How to Create Wellness Spaces in Your Office
By Lynn Dao
In an age where we're doing more with less, we're learning how to become more productive with less space. The office has become a little more crowded and sometimes more competitive lately. To ease the pressure, smart managers are designing offices with one area set aside for a much-needed break. Even in the most hectic environment, it's easy to create a wellness space in your office.
Wellness Space Defined
The term "wellness" may conjure up an image of a massage table and burning incense. But a wellness room can vary in appearance, size, and function. But each wellness space shares the same fundamental purpose: healing and health. It offers its users a calm, relaxing place to recharge. In an office setting, these spaces are often located in a private room or a comfortable outdoor area. And while some might question their usefulness or effectiveness, don’t think of this as wasted space or frivolous, before you see the benefits.
Benefits
Recirculated air, fluorescent lighting, and long hours of sitting all negatively affect the human body. The noise and lack of privacy can make it tough to concentrate, increase your stress level, and take a toll on your health. Wellness spaces give employees a place to recharge while offering benefits to office managers.
The benefits include:
Better productivity.
Increased morale.
Fewer sick days.
Fewer workers' compensation claims.
Higher rates of employee retention.
While versatility is key when it comes to commercial space, a wellness space is ideally located in its own dedicated area. If there’s no room available indoors, an outdoor patio works well.
Outdoor Wellness Areas
Miami loves its outdoor spaces. Parks and other green spaces around the city make neighborhoods more desirable. Having a good amount of greenery in an area can also increase property values. Plant life — especially native Florida plants and grass — makes an outdoor wellness space more desirable. It’s crucial to use plants and trees that will thrive in Miami’s heat hardiness zone and provide shade. No one wants to sit on a brittle brown lawn or near wilting plants. Take advantage of the sunshine by setting up an outdoor common space with South Florida-friendly natives such as marlberry or Florida mahogany, so people can enjoy their shade.
Of course, outdoor spaces can come with issues you won’t find inside: traffic noise, intense sun, and bugs. If you plan ahead, these problems can be reduced or even prevented. Include a water feature and use large, leafy plants as a sound barrier to reduce noise from the street.
As for bugs? Florida can be a challenge for DIY insect control. But don’t fret — or scratch! Most local exterminators will have plenty of options for bug activity, even in outdoor spaces.
Creating a Better Wellness Space
You could, of course, just slap a “wellness space” placard on any entryway and call the space on the other side “finished.” But just as you would if you were hosting an event, you want to design this room for all five senses.
To get the most from this space, include:
Soft, comfortable furniture and a few blankets/pillows.
Multiple lamps or adjustable overhead lighting.
A microwave and small refrigerator.
Treadmill, yoga mats, etc.
Music or a nature sound machine.
Plants or scented candles to freshen the air.
Since people have different ideas of how to use a wellness area, it’s a good idea to lay out some ground rules. Make sure everyone with access knows what is or isn’t allowed in the space. And don’t forget to clearly state what hours the space can be used and how scheduling conflicts will be handled. Wellness spaces are there to ease problems — not create them!
Lynn Dao is an entrepreneur who started her own tech firm at the age of 35 and has since expanded into six more markets. She credits her success to offering flexible work schedules, the option of working from home, and keeping her employees well-fed.