Experts explain how employees benefit from comfortable workspaces

One must said the philosopher Albert Camus imagine Sisyphus happy The context of the Frenchmanrsquos statement was his observation of life as endless work in repetition In the volatile job market today this ennui is accompanied by the lingering fear and uncertainty of losing onersquos employment and privileges In such cases professionals are under more mental and emotional stress than everPlants are known to relieve stress and add vibrancy to the office spaceA recent viral video of Googlersquos headquarters in Gurugram revealed the many ways the tech giant has used the office to enable a vibrant and welcoming space for its employees From nap rooms to free food and recreational spaces employees can benefit from these silos when work feels overwhelming While not all corporations can afford giving their employees such facilities we speak to psychologists and workspace designers to learn of the need and benefits of such additions to the officeHealth makes wealthSubodh Ekbote 63 interior designerSimple and effective tabletops are the best place to start Most importantly a workplace must be effective and functional A number of offices now focus on healthoriented workstations for employees If you work for long hours opt for a standing table I would recommend brighter and lighter colours to give the place a welcome feel Adding some greenery is also highly recommendedMy recco A green plant to brighten up your work desk can add a breath of fresh airBalance between work and playRobin Chhabra 36 founder DextrusFunctionality is the primary concern of workspace design The ethos of a company is an important thing to keep in mind too For instance you cannot have a noisy space next to a team that requires quiet Such steps help to reduce friction between teams and stress You could design workspaces with a cafeteria and amenities for play But quiet places are just as important and are needed for people to take time out You could also create a workout space to help people focus on their health But if you overemphasise the amenities it may also prove distracting Activities like dressing up the desk can also contribute to teambuilding In addition you can also add a space for landscaping It will make the workplace feel a lot nicer and add relaxing colours to itMy recco Individuals can bring in real plants not fake ones or create a small writing space on their desk for notes and creative expressionSee the lightGaurav Bansal 33 architectAccess to good food and company can relieve stress for employeesThe stress about pay scales competition and pressure is a constant across industries today I feel that access to good and healthy food a relaxed atmosphere and a recreational space are underrated An important element to take into consideration is natural lightThe more an employee connects with nature the less stress they experience Where offices cannot match up to Google in scale they can seek to bring in small additions like a reading corner a small nook or meditative space for people to relax inMy recco Individuals can add some colour or an artwork to liven up their desk It should be an expression of their personality and styleOpen spaces for interactionVidhya Nair 32 holistic psychologistEnvironment plays a major role in mental health Having clutter around you can make you stressed and anxious because it represents chaos and a disorganised state of mind If you like comics you can add figurines or a picture of your petUse postit notes to add colour to your desk and also as a reminder to take time off from work and focus on yourselfThe vibrancy of a plant will add character to the desk and make it feel more personal Employers should have spaces for interaction encouragement in terms of work or dealing with stressMy recco Use postits reminding yourself to breathe It is important to take a break from work to avoid pressureEnjoy your workplaceSuchitra Inamdar 45 psychotherapistNew spaces and coworking habitats are technologically rooted and enable flexibility My recommendation is to build work environments that are natureoriented to help employees breathe If the individual is able to personalise his workspace it would certainly give them a connection to the workplace Colours food and music bring people together A client of mine who found it difficult to open up with others in the office chose to bring in cookies he made in small jars It turned his cubicle into an interactive open space By adding personal elements you invite people to be a part of your work and learn who you areMy recco Add sketches a plant some memories and colour to your desk It should feel like an extension of your life