As unbelievable as it sounds, a few plants can make all the difference to a team's motivation, identity and productivity. Whether you work in a very structured and formal office, in an open concept space, in a cubicle or as a freelancer at home, having a plant can improve your productivity levels.
Learn about the top plants to boost productivity and why they're effective.
The importance of workspace
Productivity is an economic term that has been transferred to our everyday language and refers to the amount of goods or services that are produced during a certain amount of time. From this perspective, a productive person is one who can do a greater number of tasks in a shorter period of time. Now, labour efficiency as measured by productivity depends on many factors, not only on the individual's skills and abilities.
People are living beings who require certain conditions in order to reach the maximum peak of efficiency and productivity. A person who is subjected to long working hours in unpleasant spaces and in poor conditions, will be demotivated, tired, overwhelmed and uncomfortable and will hardly be able to give the best of himself; because productivity is closely linked to the individual's state of mind.
Companies have taken it upon themselves to study the factors that have a real impact on the well-being of their employees. Working conditions, translated into the organisational climate and the spaces in which people do their work, were found to be fundamental in maintaining productivity and motivation levels, even compared to other aspects such as salary and other incentives.
The office and other workspaces are places where people spend at least a third of their days, so it should be a positive space, visually stimulating without being invasive or overwhelming. A productivity-oriented office should be well-lit, offering a sense of space, life and colour. The easiest way to achieve this is by using plants.
Why do plants increase productivity?
Humans need to be in contact with nature. Some say that greenery appeals to an atavistic instinct that gives us a sense of well-being and tranquillity. Being locked in a cubicle with artificial lighting, without a view of the outside or without a simple plant alters circadian rhythms and produces hypersensitivity. Indeed, this US study found that 10% of sickness-related absences from work could be explained by a lack of lighting and plants in the office.
This UK study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology showed that a team's productivity improved by up to 15% when they moved to a green office. The explanation is simple: not only do plants create a space that is aesthetically pleasing, but they improve the subjective perception of air quality, concentration and produce a relaxing and de-stressing effect. Plants improve the mood of employees, make the environment feel lighter and more pleasant, so people feel content and happy; so their productivity will increase exponentially.
what plants can you use to decorate your workspace?
The top plants to increase your productivity are those that you like, that suit the environmental conditions of your workspace and that you can take care of. It sounds like a very general recommendation, but the idea is that you get plants that make you happy, not ones that become an extra responsibility or another source of stress because they require too much care.
After noting your office conditions and your level of commitment to caring for your plants, you can use Be Green's smart search engine to find the species that fits those particular conditions. It is advisable to include at least one purifying plant, as it will help to improve the air you breathe and balance the humidity levels, something very necessary in those spaces where air conditioning dries out the respiratory tract and skin.
If you have little space and the lighting is not very good, you can buy the trio of elegant purifiers. In case you don't have much time to pay attention to the plants, you can go for a Sansevieria or Snake Plant, which take care of themselves. want variety but don't have time to care and water? Go straight for the trio of immortals, while if you have a lot of space and want something big, proportionate to the place, you can go for a beautiful, lush Kentia palm or a Fiddle Leaf fig.
Be Green's search engine will help you locate the perfect plants for your workplace, with the right size and features that best suit your workload and lifestyle.
The best part is that they will be delivered straight to your office door, whether you want a small aloe for your desk or a giant palm tree for the reception area. Nothing is more efficient and simple than this service.
Dedicated to creating an army of cacti, succulents, poodles and cats to help me conquer the world. In the little free time I have left, I play, write and dance.