\u00a0Let\u2019s rewild your working space, but don\u2019t sell it as \u2018rewilding\u2019 to your boss<\/strong> and colleagues. Tell them it\u2019s a group process to sanitize your working place and to increment the wellbeing of the workers and increase productivity. In fact, that is not a lie. It\u2019s not at all a crusade against your employer; let\u2019s call it a win-win.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong>Admit it, more that once a day you are looking out of your office window, feeling the physical and mental need to be outdoors, to take a break and breathe fresh air, get some sunlight on your face, move your skeleton and disconnect from the wires, screens, and virtual reality.<\/p>\n \u00a0As nice as your colleagues are, as open minded your boss is, and as passionate you are about your job, your office is not exactly the healthiest place for body and mind<\/strong>.<\/p>\n \u00a0Our bodies were never designed to sit on our butts for hours and hours a day, put fast food in our mouths while continuing to look at a screen, breathing artificial air full of microbes, and being exposed to artificial light so much.<\/p>\n \u00a0So let\u2019s see what rewilding can do to improve this artificial environment in which you spend a big chunk of your time.<\/p>\n \u00a0As a rewilding lifestyle coach, I encourage and help people to discover and implement a healthier and happier lifestyle that is closer to nature and further from the detrimental sedentary side effects of modern society.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u201cYeah, right, in the office?!\u201d I hear you say. I admit, it\u2019s a challenge \u2013 a big one \u2013 but as I\u2019ve said before, \u201cRewilding is, first of all, a state of mind<\/strong>\u201d.<\/p>\n \u00a0You\u2019ll need your creativity and perseverance to convince your colleagues \u2013 your tribe \u2013 to give it a go and see which beneficial effects occur. Try it for a month, and then evaluate it.<\/p>\n \u00a0Here are some tips and tricks for rewilding your office.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n 8-Hour Working Day?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0Reducing the eight-hour work day is a good start.<\/p>\n \u00a0The Swedes got that right! Some companies in Sweden are\u00a0moving to a six-hour working day in a bid to increase productivity and make people happier.<\/p>\n Employers across the country have already made the change, according to the\u00a0Science Alert<\/a>\u00a0website, which said the aim was to get more done in a shorter amount of time and ensure people had the energy to enjoy their private lives.<\/p>\n \u00a0Toyota<\/strong> centres in\u00a0Gothenburg, Sweden\u2019s second largest city, made the switch 13 years ago, with the company reporting happier staff, a lower turnover rate, and an increase in profits in that time.<\/p>\n \u00a0Filimundus<\/strong>, an app developer based in the capital Stockholm, introduced the six-hour day last year.<\/p>\n \u201cThe eight-hour work day is not as effective as one would think,”\u00a0Linus Feldt, the company\u2019s CEO told Fast Company.\u00a0<\/p>\n “To stay focused on a specific work task for eight hours is a huge challenge.\u00a0 In order to cope, we mix in things and pauses to make the work day more endurable.\u00a0 At the same time, we are having it hard to manage our private life outside of work.”<\/p>\n Feldt has said staff members are not allowed on social media, meetings are kept to a minimum, and that other distractions during the day are eliminated. But the aim is that staff will be more motivated to work more intensely while in the office.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n The Office<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a01. Ask for or make your standing desk<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0A standing desk, also called a stand-up desk, is basically a desk that allows you to stand up comfortably while working. Using this type of desk can partially negate the harmful effects of sitting too much.<\/p>\n \u00a0Although research is still in its early stages, standing desks appear to lower your risk of weight gain and obesity, lower blood sugar levels, lower your risk of heart disease,<\/p>\n reduce back pain, help improve mood and energy levels, and even boost productivity.<\/p>\n \u00a0It is important as well to keep the right posture<\/strong>: stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart, flex your abs, engage your glutes, give a little arch to your lower back, stick your sternum out slightly, and roll your shoulders back.<\/p>\n \u00a0Kiki tells about her experience in this article<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n 2. Put a plant on your desk<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0Researchers studied the effects of greenery on staff’s perceptions of air quality, concentration, and workplace satisfaction, and monitored productivity levels over subsequent months in two large commercial offices in the UK and The Netherlands.<\/p>\n \u00a0Lead researcher Marlon Nieuwenhuis, from the Cardiff University School of Psychology, said: \u201cOur research <\/a>suggests that investing in landscaping the office with plants will pay off through an increase in office workers\u2019 quality of life and productivity.\u201d Simply enriching a previously Spartan space with plants served to increase productivity by 15% – a figure that aligns closely with findings in previously conducted laboratory studies.\u00a0<\/p>\n Several plants, like spider plants, dracaenas, golden pothos or rubber plants<\/strong>, are able to filter out common volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and help clean indoor air<\/strong> which is typically far more polluted than outdoor air.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n 3. Surround yourself with pictures of nature<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0You should spend a lot of time outdoors for various reasons. But even when indoors, inspiring pictures of nature can make you feel better, calmer and more relaxed<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong>4. Let the Sun Shine<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n We all know the discombobulated feeling of being stuck in a windowless room under fluorescent lights\u00a0during daylight hours. <\/strong>Researchers at the Interdepartmental\u00a0Neuroscience<\/a>\u00a0program at North-western University in Chicago reported that the detrimental impact of working in a windowless environment is a universal phenomenon. There is a strong relationship between workplace daylight exposure and office workers’ sleep, activity and quality of life.<\/p>\n Compared to workers in offices without windows, those with windows in the workplace received 173 percent more white-light exposure during work hours and slept an average of 46 minutes more per night. Workers without windows reported lower scores than their counterparts on quality-of-life measures related to physical problems and vitality. They also had poorer outcomes in measures of overall sleep quality, sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, and daytime dysfunction.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 5. Air-conditioning and heating<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0I admit, I am not a fan of air-conditioning.<\/p>\n \u00a0Research <\/a>shows <\/a>that people who work in over-air-conditioned environments may experience chronic headaches and fatigue. Those who work in buildings which are constantly being pumped full of cool air may also experience constant mucous membrane irritation and breathing difficulties. This leaves you more vulnerable to contracting colds, flus, and other illnesses.<\/p>\n Something similar happens with heating.<\/p>\n \u00a0In our case, we avoid air conditioning at home (and I know Belgium is not Spain in terms of summer-month temperatures), and we try to keep the heating to a minimum by putting on a sweater or lighting the fireplace. At night, we always turn off the heating, even if the temperature is below zero centigrade.<\/p>\n \u00a0In the office, it is best to keep the AC and heat to a minimum, and to alternate with opening the window<\/strong> every now and then.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 6. Siesta and meditation<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0I am not saying these companies are the summon of rewilding, but it\u2019s valuable to consider their proposals anyway.<\/p>\n \u00a0The athletic giant Nike<\/strong> is said to extend its commitment to health and wellness to employee benefits; at their headquarters near Portland, Oregon, staffers enjoy quiet rooms, where they can nap or even meditate during the day.<\/p>\n \u00a0At Google\u2019s<\/strong> Mountain View, California, home base, employees take advantage of campus-wide nap pods, which are futuristic-looking lounge chairs that play soothing sounds so workers can catch a quick snooze when they need one.<\/p>\n Of course, employee well-being is just one benefit to company-sponsored napping.<\/p>\n \u00a0Another important bonus is improved employee performance. In the 1990s, NASA<\/strong> recognized sleep\u2019s crucial role for astronauts and experimented with short naps during their workdays. Not surprisingly, performance skyrocketed; today, the \u201cNASA nap\u201d is a common practice among pilots making international flights for airlines such as Continental and British Airways.<\/p>\n \u00a0During the years that Kiki worked for the Virgin<\/strong> Group, having places and opportunities to take a nap made it possible to face the last hours of the work day with renewed energy instead of fighting with the yawns until it\u2019s time to leave the office.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a07.\u00a0<\/strong>Computer Lighting<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0The lighting of the world around us changes depending on the time of day. During the day, we\u2019re exposed to bright sunlight that has a cool, blue-colour temperature. This keeps us awake and affects our circadian rhythms. At night, the bright sunlight is gone \u2014 instead, we\u2019re using indoor lighting that is generally dimmer and warmer. Our brains secrete melatonin during these darker hours when we\u2019re not exposed to sunlight, causing us to get sleepier.<\/p>\n \u00a0But our computers didn\u2019t get the message. Staring at these bright, sun-like screens late into the night or morning, as many of us do, strains our eyes<\/a>\u00a0and inhibits melatonin production. Some computers have brightness sensors and will adjust the screen brightness depending on how bright it is around you, but the colour temperature doesn\u2019t change.<\/p>\n \u00a0Flux <\/a>uses warmer colours at night than during the day, making white colours appear a bit more reddish. Looking at a warmer display at night will help reduce eye strain, and, because you\u2019re not staring at a bright, sunlight-like screen, cause your brain to secrete more melatonin and help you get to sleep earlier and sleep better.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong>Diet<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n When sitting for long periods, not being active at all, your food choices are even more important. Even your boss should care about the food you put into your mouth. A healthy diet makes healthy, more productive people.<\/p>\n \u00a0Plan<\/strong> and prepare your work meals at home. Think about healthy choices, balance, and portions. Avoid food and beverages coming out of a machine except for water.<\/p>\n \u00a0Going out to a restaurant or to the company canteen is no excuse for a poor diet. Go for the healthies choice, and ask the waiter for salads and vegetables instead of the typical French fries. Order healthy, local, and seasonal food. When you and your colleagues keep asking for it, the restaurant will consider it after all<\/strong>. The customer is king.<\/p>\n \u00a0During stress<\/strong> moments you may want to grab for the nearest snack as comfort food. Ditch the chips and sweets, and put local and season fruits on the table.<\/p>\n \u00a0A good organic coffee<\/strong> can be heaven! Aim for the best coffee quality possible on the work floor. But be reasonable, don\u2019t drink it like it\u2019s water! You\u2019ll become addicted, and, after a while, it won\u2019t increase your productivity anymore. Look for alternatives like herbal teas.<\/p>\n \u00a0Drink enough water<\/strong>, but don\u2019t overdo it. Not too long ago, people were advised to drink two to three liters a day. Now, they know better. Stay hydrated, but don\u2019t exaggerate. Just as when you are outdoors, the best indicator of good hydration is the color of your pee.<\/p>\n \u00a0Colleagues find many good reasons to have a little party in the office<\/strong>: a birthday, a new birth, a retirement, or a new employee. Most of the time, the food that people choose to celebrate with are way too salty and\/or way too sweet. Go for the healthy, different, and creative choices.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Movement<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Especially if you have a desk job, stand up and move around!<\/p>\n I know, I know, it\u2019s the simple things, but at the end of the day, they can make a huge difference.<\/p>\n I know it\u2019s a screamy one-liner: \u201cSitting is the new smoking,\u201d but various studies all over the globe support it. We sit way too much, and it is killing us. So, stand up for your right to \u2026 stand up. (link to stand up for your health)\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0I know that what I propose is not easy.<\/p>\n Office and nature are two opposite poles.<\/p>\n But I still want you to give it a try and discover how your quality of life can improve significantly by bringing rewilding to your workplace.\u00a0<\/p>\n Now I would love to hear your experiences on this subject so don\u2019t be shy and share your proposals in the comments.<\/p>\n A big hug!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n
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