Research director Esther Sternberg explores how integrative medicine and deliberate design can converge to boost productivity and well-being in today’s fast-paced professional environments. Sternberg details the positive effects of integrating elements such as meditation rooms, green spaces, and natural light into the workplace and why thoughtful design contributes to a culture of mindfulness, resilience, and community. Whether you’re an employee or a leader striving to cultivate a healthier work environment, Sternberg will help you refit your workspace for personal and professional growth.
Design workplaces for holistic health.
The COVID-19 pandemic moved modern workplaces to embrace strategies for combating the spread of infectious diseases. However, most companies still have a long way to go when it comes to lessening employee stress. There is a difference between designing an office space so that it does not actively harm its occupants — ensuring that it’s properly insulated and ventilated, for example — and proactively crafting workspaces to support well-being.
Workers are employers’ most important assets. Research demonstrates that designing workspaces with an eye toward promoting well-being can significantly boost employee health and productivity. Specifically, companies should focus on design features that support the seven pillars of integrative or whole-person health: stress management, exercise, sleep quality, social connections, environmental factors, nutrition, and spirituality.
Eliminate stress factors in your workplace to build resilience and increase productivity.
The stress response is a physiological reaction that can enhance or hinder performance depending...
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