Do you know which are the benefits of having plants in your workspace? Find out here

Currently, many people suffer from both physical and mental illnesses, as a result of the accelerated and competitive lifestyle they have. According to a report from the World Health Organization (WHO), "pressure at the workplace is unavoidable due to the demands of the contemporary work environment. Pressure perceived as acceptable by an individual, may even keep workers alert, motivated, able to work and learn, depending on the available resources and personal characteristics." The problem is that "when that pressure becomes excessive or otherwise unmanageable it leads to stress. Stress can damage an employees' health and the business performance. "

Leer en español: ¿Quieres tener un mejor ambiente laboral? Compra plantas

However, a study by the University of East Anglia (UEA) revealed that being in contact with nature is good for your health. As Caoimhe Twohig-Bennett explains in a press release from the UEA, it was discovered that "spending time in, or living close to, natural green spaces " reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension. In addition, it reduces stress and helps you sleep better, says Twohig-Bennet.

For this reason, many companies around the world decide to acclimate their working environment with plants, as several studies have shown the benefits of having vegetation in the offices. An example of this is Amazon, which at the beginning of 2018 opened new offices in Seattle, where there are "three domes called The Spheres, which are made up of 40 thousand plants, a royal waterfall, and a tree house", according to El Financiero of Mexico. Another example is Second Home in Lisbon, "a shared office of 12,000 square meters" with "more than 1,000 plants, among trees and flowers of more than 100 different species", according to La Vanguardia.

These companies create these spaces with the aim of reducing stress and increasing the productivity of their employees, as well as creativity. Precisely, according to a study by Human Spaces on the global impact of biophilic design in the workplace, these are the benefits of having plants in workspaces:

Wellness

One of the benefits of being in contact with nature is the wellbeing that brings you mentally because the plants create "a calmer environment that allows you to pay attention with ease." In addition, green spaces in the workplace help to reduce mental fatigue as a result of pressure and work demands. According to Human Spaces report, "this is called Restoration of Attention, which states that seeing and experiencing nature stimulates a different part of the brain than that used to maintain a high focus of attention."

Read also: 10 tips to increase your energy levels

Productivity

Having plants in offices is not only good for your health, it also increases the productivity of the employee, something that is extremely important in any job. According to Human Spaces, "feeling good often means being able to do more. In addition to the existence of abundant research that confirms the relationship between welfare and productivity, there is also clear evidence that directly links the results of an organization with biophilia." One of the studies carried out in London by university researchers in Cardiff revealed that thanks to the presence of green spaces in offices, productivity increased 15% "compared to those who work in a place without vegetation or elements in their immediate surroundings", is explained in the report.

Creativity

Creativity is another benefit of the presence of nature in offices, which is why many companies aim to create green spaces within workplaces. "The creativity of a worker can be strongly influenced by the environment that surrounds him (her) and the presence of natural elements. More specifically, we found that for those who work in environments that incorporate these natural elements, such as sunlight and living plants, reported levels of creativity 15% higher than the levels reported by those working in environments devoid of nature," it is said in the report.

LatinAmerican Post | Diana Rojas Leal

Translated from "¿Quieres tener un mejor ambiente laboral? Compra plantas"