by Tom
Canadian study shows physical activity does increase when workplace provides access
The study examined of the relationship between access to workplace amenities and leisure-time physical activity for Canadian adults (59K surveyed).
Source: www.informedesign.org
Essentially this very robust study shows a 15% increase in physical activity for each amenity—such as walking tracks, gyms, changing rooms, etc. So if you build it, they will come.
by Tom
Worth reading: HBR article on the beauty of under-scheduling.
Give yourself permission to prioritize your time.
Source: hbr.org
I'm going to try it: 1) Define what success feels like 2) Be honest about "must do" activities 3) Under-schedule your calendar 4)
Decline activities and tasks that aren't aligned (whew, that's a biggie for me) 5) Savor the beauty every day. I'd add, do something nice for someone or something with your extra mental capacity.
by Tom
A great round-up of model spaces for new ways of working | Gensler
New pressures on their teams are leading organizations to offer balanced and flexible work settings that adapt to rapid change.
Source: www.gensler.com
Case studies of collaborative/mixed spaces in the US, UK, and Korea spanning tech, energy, and media sectors. The common themes are: More amenity space and emphasis on collaboration.
by Tom
“Twas the Night before Move Day” a new take on an old verse for workplace strategists
Twas the night before move day when all through the place, my people were sobbing, "we’ll hate the new space." ...
http://globalworkplaceanalytics.com/news
Twas the night before move day when all through the place,
my people were sobbing, "we’ll hate the new space."
The boxes were stacked by the windows with dread,
with hope that the movers would no-show instead.
The workers made busy in spite of their fears,
but that’s not to say there weren’t a few tears.
When out in the cubes there arose such a clatter,
I sprung from my desk to see what was the matter.
When what to their crestfallen eyes should appear,
but a full crew of movers; the future was clear.
As we boarded the buses to see the new space,
I realized the problem, we’d not made the case.
"Why must we do this? What’s in it for me?"
If we wanted them happy, those answers were key.
On HR, on FM, on IT, and the rest,
we must band together and give it our best.
From the top of the org chart, to the bottom, for all,
the workplace is changing...let’s rise to the call."
"There’s no need to worry, this has been done before.
You’ll love all the choices for working and more."
"It isn’t a matter of when, where, or how,
it’s already different, the future is now."
by Tom
Should the Lunch Break the Central Focus of a Workplace? This firm says ‘yes’.
"Fewer than 20 percent of American office workers take a lunch break, partly because the average workplace doesn’t have a lunch room. Architecture firm Snøhetta has designed its own offices to accommodate this important activity and make it the central focus of the workday."
Source: www.metropolismag.com
Breaking bread together has been a bonding event since humans first walked the earth. A recent study (not mentioned in the article) showed a significant increase in call center productivity after simply arranging shared break times. I'd love to see more research in this area.