Why Bringing Nature Inside Boosts Creativity, Productivity, and Wellness (Space Matters, ep.7)

Plants can change your mood, so should offices have more of them around? Kali and Katie from The Glasshouse project join Kursty to discuss how plants can boost mental wellness, productivity, and creativity. They also chat about how having plants in the office can encourage staff to want to work from there rather than from home. Rediscover why you need more plants in your life throughout this episode. 

The Glasshouse Project is a social enterprise in the UK that helps female inmates fin housing and employment by bringing nature into urbanized environments. They provide corporate gifting packages, plantscaping services, and workshops that simplify the process of caring for plants. 

“They just grow, they’re just useful, how could you not want plants around you?”

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Timestamps

[00:29] Episode overview: Kali and Katie from The Glasshouse Project 

[03:38] What is The Glasshouse Project?

[05:53] The secret is in the soil 

[07:26] The mental benefits of keeping plants in the office

[13:08] How plantscaping can change your corporate culture 

[17:21]  Expanding The Glasshouse Project 

[18:55] How Katie got involved in The Glasshouse Project 

[20:12] Becoming a horticulturalist: a softer way of life 

[24:12] The connection between creativity, productivity, and nature (what the studies show)

[31:39] How to get plants from The Glasshouse Project

[33:57] How The Glasshouse Project’s business model is changing 

[35:11] Can you bring the Glasshouse Project to your country or city?

3 Key Takeaways: 

• Urban environments that are devoid of nature negatively impact mental health. Plants ground us. Being surrounded by a man-made environment without nature causes stress and anxiety. 
• Plantscaping your office can potentially boost mental wellness and decrease the amount of sick days being taken. Even small moments of interaction with nature indoors can make a noticeable shifts in the way our minds deals with stress. Bringing nature inside can create a welcoming environment. 
• Taking care of a plant can prepare people who are recovering from addiction for bigger commitments like taking care of a pet or getting into a serious relationship.

Links 

The Glasshouse Project: Website | Instagram | Facebook 

Connect with Kali Hamerton-Stove: LinkedIn

Connect with Kursty Groves: LinkedIn | Twitter | Ask a question or pitch an idea: kursty@shapeworklife.com 

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