CREATING A HEALTHY OASIS: WELLNESS IN THE MODERN OFFICE

Words by Jake Cooper

Over the last 5 years a whole plethora of; roles, words and phrases and acronyms have joined the workplace landscape list; Chief Remote Officer, Zoom, proximity bias, WFH, TWAT to name but a few.

One of the few worthy words to emerge into the spotlight post pandemic is WW. or ‘wellness wankers’ and more importantly how to maintain the wellness of employees in an office space. The sceptic may see this merely as a means for productivity paranoid employers to try and coax workers back to the office. There is no doubt an element of this, however, we cannot avoid the fact that the pandemic cast light on the importance of a healthy work life balance and demanded that offices become more than just a place to work.

The office is the place where we spend a significant chunk of our waking hours, every day, for most of our lives, sound depressing? Well fear not, the new era of workspace design and layout has arrived to bring wellness to you and your office.

Imagine, if you will, an office in the ’80s in the heart of London, Matthew McConaughey is banging his chest next to you and puffing away on a cigarette at your desk is as common as a morning cup of coffee. Moving onto the 90s where rows upon rows of dreary partitions, separating us from both our colleagues and our sanity.

Nowadays, the focus is firmly on creating an environment that nurtures the mind, body, and soul of every employee. So, how exactly do we transform our office into a haven of wellness? Here are a few tips to get you started:

⁠Let There Be Light – Natural light is the elixir of life for office workers. Throw open those curtains, install some skylights, and let the sunshine in! Not only does natural light boost mood and productivity, but it also helps regulate our sleep-wake cycle.

Move that Booty – Say goodbye to sedentary lifestyles and hello to active workspaces! Standing desks, walking meetings, dogs in the office and lunchtime yoga sessions are all fantastic ways to keep those limbs limber and get the blood flowing. This can help to improve productivity, and create cohesion between team members.

Green is the new black – Introduce some leafy companions into your office space, while they are not always the easiest to look after they will more than pay you back for your hard work keeping them alive. Not only do plants purify the air, but they also add a touch of nature’s beauty to even the most sterile of environments.

Mindfulness Moments – Encourage moments of mindfulness throughout the day. Whether it’s a dedicated meditation space, a quiet corner for reflection, or simply encouraging employees to take regular breaks to clear their minds. Giving people the opportunity to think and talk about what they are doing in their professional and personal lives, and why, is a great way of making people feel heard and appreciated.

Fuel for Thought – Ditch the sugary snacks and cans of coke and in with the kombucha and blanched nuts and no showering policy. We’re joking, however, there are a load of nutritious healthy snack companies out there rustling up a whole world of deliciousness that is good for the body and the planet, tick tick.

Flexibility is Key – Embrace flexible working arrangements that cater to the diverse needs of your workforce. Whether it’s remote working options, flexible hours, or compressed workweeks, giving employees the freedom to find their own work-life balance is essential for overall happiness and well-being. Focusing on an employee’s output rather than the hours they chalk up in the office will not only make you a far better employer, it will empower your team and open up a much wider pool of talent for you to pick from.

So there you have it, folks – a recipe for creating a workplace that’s as nurturing as it is productive. Let’s bid farewell to the cubicle farms and smoking zones of yesteryear, and welcome in a new era of wellness wankers!