Green and serene
Outfitting your desk with a small plant like a bonsai tree, which itself has roots in the calming nature of Zen Buddhism dating back more than 1,000 years, could help reduce modern workplace stress, Japanese researchers say.
A new study by scientists from the University of Hyogo in Kobe, Japan, followed 63 participants from an electrical company as they took breaks with and without plants on their desks.
“Our study indicates that having opportunities to gaze intentionally at nearby plants on a daily basis in the work environment can reduce the psychological and physiological stress of office workers,” study author Masahiro Toyoda says.
Stress is a well-noted catalyst for mental and even physical turmoil that sidelines workers and lowers productivity, increasing costs for employers. Remote workers can suffer, too, so think about adding greenery to your home office.
More than a third of Canadians say workplace stress is the primary cause of mental health issues, according to a 2018 survey from The Mental Health Commission of Canada.
The government-funded body says mental health issues keep roughly 500,000 Canadian workers a week off the job.
High levels of stress can increase chances for heart disease and stroke, according to The Heart and Stroke Foundation.
In addition to cacti and bonsai trees, the Japanese analysis used air plants that look like individual blades of grass coming off a stem. Participants could also choose kokedama, which are moss-covered balls of soil with plants sprouting from the top, and echeveria plants, a type of colourful flower-bush from Central America.
“The results suggest that if employers would provide active encouragement for workers to take three-minute ‘nature breaks,’ the mental health of their employees would improve,” Toyoda says.
The nature breaks consisted of employees either looking at or watering the shrubs for only a few minutes at a time as they stayed at their desks. A control period was tested first with no plants present, then participants were allowed to look at them and finally they became involved in caring for it. The plants were also kept within eyesight throughout the day.
Once participants were able to see the plants during their breaks, their average heart rates dropped significantly.
No specific reason for the stress reduction are listed in the study, only that the involvement of foliage can aid in reducing heart rates during breaks and potentially improve mental health.
Toyoda says further research is needed into the effect that a plant can play into employees attention spans, performance and productivity, but suggests small business owners consider picking up a pack of plants for their workspaces as it could reduce stress-related conditions.
Postmedia News