Go green in the office

Feeling ill, stressed or tired? The solution may be easier than you thought – get some plants to brighten up your office. Research by the Agricultural University of Norway has shown that the more plants workers could see from their desk, the less self-reported sick leave they took. Plants in the office also appeared to reduce fatigue, headaches and even dry skin. Washington State University found that greenery also improved staff reaction times by 12% and lead to a quicker recovery from stress. Apparently this is a combination of plants’ ability to remove toxins from the air and the positive psychological affect that plants can have. Although we don’t recommend going over the top – an office resembling a jungle can’t be good for productivity – if a plant can brighten the office up and maybe be beneficial to our health, then it may be worth a go. Just don’t get distracted and procrastinate by watering it or deciding which corner it looks best in…we already have the internet for that.