INDOOR PLANTS BOOST CREATIVITY & KEEP EMPLOYEES HEALTHY
Don’t see red when you’re stressing out at work, go green.
Studies have shown that indoor plants boost productivity and reduce stress levels, so now there’s every reason to beautify your desk, feel great and perform better too!
It’s true – a study conducted in a computer lab at Washington State University among subjects who were performing a slightly stressful computer task showed that their blood pressure was lower after plants were added to the lab and they showed a 12% improved in reaction time on the computer task. Now doesn’t that sound like the easiest way possible to get ahead!
Other studies from the UK, the Netherlands, Australia and the US also established that office plants can have a positive effect on the work environment, reduce absenteeism, as well as improve employees’ wellbeing and productivity. Greenery is a very simple and most effective way of making a positive impact on the work environment.
Further studies revealed additional health benefits of working in a ‘green’ office. Plants have a cooling effect, they reduce noise and they improve air quality – so instead of working in ‘sick’ buildings, why not put the pressure on to work in a healthy ‘greenhouse’ instead?. On a much bigger scale, an investment in indoor plants and gardens could be just the ticket to getting that edge over the competition. If staff are happy, healthy and productive – that’s first prize towards success in business. Clearly, nature holds a key to success in business and savvy organisations should be on the buzzer to their local florist or plant provider to sharpen their competitive edge, say a leading florist in Perth, Western Australia, Angel Flowers.
And it’s not just for the girls – as evidenced by an 8-month study by a Texas university which researched men and women. The study showed that in ‘green’ environments, men generated a greater number of ideas while the females came up with more creative and flexible solutions to problems.
Some top varieties for indoor environments are peace lilies, yucca plants, ficus, aspidistra, African violets and maidenhair ferns. Other factors to consider are lighting (low or bright light), indirect sun light, dryness etc so it’s worth consulting a professional florist for the best suggestions.
Healthy solutions for inspiration, emotional health and wellbeing come from Mother Nature for the outdoors as well as the indoors. How much more evidence do we need that interior plants not only beautify our workspace, but have a tangible benefit to our emotional, physical and intellectual wellbeing?
