MH01 - NatureConnect: more focus and joy during meetings through artificial daylight

Daylight is so common that we often do not realise how important it is. Being exposed to the right amount of daylight during the day, as well as the colours and dynamics of nature, have a great impact on our mood, energy level, comfort, quality of sleep and general wellbeing.

On average, we spend 90% of our time indoors. There, we do not get the right amount and quality of daylight that we need to feel energetic and healthy. Signify’s NatureConnect is integrated in a FlexBox made by Ahrend. It combines various LED light intensities (Daylight, Skylight and Lightscape) and combines it with intuitive controls to mimic natural light. It supports our natural bio-rhythm, offering a view up to blue skies, making people more focused and happier during meetings, which boosts their effectiveness.

MH02 - Sparckel: lighten up your day with dynamic and powerful light

Did you know that, despite the big windows in our buildings, we suffer from light deficiency quite quickly, even in Summer? Buildings block most of the light, preventing daylight from charging our biological clock. The light outside is much stronger during the day than any light inside, even artificial light. As we spend approximately 90% of our time indoors, we do not get sufficient daylight during an average day.

Sparckel is a powerful daylight lamp with proven positive effects on sleep, energy and mood. Specially during office hours, Sparckel lamps improve employee productivity and mood, making them feel more vital. How much light do we need? During the day, we need as much as 1,000 lux, approximately four times the amount we are exposed to in the office and ten times the amount in our homes. In the evening, the light has to be warm, with an amber hue, like a sunset. At night, darkness is key.

MH03 – Hydro-Jet Bed: relaxing during office hours is the new standard

It may seem odd to lie down during a workday, but numerous studies support the benefit of power naps. In a world where a busy life has almost become a status symbol, rest seems to have become a luxury, but it is just as essential for our wellbeing as are healthy food and exercise.

What’s more, scheduling moments of rest in your working day is a great preventative. Some employees may need additional moments of rest during their workday, as they cannot schedule them at home due to a busy family life and volunteer aid tasks. But how much rest should you take? According to scientific publications, between 10 to 12 minutes of rest will do, 20 minutes can induce fatigue. We are currently testing. Do you want to join us? You can set your own time on the Hydro-Jet Bed.

MH04 - Reload Booth: an oasis of rest and energy during a busy workday

This relaxing chair offers a unique space to take a break from your busy work schedule. With sound muffling materials and lots of privacy, the chair makes it easier to relax, both physically and mentally. Equipped with sensors that measure your heart and breathing rate, the effect is immediately measurable.

In addition, the Reload Booth offers breathing exercises, a proven concept that emphasises the importance of (micro-)breaks to the wellbeing and productivity on the work floor. Discover for yourself: have a seat and enjoy your miniature break!

MH05 – Breathing is key if you want to relax

If you are aware of your breathing during work, and actually take some time to do some breathing exercises, you can improve your breathing and start to relax. Your mindset has great impact on your breathing. You can give your mindset a positive boost by watching images of happy people or adorable cat movies, or simply by thinking of those things. Your breathing will immediately calm down because of it.

A step-by-step plan to start a breathing exercise:

→ Step 1. Find a peaceful and calm place

→ Step 2. Find a blank sheet of paper and a pen or pencil

→ Step 3. Set a timer for 3 minutes

→ Step 4. Start the timer. As you breath in, you draw an upward line on the paper, as you exhale, the line goes down

→ Step 5. After 3 minutes, count the number of breaths and divide this total by 3

→ Step 6. How many breaths have you taken? 4-8 per minute in a state of rest is fine. If you have over 15 breaths per minute, you may feel stressed

MH06 – Creating a peaceful corner to work or have a meeting

Noise can cause stress and frustration, as well as diminish your ability to concentrate. In open office plans, loud conversations and other noise can have a great impact on the productivity of the people that work there. Using this round seating corner with foldable screens, you can work quietly and meet without disturbing others.

There are several ways to diminish noise: use noise-cancelling equipment, change your work location, use what’s app to ask questions, create official silent working spaces, set social standards, apply sound scaping (such as waterfalls or bird sounds) and remind the people around you to be aware of the noise they make. It all helps to make people work more quietly.

MH07 – Preventing stress through various interventions

Stress in the office is an important factor of diminished wellbeing, which can lead to physical complaints and even burn-out.

The Workplace Vitality Hub wants to contribute to reducing office-related stress by offering its knowledge and expertise to develop various interventions. These include micro-breaks, keeping a stress diary and visualising stress. All these interventions help to facilitate discussions about stress and workloads between colleagues.

MH08 – Time for a coffee! How are you doing?

Self-awareness starts with the care of others. De coffee machine offers a pillar where you can see how colleagues are doing, which is a good start to boost wellbeing on the work floor.

The state of our mental health is often noticed by others sooner than by ourselves. Regular check-ins, even virtually, are key to increase awareness and wellbeing. By creating a culture together in which it comes natural to take care of each other, we can improve mental health in the office. Let’s create an environment in which it is considered normal to pay attention to each other’s wellbeing, even from a distance.

MH09 – Discover your unique talents and thrive at work

If you want to thrive at work, you have to know what your talents and strengths are. One of the partners that is active in this area is TMA, Talent Motivation Analysis. They have developed a test that shows you, based on your motivations, what kind of work will suit you best and which roll you will take on naturally within a team.

The test does not only help you find the right job. It can also improve team dynamics by providing insight into individual motivations and strengths. Brightly coloured squares adorn the wall of the Workplace Vitality Hub with quotes such as “Everything is easier when you work based on your talents”. These visual reminders remind us of the importance of working from your talents and they contribute to a culture in which everyone is encouraged to make to most of their own unique skills and strengths.