Biophilia is the natural human desire to be close to/mimic nature. This concept was used in the cited article to explain the positive influence of natural aspects within a workplace. Through introducing nature into an office environment, people can fulfill their biophilic tendencies.

Syracuse University

Humans are drawn to nature, and nature helps us to feel grounded. At work, it is important to have even the smallest connection to nature, and this can help to improve employee well-being. Direct experience of nature, and even indirect experience of nature, experience of spatial features characteristic of the natural environment can help improve employee mental health and help the workplace to be a more productive area.


Connection to Nature at Work

Hui, F., & Aye, L. (2018). Occupational Stress and Workplace Design. MDPI.

Occupational Stress and Workplace Design

Biophilia

Bringing nature into other environments such as hospital rooms also has positive effects. Patients that had just gotten out of surgery and had some nature exposure in their hospital room in one study spent less time in the hospital post operation than the control group. 

Benefit of connection to nature in a medical setting

Job Demands-Control Model: highlights the necessity of autonomy in the workplace.
Job Demands-Resources Model: explains the need to have resources in the workplace. Workplace resources typically result in greater well-being of employees; proximity/connection to nature is an example of a resource.
Conservation of Resources: emphasizes the need for a net amount of resources when compared against stressors at work. If people have more resources than stressors, their well-being will be greater. 


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