Offices are continuing to adapt to the rise in hybrid and remote work. And getting it right requires a new type of mindset in the workplace. Post-pandemic, workers are expecting more from their office design, and rightfully so. The office is where most of us spend 40 hours a week. Why shouldn’t we have some comforts? Go above and beyond the standard-issue office chair, clumsy conference rooms, and nausea-inducing fluorescent lights. Create a mindful office.
Studies have shown that the more comfortable we are at work, the more productive we actually are. In fact, the office can be downright unhealthy when employers lack mindfulness in their approach to design.
What does mindful office design mean? It’s the concept of putting your people first. This can show up in everything from creating your office layout, selecting pieces, considering acoustics, choosing lighting, and arranging the space. In many cases, it requires making tough choices. For example, that might mean spending a little more for a bigger payoff in the end. However, healthier workers will cost you less than sick employees. A mindful office will make your workforce more robust and far happier.
Intentional Lighting
Instead of artificial, overhead light, natural light results in less strain, fewer headaches, a reduction in sick time, and an overall feeling of alertness at the end of the day. Benefits aren’t just physical, either. Employees with access to natural light and lighting techniques (such as skylights, reflective surfaces, and light shelves) report an increase in comfort over poorly lighting.
When it comes to your bottom line, lighting is the largest source of energy usage in US offices. This means the savings offset by the increase in natural light can be significant.
Attractive Acoustics
Excessive noise in the workplace is disruptive to many. Sometimes to the point of too much distraction and the inability to concentrate. When work isn’t finished, the internal stress combined with dissatisfaction from management is a double dose of anxiety. This can lead to long-term health problems. Alleviate this problem before it happens. Incorporate attractive and functional acoustic furniture throughout the workplace.
Recharge spaces are essential to help employees regain fruitful energy spent throughout the workday.
There are several different options on the market now—hanging screens, mobile partitions on wheels, and even multipurpose privacy screens that can double as acoustic furniture.
Biophilia
Bringing in plants adds unmatched beauty to an otherwise bland space. But modern offices that have plants, natural light, and other parts of Mother Nature’s recipe book are more conducive to a productive and happy workforce. The perk of nature is that you don’t need to do a whole office redesign to incorporate it. This allows a company on a tight budget to bring plants in one at a time as the funds allow and still change into a more mindful office.
Recharge Spaces
Recharge spaces are key to help employees regain energy spent over the day. But these can mean more than just an easy, quiet office in which to shut the door. Yoga rooms, reading nooks, and peaceful gardens are great places for one to gather scattered thoughts and take a needed rest. Science shows that a little rest, a change of scenery, and a few minutes of meditation can help us shift perspective. Allowing employees to come back to a project refreshed and ready to tackle it with a new approach.
Mindfulness matters. Whether it’s costly remodelings like adding a room for yoga, or on a budget with a single acoustic panel. Employees know when you are thinking about them. They will respond positively to caring for employers who improve the team. In a world where we need more thought and care in our daily lives, a plant, a window, and some peace and quiet go a long way.
Updated April 2023.
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