5 Reasons to Have Flowers and Plants in the Office
When you think of flowers and plants, you probably think about beautiful botanical gardens and breathtaking outdoor parks. Studies have shown that being in such natural settings makes us feel happier, more creative and less stressed. In contrast, most traditional office settings tend to make us feel sluggish, uncomfortable and just generally uninspired. This is often due to lack of natural lights, poor air quality and poor ergonomics.
In this blog, we’re going to discuss why it’s a good idea to introduce a natural element in your working environment. While it’s unlikely that you’ll see a waterfall outside your window anytime soon, you should be able to bring in little bits of nature into your office.
So, here are five reasons to bring flowers and plants into work.
- A Great Way to Redecorate Your Office
At the most fundamental level, flowers and plants are simply a great way to decorate your office. They’re colourful, fragrant and literally bring life into the work environment.
Having plants near the reception area, in conference rooms and in co-working spaces can make the office feel livelier and more welcoming. If your business is visited by clients regularly, this is a great way to make a good impression.
You can also change up your plants and flowers seasonally, giving your office a fresh new look every few months or so.
- Improves Air Quality
As you may remember from school, plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. By increasing oxygen levels, plants make it easier for humans to breathe. In an enclosed office space, this can be a huge benefit. Indeed, studies suggest that breathing properly (i.e., from the diaphragm) may have beneficial effects on our cognitive functions.
In addition, certain plants can also purify the air by removing toxic chemicals such as ammonia, formaldehyde and specific carcinogens.
- Working With Plants Can Reduce Stress
Plants can also reduce feelings of anxiety and stress in individuals. In the Journal of Physiological Anthropology, a study showed that working with plants lowered the stress response (i.e., lower heart rate and blood pressure) in the participants. So, by watering and taking care of plants at the office, you could reduce the amount of anxiety and stress that you feel at work.
In contrast, the same study also showed that computerised work increased the blood pressure and heart rates of young employees. As an interesting side note, these participants partake in computerised work every day for their day jobs.
With this mind, it might be a good idea for office workers to get away from their desks and take a walk outside every once in a while.
- Helps Memory and Concentration
By improving the air quality and reducing the physiological signs of stress, plants can also improve your concentration. According to multiple studies, employees showed higher levels of focus and improved memory retention when they worked under the ‘natural influence’ of ornamental plants.
Additionally, since the stress response is reduced, workers will be able to concentrate on their jobs for longer periods of time without the risk of burnout.
- Can Improve Overall Productivity
All of these benefits go beyond just improving morale. By making your office space healthier and more conducive to positive work habits, you will likely see tangible improvements in work productivity.
For example, improved air quality might lead to less absent days and the reduced stress might lead to less errors.
There you have it, five reasons to bring in plants and flowers into the office. If you’re looking for beautiful bouquets for your workmates, talk to your local florist today and they’ll be more than happy to help you find the right blooms.
