Spring At The Workplace

It's Time to Bring Spring To The Office.

Now that the weather is getting warmer and the long winter is just about over, we can start making considerations for the upcoming spring months. There’s just something about the spring season that causes a revitalization of sorts. There’s some benefit to the warmer weather when it comes to productivity. Whereas the colder weather is known to make you feel sluggish, the warmer temperatures have the habit of giving you energy. According to The Independent :

“Exposure to more natural light in spring boosts mood and energy levels as it increases our serotonin supplies – a neurotransmitter that’s linked to happiness and well-being. The brighter season also helps regulate our circadian rhythms, leading to better sleep and improved alertness. The increased sunlight exposure triggers vitamin D production, which has also been linked to improving our mood and reducing symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which is prominent in the winter months.”

That extra energy can be known to boost productivity in general, but in order to take full advantage of said energy, it is suggested to offer office activities that cater to that nicer weather. This will not only get yourself and your colleagues energized and enthused, but will also inhibit the flow of creative juices, which in turn can be utilized in the workplace. Here are some tips on how to use the Spring Season in the workplace.

Spring Activities to Boost Productivity

Some great spring activities that will not only get the workplace energized, but also raise morale is doing something that involves the entire office in one activity. A day trip, to a vineyard, for example, can help create relationships between staff, between employee and management- the great weather will make for a perfect backdrop. If getting to a vineyard isn’t ideal, how about recreating the setting using a couple of bottles of wine (just enough to taste). Renting out a space, such as an office share or a co working space in order to make your own faux vineyard can be just as good. Just remember to ask the venue in question whether alcoholic beverages are allowed. An alternative, especially if you don’t want to encourage too much drinking would be setting up a workplace picnic, which could include activities that can motivate collaboration through team work, such as a sack race or Volleyball game. If you want to take it a step further, your workplace could even start its own sporting team, and join other businesses in the area in a league. Good examples of this are a softball league or a bowling team. This will not only bring out team work in the workplace, but it will also give you a chance to get to know your community of small businesses through networking as well.

In any case, the collaboration with setting up and then participating in activities like these will not only motivate but will also be a good change of pace that will allow you to enjoy the warmer weather and the overall spring vibes.

Spring Cleaning

The beginning of spring is the perfect opportunity to consider cleaning and tidying up your desk or office space. Just like the seasons pass onto new ones, so should one’s working environment. New business should reflect a new working environment, after all.

The best way to do this is to consider which items are needed to do business efficiently and which ones are distractions. Things to consider getting rid of include things like old documents (make sure to dispose of said documents in a correct manner, especially if the documents contain any sensitive information), decorative items you might have wanted to show off to co-workers during the holiday season, but now seem dated and off season. Things such as office toys that might have seemed like a good idea at the time, but have turned into more of a distraction. Putting things away, and finding places for said items so that you’ll know where they are when you do need them is a good idea in order to boost workplace efficiency. De-cluttering your desk space will not make your work more expeditious, but will give you a sense of accomplishment once you see the results.

This will also give you the chance to change things up a bit by enabling you to create a spring-inspired workplace. Doing so will let you incorporate things that remind you of the new season. This might especially be an important if you’re stuck inside an office with limited or no natural lighting. Start with colors – try to incorporate a few lighter colors that remind of the season, through the use of wall hangings, such as calendars, pictures of yourself and loved ones enjoying events that take place during spring. Maybe even incorporate the use of smaller decorative items, such as a zen garden or garden gnome. Even smaller changes, such as changing up the color of the stationary you use makes a difference in mood and general morale.

Things to also consider while re-decorating your office space would be whether or not you want to incorporate plant life. Plants will not only boost your morale, but the morale of those around you. Just observing the wonder of a living creature you watch grow through multiple weeks can give you a sense of well-being. Like all living things, however, plants need attention – in their case, they need watering and sunlight. If you’re limited to either of those, it might not be a good idea, unless you’re into the “dead plant” look. Of course, there are the exceptions, such as cactus, for example, that only need limited water, which make for an excellent choice as a workplace plant. Plants also take up space. Make those considerations before investing in plant life.

The Office Environment in Spring

Of course, if you’re lucky enough to have access to windows, utilizing them would also be key in getting the most out of the season. You might want to consider, if at all possible (and with permission, whether that’s through the workplace or building manager), changing any curtain to one that is lighter in fabric and tone in order to let in as much natural light as possible. If you have the ability to do so, opening up windows in order to get as much fresh air as possible can also be a benefit. Office buildings, especially modern ones, are designed with keeping air in, in order to be more cost-effective and energy efficient when it comes to the use of air conditioning during the hotter months and heat during the colder months. Unfortunately, the air-tight nature of your average office doesn’t give chance for fresh air to enter. What makes it worse, is that same air-tight design can leave some offices feeling stuffy. The fresh air one gets from an open window will rid any office of it as well as bring much-needed.

If you don’t have the options to work near windows, consider working outside, if possible. Thanks to the power of the internet, most work can be done in almost any location. A few offices have roof decks to take advantage of this. Some office parks offer benches and even tables that could be used as a temporary office. There’s nothing like hearing the sounds of birds chirping while getting through your daily work grind. If your job requires you to stay at your desk, consider taking your lunch out. Consider taking a lunch walk instead.

That change of pace really does make a difference in productivity! Just remember to dress accordingly – take the sun into consideration – the warmer weather can overwhelm. Don’t forget to drink plenty of water as well.

Spring at the workplace is the time to take inspiration from the season itself. As the old adage goes: Spring Forward!

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