Recently, more people have welcomed the conversation about workplace wellness, focusing especially on how physical working environments can boost or hinder wellness. That’s a good move since we spend a third of our lives working. With more employees preferring physical improvements that promote wellbeing, this is something every employer should pay attention to.
Here’s what you should know about workplace wellness and the components of a wellness-centric design so you can create a healthier, more engaging work environment.
Workplace Wellness Design And Its Importance
Workplace wellness design is a space design concept that emphasizes creating an environment that promotes the health and wellbeing of your employees. It focuses on general wellbeing, thus incorporating the physical, mental, and emotional aspects of wellbeing. A good wellness design places your employees’ health at the centre and leverages elements like lighting, connections to nature, thermal comfort, and air quality to boost their happiness and health.
While this is something you can try on your own, it’s usually best to engage top-rated wellness facilities design consultants like Plus One for results you will love. Such experts have years of experience and the right technology to create a perfectly optimised workplace environment for maximum wellness.
Key Elements of Effective Wellness Designs
When designing for wellness, you should aim to create an environment that not only enhances comfort but also supports physical activity, reduces stress, and encourages employees to connect. Be sure to consider the following elements:
1. Biophilic Design
Biophilic design is a component of wellness design that focuses on adding elements of nature, such as natural lighting, indoor plants, and materials that mimic natural textures, into a space. You may not expect this to do a lot, but studies have shown that bringing natural elements into a workspace can reduce stress and improve cognitive function.
Besides, incorporating ample daylight into workspaces is a good idea if you want to lower energy consumption and, hence, increase your savings.
2. Active Spaces
Office work is traditionally designed in such a way that you’ll involuntarily adopt a sedentary lifestyle. As an employer or business owner, however, you can change that for your employees. Introduce standing desks, accessible staircases, and on-site fitness centres to promote an active lifestyle among employees.
But don’t stop there. Your facilities and equipment will be underutilized if you don’t educate your employees about the benefits of being active. You should also consider creating a culture that supports this lifestyle.
3. Ergonomic Workspaces
While this often requires a sizeable budget, be sure it’s worth the investment. While not paramount, ergonomic workstations and furniture promote the physical health of your employees and reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disorders.
So, if you can, invest in supportive chairs, adjustable desks, and even training sessions that help your employees maintain good posture while working.
Your effort in creating an ergonomic workspace will not only lead to increased comfort but also enhance productivity throughout your company.
4. Quiet Zones and Wellness Rooms
In a corporate environment, everyone is so busy trying to meet their goals, but this often means your employees don’t get the time to take ideal breaks. And by taking breaks, we aren’t talking about break rooms. We mean spaces where employees can rest and recharge fully.
So, try to come up with quiet zones and wellness rooms such as yoga studios, meditation and prayer spaces, and other kinds of wellness rooms that help your employees take proper breaks.
Create the Perfect Workplace Environment Today
Designing for wellness in corporate buildings may seem like just any other trend, but it’s more than that. It’s a fundamental solution for promoting health and productivity in workplaces that every employer should consider adopting.
Ready to jump in and enjoy the benefits? Plus One, which is an Optum company, can help you. With a team of experts in wellness designs and employee wellbeing, engaging them gives you the guarantee that your workplaces will be optimised fully for maximum productivity.
