The office talks: Taking the office into nature | 5 |
The fact that nature nurtures, is well established. Closed office spaces with their stifling air conditioning and metal and glass structures often become a burden. No amount of artificial landscaping can provide the soothing effect and solace of nature.?
Five in six companies report the same three outdoor activities as common: having lunch, talking to colleagues, and enjoying nature. “Work” is cited to be the biggest barrier to spending time outside, so why limit outdoor time to leisure activities? Every office wants to get the maximum output from its workers and to provide them with an atmosphere where they will thrive and be happy. This is where an outdoor office is increasingly coming into the picture.
Why not work outdoors as well? Create an outdoor workspace that’s not just meant for dining or short coffee breaks, but for real heads-down working.?
A suggestion to consider
Some might immediately consider this as an absurd suggestion, others see an opportunity yet to be explored, while others again have already flirted with the idea once or twice on a sultry summer’s day – though without great success. However, with the right equipment, it is very much possible to combine work with nature in an outdoor office where you can feel the fresh air blowing.
By installing rows of desks in a room with little access to nature, you block creativity, productivity, and contentment. So why not take the place where people spend most of their day, and bring it outside??
Thanks to modern technology, flexibility is on the up in office life. Today, people have become all-hours employees. Every mail, file, and colleague is just a click away at any time of day. And yet, the idea of not working at your regular desk, but instead outdoors startles most people?
Outdoor education exists in every continent – kids and students have class indoors, but also in the schoolyard, forest, park, or playground. Increasingly, outdoor schools are popping up where children are taught outdoors every day of the year. But apparently, the idea of staying outdoors is reserved for children only, and not for adults.
During the extended period of working from home, many office workers have become accustomed to picking their preferred workplace on the basis of their personal feelings. Some people have taken their work outdoors to the terrace, park, garden, or rooftop and hope to be able to self-manage their workday in the office too.
Post-Covid, office workers expect outdoor space – the more option-rich, the better.??
Safe, happy, and free
While outdoor air pollution is often in the headlines, indoor air pollution is four or fifteen times greater. It contributes to “sick building syndrome”,?respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and declining cognitive response. With communicable airborne viruses, outdoor office space is also a safer option than a shared indoor space.
In the ever-growing war for talent, an outdoor office can make all the difference. If you want your employees to love their job and to keep working with you, create an office that truly puts them at the center. Instead of being restricted by ceilings and walls, you’re working under the wide-open sky, a safe and healthy extension to the traditional office. Not only do you get to enjoy your work more while being in the lap of nature, you also become more creative, happy, and productive. Increasingly larger numbers of offices are recognizing this need.
The fact that workers might be in a happier place if they are in an outdoor office space is a pertinent factor to ponder and act upon. It is true that not every job can be moved outdoors, and that not every region in the world is suitable for an all-year-round outdoor office. But in situations where it is doable, it is indeed worth the effort, even just for a while.
Whether you’re creating a safe place for brainstorming sessions or offering a healthy spot to work in the open air, consider the following elements to create the ideal outdoor workspace.
True outdoor furniture
Consider using outdoor furniture rather than taking indoor furniture outside. Good outdoor furniture is designed to stay out all year long without negative side effects. That way, you don’t need to carry each piece of furniture back inside at the end of the workday, just leave it out!
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Opt for furniture that suits your climate. In a warmer climate, you might consider colors that minimize heat absorption, while in colder areas you’ll need seating that doesn’t soak up water and stays warm to the touch.
When you’re working outdoors for an extended period, you’ll need light for when it gets dark and power to charge your electrical devices or to plug in a heater or a fan. Some furniture has built-in lighting and power that is designed to stay outdoors.
Don’t drag your furniture outside and inside each day. Choose furniture that can stay outside,all year long.
Throw some shade
Working outdoors has many benefits, but looking ridiculous by constantly squinting during your online meeting isn’t one of them. Add some shades to protect your eyes and skin from the sun or to keep you dry from light drizzle.
Parasols are perfect for creating a spot of shade. There are numerous models to consider, from round or rectangular designs to cantilever-style structures. It is important, though, to opt for a model that is easily assembled, wind-resistant, and easy on the eye. Many parasols have a bunch of ropes, slats, and ribs hanging right above your head, while other models have optimized and reinvented the parasol to eliminate the nuisance.
Leave your options open
A workday consists of more than working 8 hours straight – you need a range of spaces for a range of tasks: working solo, conversations, stand-up meetings, lunch breaks, brainstorming sessions… With different types of seating options, you break unhealthy office routines and long workdays never become something to dread.
Providing different postures will stimulate employees to take their work outside without losing efficiency. Whether it’s a long table with benches and chairs, a collaborative setting for group meetings, or a height-adjustable table for a few hours of responding to emails, explore various postures for the outdoor office to offer variety and choice.
When somebody asks, ‘What was it like today?’ you say, ‘It was a beautiful day.’ Because you were actually in the day, you weren’t in a box with fluorescent light.
Beautiful boundaries
Nobody likes to work in a huge open space; we like to have furniture, plants, or even some colleagues with fresh coffee nearby. It creates a lively space and a cozier environment to be productive. So, in order to concentrate on the job, you’ll need some boundaries.
Creating a somewhat private, yet inviting space is easily done using room dividers and planters. Opt for space dividers with a natural feel that also still lets light through. Provide that secure cocoon to tackle your exploding inbox with ease, without losing touch with the space surrounding you.
Biophilic elements
And of course, don’t forget about nature. Include trees, plants, water features, shadow play, animals… the more natural the better.
Now that you have your outdoor office all set up, it’s time to get some work done. Enjoy the fresh air, get that creativity flowing, shoulders relaxed and focused. Don’t hesitate to take a stroll around and look at those gorgeous plants or listen to the birds chirping. Even the distraction of a ladybird on your desk can’t break your drive!
We still have a lot more to talk about! So, what will we cover in the following weeks?
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