How to beat the ‘Afternoon Slump’; natural remedies to the unwanted office lull from Ambius
Anyone who has worked in an office is likely to have experienced that unwanted dip in energy in the afternoon; your eyes start to close slightly, emails take longer to read, and you find yourself drifting off in meetings.
The most common time for this ‘afternoon slump’ is around 2pm. This is when office workers experience the greatest lack in concentration and drop in productivity.
Ways to beat the slump
Common ways to counteract this energy dip may include reaching for that chocolate muffin (sugar hit) or having a large cup of coffee (caffeine hit). Slightly more healthy ways include talking a walk outside (which gives you a vitamin D hit and some fresh air) or trying to have a more balanced lunch of fruit, veggies, whole grains, and fibre (going easy on the carbs which can cause afternoon sleepiness).
However, research has found that introducing indoor plants into the office one can reverse these effects, without having to reach for the coffee and biscuits.
Why do office workers have an “afternoon slump”?
One of the reasons behind the afternoon energy dip is a rise in carbon dioxide (CO2) levels throughout the day. The primary source of indoor CO2 is humans. Typical outdoor concentrations are around 380ppm (parts per million) but this can increase to several thousand indoors2 over the course of one day.
Whilst these levels of CO2 are not dangerous to health, they can have an impact on concentration. This was demonstrated by a study conducted by the Berkeley National Laboratory showing a correlation between high CO2 levels and diminished decision making performance, as well as lower productivity.
How does having indoor plants impact performance and productivity?
It’s time to stop thinking of plants as only being part of the office décor and just adding aesthetic value to a business. There’s growing recognition of the more tangible benefits of having plants in your workplace. This includes the positive effect indoor plants can have on concentration and productivity.
Indoor air can be as polluted, and in some case even more polluted than outdoor air – thanks to high levels of exhalation and office dust; both of which work to increase CO2 in the air. (Read more about common indoor air pollutants here).
Plants have been shown to absorb and break down all types of urban air pollutants as well as replenish the levels of oxygen (O2) in the air through photosynthesis. The result is two complementary ways of refreshing the air; removing CO2 and boosting O2 levels.
What does the research say?
Research conducted in Sydney by Margaret Burchett on Greening the Great Indoors for Human Health and Wellbeing backs up this theory. Her research showed that in offices with plants, CO2 levels were reduced by 10% in air conditioned buildings and by 25% in non-air conditioned ones, compared to the equivalent offices without plants.
By reducing CO2 levels in the building, especially in the afternoon when they have risen naturally, concentration, creativity and performance levels are more likely to increase, allowing employees to be more productive in the office for longer periods of the day.
Plants are a cost effective solution to improving productivity, and certainly a healthier solution for workers; no more rushes to the biscuit tin or coffee machine to beat that afternoon slump.
Biophilia: Our innate need for nature
Working in an office doesn’t mean we lose our innate need to be ‘in’ nature. If anything, we need plants even more in the built environment. Humans have an instinctive affiliation (biophilia) with the natural world and if we are granted this, whether it’s being located near a window with a view, or having a pot plant on our desk, we tend to feel calmer and happier.
Creating a healthy and nature-connected working environment can pay huge dividends in terms of productivity, engagement, and wellbeing.
In addition to incorporating indoor plants to your workplace, you may want to consider the strategic placement of air purification solutions such as VIRUSKILLER, and hand sanitising stations such as the Sanigreen to ensure that you are taking a holistic approach to wellness in the workplace.
Contact Ambius today to find out how we can help you create this kind of environment for your employees.
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