acoustic panel. Employees know you are thinking of them. They are willing to respond to well-meaning employers who make changes to improve their teams. In a world where everyday life requires more care and attention, plants, windows, and peace and quiet can go a long way.
Updated April 2023.
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