We've all seen it before. A lone plant next to a window in a fluorescent–lit office otherwise void of any other natural life. The air conditioner blaring over the constant hum of typing and, occasionally, someone gets up to fill a cone-shaped paper cup with water from the community jug. “Such an awkward plant,” you think, “I wonder if it wishes it was with the other plants outside, in the fresh air, with direct sunlight.” Little do you know, though, this plant serves a huge purpose- one of greater psychological value than what appears initially.

One indoor improvement that studies show to have various positive effects is, you guessed it, adding a plant. In fact, any addition relating to nature, like sunlight, or running water (sorry folks, filling up your cone cup doesn’t count), has shown to not only increase productivity in the workplace, but also to reduce levels of stress and anxiety that can often go hand-in-hand with any office job. The truth of the matter is that not everyone can have a corner office with a view, or even a window. So what can you do to compensate for this? Add a little green to your office space environment and see for yourself the various effects that these small changes can make on your productivity and psyche.

Rachel Kaplan, PhD, and husband Stephen Kaplan, a professor in both psychology and computer science, are leaders in research of what they refer to as “restorative environments”. Their studies reveal that individuals who can see a portion of green nature, while working, do better. Not only is there an increased level of performance, but studies reveal a significant decrease in stress levels and an overall, happier working environment. In fact, there is a direct correlation regarding the number of plants and the level of employee happiness. Raymond De Young, an environmental psychologist at the University of Michigan, states that, “the more plants in an office, the happier the employees”. On top of that (yes, there’s more) studies have shown that plants in the office help reduce complaints of cough, hoarse throat, and fatigue. Need some figures? Get this. A study conducted by professors in the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture at Washington State University showed that subjects were 12% quicker in reactions on computer tasks with plants present and less stressed (systolic blood pressure lower) than were the control subjects who tested in a room without plants.

The positive physical and psychological effects caused by the presence of nature can be accounted for in various ways. Researchers at the University of Technology in Sydney have found that office plants improve air quality by absorbing gases emitted by plastics and other petroleum-based products. The visual effects of indoor plants cause a calming response, mostly associated with productivity. And although it is hard to extract the reasons for such a universal perception toward the presence of nature in a workplace, it is clear that its mere presence has an effect favored by many top CEOs.

Photo Source: flickr.com/photos/kirako/2457327874/