Workplace Wellness Design Needs

Gone are the days of stuffy office cubicles where employees are packed in like cattle. The modern workplace and the increasing number of people that are able to work remotely calls for designs that entice by encouraging better long term lifestyle habits - from quiet areas and seats that encourage a healthier posture, to more outdoor wifi and oxygenating, productivity enhancing foliage.

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As an often reductionist, rational and practical society that has previously placed an emphasis on the quantitative at the expense of the qualitative, it’s unsurprising that rates of burnout have reached an all time high. As more people begin to make the shift towards an often slower, better quality of life, we explore a few workplace wellness design needs that cater to such a demand.  

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Sitting, Standing & Squatting

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Our sedentary lifestyles are having increasingly negative impacts on our health, from chronic back pain to varicose veins, spending over half our lives at the desk is first on the list of habits in dire need of rapid change. Whilst we can’t all live in nature, we can learn to live more naturally, and New Scientist magazine recently reported that one of the healthiest ways to sit is the ancient art of squatting.  

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In many parts of the East this is commonly catered for at both work spaces and restaurants alike, where floor seating and cushions are still the norm. Alternative options include chairs that are purposefully designed to encourage better posture, or using core balance balls as a healthier seating option. Though these may feel slightly less comfortable than lazily slumping over the desk in the short term, they can quickly become a new fixture, and may also encourage more frequent breaks.

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Standing desks are equally fast gaining popularity, with many being adjustable to suit your needs. Standing all day comes with its own drawbacks, so adopting the motto of ‘everything in moderation’ should allow you to mix it up enough to alleviate any aches and pains.

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Outdoor Wifi

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Although the UK may get its ration of 2 months of intermittent sun, having the option to work from the great outdoors can have a subtle but significant impact on mental health, especially for lifelong city dwellers. Whilst this need can often still be hard to come by without a decent mobile hot spot, many workplaces are increasingly extending fast and reliable connection to their outdoor areas. Invest in a good anti-glare screen protector and reap the benefits of shedding the niggling feeling of being trapped indoors.

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Workplace Wellness

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Co-working spaces often have a roster of wellness services and events available from on-tap massages, to sound baths, yoga and reiki. As well as corporate discounts on local apps such as Class Pass, having such a huge variety of choice at your finger tips ensures you come to work motivated and staving off the burn out.

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Quiet Areas

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Whilst connection and community is tantamount to the culture of co-working, some projects require a little more solitude and focus. Having a quiet area means these demands are met without sacrificing the benefits of a communal space of likeminded businesses and entrepreneurs alike. From private phone booths to shared sound-proof rooms, having the option to retreat into yourself can make all the difference.

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Fun & Functionality

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It’s often said that if you do what you love, then you’ll never work a day in your life and having fun is a large part of enjoying all the ups and downs of the journey. Whilst many workplaces are functional, they often forget not to neglect fun, whether that be through events, a games room, cinema or collaborative popups with local businesses. Fun and functionality work together to build a work space and culture that keeps people wanting to come back.

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Clean Aesthetics

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Hand in hand with functionality is our innate ability to appreciate the aesthetic. A tidy desk is a tidy mind and having large open spaces filled with natural light, plants and natural beauty means that embracing being creatures of our environments becomes a positive.

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Alluring Aromas

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There’s nothing worse than stepping into a beautiful space that still smells of yesterdays leftovers. Studies into integrative approaches to health are increasingly discovering the benefits of simple strategies such as aromatherapy to help alleviate mood changes such as anxiety and depression.

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Ancient practices such as saging the space (also known as ‘smudging’) also have modern health applications, having been proven to remove around 96% of airborne bacteria in public spaces, whilst leaving a deliciously natural aroma.

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Indoor & Outdoor Fitness

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Co-working spaces and modern offices are increasingly feeling the pressure to meet demand for a multitude of needs by being many different spaces rolled into one. As well as offering wellness services and classes, most now also house indoor or outdoor fitness equipment, lockers and changing rooms to keep residents fit, productive and healthy while working.

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Nutrition & Nourishment

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You are what you eat and in a society awash with refined carbohydrates, sugars, alcohols and convenience foods, nutrition and nourishment has never been more vital for staving off chronic disease, as well as the mid-afternoon slump. Gone are vending machines selling pretty packages of processed produce, welcoming the exchange of in-house cafes selling local fruit and fibre, hearty soups and other healthy alternatives.

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Wellness is at the heart of everything because when we feel better, we work better. Working from home is a welcome change for some, but nothing beats the motivation, variety and connection that an investment in a modern wellness-centred co-working environment can provide.

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