The benefits
What social scientists and scientists tell us
Research has shown that within workplaces nature-based interventions (NBIs) improve employee well-being at an individual level and this also impacts at the organisational level with better levels of mental health and well-being, stronger teams and improved employee engagement and work culture.
Nature-based interventions (NBIs) can improve employee well-being in a range of ways: mental health benefits of spending time in nature include perceived and physiological stress reduction ([1], [2]). Being in nature promotes relaxation and can help better regulate feelings of anxiety and worry [3]). Physiologically, spending time in nature can reduce blood pressure and levels of the stress hormone cortisol. When cortisol levels are reduced, there can be a decrease in general anxiety and an overall improvement in mood ([4]). Other anxiety reducing hormones like serotonin, dopamine and endorphins are released due to the exposure of a calming natural environment ([5], [6], [7]).
In a work setting, access and exposure to plants and nature at work can improve workplace attitudes and reduce stress from the job at hand ([8], [9], [10]). NBIs also offer an opportunity for social bonding between workplace teams and departments ([11], [12]). The promotion of social connection through nature-based activities can help people create support networks ([13]) which, in turn, can increase one’s sense of belonging at work and make it easier to cope with negative emotions ([14]). When improvements in well-being occur at an individual level, employees are likely to experience less burnout and higher levels of work engagement and ability ([15]).