Workplace wellness is integral to fostering a productive and engaged team. While many companies emphasize traditional wellness programs, one simple yet powerful strategy to consider is spending time outside. Fresh air and natural surroundings can profoundly impact employees’ mental health, enhancing their mood, creativity, and job satisfaction. If you’re an employer or team manager looking to boost your team morale and make changes that yield lasting benefits, explore how spending time outside supports workplace wellness inside.
Stress Reduction
One of the most powerful effects of spending time in nature is its ability to ease stress. Natural environments could lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol and promote relaxation. Providing stress management resources and encouraging breaks are impactful ways to reduce workplace stress for your staff. Taking breaks outside can help employees decompress, leading to better focus, fewer sick days, and improved workplace morale.
Boosted Creativity
Nature stimulates creativity in ways indoor environments cannot. Sometimes, employees may struggle to solve problems at their desks, especially if they feel sick when they get to the office because of workplace stress, ergonomic failures, or poor air quality.
Outdoor settings provide fresh air and remove the monotony of office walls and screens, allowing people to think more freely. Encouraging outdoor time for brainstorming or strategy sessions could lead to breakthroughs for your team.
Improved Mood and Mental Health
Exposure to sunlight can raise vitamin D levels, contributing to better mood and reduced anxiety and depression symptoms. Employees who feel happier and more emotionally balanced are more likely to collaborate, handle challenges, and approach tasks with optimism.
How To Bring the Outdoors Into Your Workday
You can incorporate outdoor time into your team’s routine without disrupting productivity. Here are a few ideas:
Host Meetings Outside
Consider meetings where you all go around the block or sit in a shaded area to invigorate conversations and foster creative thinking among employees. The informal setting can also help team members feel more relaxed and open.
Plan Nature-Based Team Activities
The purpose of your gatherings is one of the most important factors to consider when planning a corporate event outside, as it can dictate the activities you schedule or the speakers you invite to address your team. If your goals are to help employees relax, encourage team bonding, or engage your employees mentally in different ways, try organizing the following outdoor events:
- A company picnic under an event tent
- A group hike
- A community volunteering event
These activities promote wellness and strengthen team bonds while creating positive experiences outside the office setting.
A Small Change With a Big Impact
For employers and team managers, encouraging outdoor time doesn’t mean sacrificing productivity; it enhances it! Learning about the importance of spending time outside can support workplace wellness inside. In turn, your team members will feel valued in an environment that promotes personal and professional growth.