There’s probably nothing harder for a workaholic to do than take time out from work – particularly with an ever-growing pile of things to do in the in-box. But, half an hour spent appreciating your natural surroundings will do wonders for de-stressing and could help ensure you can keep working for longer and perhaps more effectively.

That’s the reminder from HR expert Georgina Barrick, of Humanity Search and Select, who illustrates in this beautifully written piece that there’s more to life and business success than nose-to-the-grindstone type work. Our commercial endeavours can ultimately benefit if we take some time to see and smell those small delights like fresh raindrops on leaves or kittens playing rough and tumble. She shares how an office move to a greener environment had a meaningful impact on her life.

Georgina is so convinced of the benefits of creating some space to enjoy the world around us that she advocates holding staff meetings on the grass outside the office building if at all possible.”Every time we raise our consciousness to include being grateful for and connected to the nature around us, something in our spirit is delighted and we become a little less stressed in the process,” says Georgina of how to enhance wellbeing at work. – JC

 The other ‘s’ word in the city

By Georgina Barrick

After a stressful day of intense meetings, you get back to your desk, slump into your chair and sometimes it feels like there isn’t time for anything but the next e-mail, the next telephone call, the next proposal. Then you look up and see something outside your office window that just makes you smile and the stress evaporates.

Earlier this week, this was exactly my experience. I looked up and out my office window I watched four kittens playing rough and tumble in the plants – a small delight that really changed the way I felt about my whole day!

It made me wonder how people in huge office towers deal with daily stresses, compared to those who work in office parks, surrounded by greenery, birds, wildlife and yes… even kittens.

Until a year ago I worked in a massive office tower in the bustling ‘metropolis’ of Sandton. I’d fight the traffic in the morning, arrive at the office towers, park in the bowels of the basement and take a lift up to my office.

It was, in fact, a magnificent corner office with incredible views but I wasn’t able to open a window and smell the day, the rain or the Syringa trees. I drove to work with my windows shut – trying not to make eye contact with anyone – and sat in an air-conditioned office all day until I left to go home – with my windows closed again.

On the first day working in our new office park – having given no thought to my surroundings before – it suddenly hit me: “Wow, I’ve really, really missed the trees and even the feel of grass beneath my shoes.”

Communing with nature has a positive effect on your employees

As more companies create office parks or green campuses instead of gigantic, air-conditioned towers where most people can’t feel their days pass by, the impact on well-being at work must be positive. Health-care providers have long advocated taking a walk at lunch or tea time, and office parks give people a little experience of nature to clear their heads of business, if only for short bursts. Research has shown that people in nature, who are exposed to direct sunlight, are more connected and generally happier.

Feeling the warmth, actually enjoying the scent of the plants and even rain on the grass, and connecting with nature in any form is a key component of consciousness. While indoors when we’re generally focused on work and other electronic devices we should regularly head outside, use our awareness and engage our senses to appreciate our surroundings. When we do, we raise our awareness and this can be both stimulating and calming.

It is gratifying to see that PARK(ing) Day – an initiative started to encourage artists, designers and citizens to transform parking areas into temporary public parks – has reached over 162 cities, 35 countries and six continents. In addition, it has established itself as a global event.

How incredible it must be to walk out of an office tower and see your parking lot covered in trees, shrubs and other living things that breathe new life into your day. We are suddenly transported away from wireless technology and get (even for a moment) to connect with the wireless parts of ourselves: The soul.

If you are fortunate enough to work in an office park, take a half hour from your day to head outside and see the incredible things happening to trees right now:

• The Jacarandas are in bloom, turning Jo’burg streets and skies a glorious lavender,
• Birds are singing for the keen ear (in my office park the ducks are even quacking), and
• Scents change as the wind blows.

Think about even having your team meetings outside. If you work in an office tower, take a walk around the block and actively look for nature and delight. Every time we raise our consciousness to include being grateful for and connected to the nature around us, something in our spirit is delighted and we become a little less stressed in the process.

This article is republished with the kind permission of  HR Pulse.

Georgina Barrick is the founder and CEO of Humanity Search and Select. She has a bachelors degree in English and psychology with post-graduate qualifications in business, leadership and innovation. She sits on the board of the Product Development and Management Association and is a sought-after speaker on leadership, innovation and human consciousness management. Georgina currently sits on the APSO Council and holds the executive search portfolio. She is also a member of the APSO ethics committee.