How you can improve wellbeing in the office

What is workplace wellbeing and how can I design this into my office? WELLBEING is exactly that : the state of being well – both mentally and physically. We’ve started to talk more openly about mental health and this has resulted in a growing acknowledgement that we need to give staff wellbeing initiatives and a quality physical workplace.

Design considerations to facilitate wellbeing should be based around movement and posture, and access to fresh air and natural light.

Sitting at a desk puts twice as much pressure on our backs as standing so experts suggest having an ergonomic workstation and moving for a few minutes every half hour.

Designing your office to promote movement is incredibly important : from accessible and open stairs to central facilities and services, there are small design cues which can have a big impact on your staff ’s physical wellbeing.

Fresh air and natural light are important for our physical wellbeing, and without it we are more prone to illness and are less productive.

Ensure your office is wellventilated with fresh air, but there’s no reason why you can’t take yourself outside throughout the day.

More offices are now being designed with communal areas near windows so everyone can benefit from natural light.

Where possible, work or take a break in these areas to get your daily dose of vitamin D! There’s proven health benefits – with natural light exposure being directly correlated to sleep quality.

There are many small changes you can make to your office design to ensure you’re helping your staff leave the office feeling better than when they arrived.