Placing mindfulness at the centre of Office design in London

The term 'mindfulness' is used constantly in today's society; as the influence of technology (and the virtual world it creates) has taken a hold on our daily lives, we may forget (or simply have no time to) connect with what's going on around us in the physical world. This is particularly true of the workplace.

With increased digital connectivity comes increased distractions, interruptions, stress and health problems; all things that break up the working day and reduce productivity. As a result, more businesses are placing mindfulness at the centre of their office design in London; reducing that negative influence and instead, creating a workplace that is more conducive to producing high-quality work.

Why mindfulness is important in an office design in London

Whilst life in any big city can be stressful, working in London takes it to the next level. Frenetic and fast-paced, it presents a big challenge to the minds of the people who work there; urban environments are hives of activity, with their sights, sounds and smells providing a sensory overload that can affect people on a physical and psychological level (and this is before they start work!)

Competition between businesses can alsocause an additional layer of stress; not just in terms of attracting clientsbut also to attract and retain the best talents too. Creating an office design in London that peoplelook forward to coming to every day will be a big help in achieving building apositive environment that is geared towards business success.

So with this in mind, here are the different aspects of a mindful office environment:

Sound

Whilst the modern workplace should be able to offer employees easy collaboration, there will be times when people would want/need a quiet space in which to press on with their work without any distractions. A common trend with modern office designs has been the introduction of 'quiet rooms' (or areas) that are given over for workers needing to minimise the noise in their immediate environment.

Within the 'work arena' itself, an interesting technique to reduce sound levels is 'sound masking'. This produces white noise (reducing the difference between background sounds and 'peak' sounds, such as a door slamming) – this can have a positive effect on work performance, helping to reduce stress that employees deal with throughout the day.

There are other ways in which sound can be reduced in a busy office; playing 'natural' sounds (such as running water) can block out the noise of chatter and disruptive hustle-and-bustle, whilst sound insulation is a great way of absorbing excessive noises.

Sight

In a busy workplace, visual distractions can be all too common. Partitions can work well in an open plan office; they can create a private working space for employees, blocking both sight and noise. Creating a calming workspace to make the workforce feel happy and motivated can also be achieved by using the right colours, textures and lighting set-ups.

It's also important to think about the types of personalities that make up the workplace team. Understanding different temperament types will help a business to create their office design in London around how they would like to work, rather than having them fit their preferred working styles around the limitations of the space on offer. Some workers, for example, may prefer dedicated quiet spaces in which to work,whereas others may benefit from spaces that help them to connect with their colleagues on a one-to-one basis. Giving them versatility in choice, the ability to shape how they work, is a great way to empower them.

Sense

There is a range of different things a business can do to boost the sensory experience of its employees to increase mindfulness at work. Filling the office with plants not only makes it smell more pleasant, but it also improves air quality and oxygen levels too. The addition of natural surfaces and furniture to the office will also increase comfort and stimulation.

Allowing staff to control in-work temperature and air flows (either through increased ventilation options or thermal control) can help them to feel in control of their environment, satisfying them and making them ready to tackle some work.

Attachment

Creating a work environment in which employees feel that they belong is a great way of creating a mindful office. In today's flexible and mobile economy, employees can quickly feel disconnected from their employer and as a result, from the environment in which they work. Creating welcoming entrances, informal social areas and high-quality video-conferencing facilities (for remote workers) will help to create an attachment to the company amongst staff.

So those were the different aspects of creating a mindful workplace. If you're thinking about improving your own office design in London to create a mindful environment too, why not consider getting in touch with the experienced office fit out team here at Oaktree Interiors to learn how we can help?

Choose Oaktree Interiors for mindful office design

With over 30 years of experience in the office design industry, we have collected a wide range of skills and knowledge that allows us to offer a complete bespoke service for every client we serve. No matter the type or size of your organisation, we can guarantee the deliverance of a high-quality office fit out that will meet every requirement you have.

If you would further information about how we are able to create your ideal office design in London, please feel free to get in touch with us directly today. You can call us on 034521 86955 or send us an e-mail at hello@oaktreeoffice.com

Placing Mindfulness At The Centre Of Office Design In London