The Secret to Productivity

...and it's not a standing desk.

We all know how good it feels to be around nature. Relaxing in your garden, taking a stroll through the forest, running through fields of wheat. Scientists call it “Biophilia- our innate desire to be connected with the natural world”. How often do we embrace elements of nature as a form of relaxation, to clear our minds or gain a sense of perspective?

So many studies have highlighted the benefits of the natural world on improving our well-being. They show that plants reduce stress, absorb pollution, boost creativity, reduce noise levels (really?). Yet so many people spend most of their working day stuck inside exposed to the typical office environment: unnatural lighting, enclosed spaces, multiple screens, experiencing bouts of lethargy and low attention spans.

While many businesses have opted for standing desks and glass walls to boost activity levels and lure you into a feeling of “openness” it is still not enough to give people energy and combat productivity issues. My answer? More plants!!

What do I know?

I’ve always had an affinity for plants. At the age of 11, I adopted a vintage heirloom from the 70s (known within the family as Dad's hideous cheese plant) which saved it from the compost bin. At the age of 16, I cried when our favourite childhood tree contracted a fatal disease and died. At University I bought my first Peace Lily and actually gave it a name, Lola. According to Feng Shui “the Peace Lily calms and harmonises the energy of your environment” - who doesn’t need that in a nine-bedroom shared house? They are also very difficult to kill, which is maybe why I liked it so much.

Plant shopping back in England!

When COVID-19 hit this year, many of us were reduced to working from home with limited work space, and not all of us have the luxury of a home office. I was left with a tiny desk in the corner of my bedroom, less than a foot from the bed, spending all day facing a wall. Woe is me. If it wasn’t for my meagre collection of plants and a large window I know my energy levels would have dropped considerably.

So I took WFH as a chance to design a space that would accommodate my mental capacities and to counteract the dreaded feelings associated with working in an office. I positioned the plants around the room so at least one is always in sight or within reach. They’re not the most glamorous bunch, but it’s been so satisfying watching them grow and the visual stimulation alone helps me to calm down, relax, and break up the monotony of white walls. Even the mouldy cactus makes me smile on the worst of days!

The Whole Gang

But seriously, what do I know? What are the professionals saying?

In 2014 there was a study by University of Exeter into ‘Green’ offices filled with plants instead of the lean, striped back “business-like” designs. The idea was to challenge the common business philosophy and perception that lean “clean-desk” environments increase productivity. It was the first field study of its kind, and researchers found that the presence of plants in the office increased productivity by 15%.

Over a period of two months in large commercial offices in the UK and the Netherlands, the team examined various factors ranging from staff perceptions of satisfaction, air quality, concentration levels and productivity in two types of contrasting office environments - one “lean” and one “green”.

The research showed plants in the office “significantly increased workplace satisfaction, self-reported levels of concentration, and perceived air quality.” Win!

Last year there was a similar study conducted in real office settings out of the University of Hyogo in Awaji, Japan, which details the “stress-reducing benefits to office workers that even a small plant situated within easy viewing can impart.” Toyoda, one of the leading researchers said “At present, not so many people fully understand and utilize the benefit of stress recovery brought by plants in the workplace. To ameliorate such situations, we decided it essential to verify and provide scientific evidence for the stress restorative effect by nearby plants in a real office setting.”

Researchers set about investigating changes in psychological and physiological stress before and after placing a plant on the workers desks. The participants had two separate trials: a control period with no plant, and an interactive period where they could see and care for a plant.

And guess what?! The plants had significant registered calming effects, decreasing anxiety and providing psychological relief. The study was conducted on members of all age groups and had the same effects across the board.

While it probably won’t guarantee you “employee of the month” it's proven that the simple act of placing a plant in sight helps to improve productivity as we fill that innate desire to connect with the outdoors. Young or old, if you haven’t already, grab yourself a desk plant - nurture it, love it, watch it grow. But not too much - there is such a thing as over watering. Just ask my cactus.