How To Set Up A Wellness Room At Work

A wellness room is a breath of fresh air in today's fast-paced work culture. It's a space where employees recharge, leading to a healthier workplace. Let's delve into what makes a wellness room essential to modern office design.

Employee wellness has been an influential aspect of the corporate world for quite some time. Here, with an addition of the COVID-19 pandemic, things are getting even more crucial. Companies now must go above and beyond to safeguard the health of their employees.

This cautious corporate behavior has given rise to many wellness activities at work. Some of these are yoga in the workplace, office exercises, office meditation techniques, office gym, etc. Now, amidst these provisions, let us recommend you one more facility here; a wellness room at work.

What is a Wellness Room?

A wellness room is a private spot in the office for employees to relax and refresh. It's a peaceful retreat for a quick mental and physical break.

It is crucial because the modern open office design limits a peaceful quiet atmosphere to work. Working continuously amidst all the noise and stress can often render one exhausted.

In situations like this, a wellness room at work offers employees peace of mind for some time. It is because a wellness room accommodates all the relaxing activities possible in an office. These can be massages, meditation at work, light therapy, etc.

For reasons as such, having wellness rooms are crucial to manage fatigue in an office space. To do so, here are a few pointers on how to design a wellness room at work.

Benefits of a Wellness Room in the workplace

The Wall Street Journal reported that more companies are creating wellness rooms to prioritize employees' mental health. This will help their employees to relax and recharge. Here is a list of benefits of wellness spaces for both employees and the company.

Employee Benefits

1. Stress Relief: Offers a serene environment to unwind. Helps employees manage workday stress and recharge.

2. Mental Health Support: Provides a peaceful retreat for meditation or quiet breaks. It is crucial for mental well-being amidst hectic schedules.

3. Physical Health Promotion: Spaces for yoga and stretching help employees relieve stiffness and tension in muscles and joints. Thus promoting physical wellness.

4. Productivity Enhancement: A refreshed and relaxed mind can focus better. This leads to increased efficiency and higher-quality work.

5. Work-Life Balance: A private area for personal needs. It can be a quick nap or a moment of solitude. It helps to maintain a healthy balance between work and personal life.

Company Benefits

Companies can also gain certain benefits by implementing wellness rooms at work. These include:

1. Attracting top talent by showing commitment to employee health.
2. Retention of employees by making them feel more valued.
3. Increase in productivity as healthier employees take fewer leaves.
4. Help promote a caring company culture, improving brand value.
5. Fostering a positive office environment with a happier workforce.

Essential Elements for Creating an Employee Wellness Room

Ready to create a wellness room at your office? Here's what you need to make it effective and welcoming for everyone.

1. Understanding the team’s requirement

First and foremost, you must understand your team’s requirements. You can start this off by having an employee wellness survey regarding what calms them down, their choice of activities, etc.

It will help you design a better wellness room that will cater to their personal needs, which must be the focal point. For example, if workers feel yoga will calm them down, you can place yoga mats in the room for some office yoga poses.

Only after knowing their needs, you should proceed further into the design process.

2. Color Scheme

Since wellness rooms are break rooms of sorts from the stress, the atmosphere inside must be calming. In getting this right, the perfect color scheme must be a top priority. One thing that you should read at this point is the concept of “healing color.”

As the name suggests, certain colors have specific aesthetic attributes that earn them the name of healing colors. While deciding on a color scheme for your wellness room, you can use such combinations for a soothing atmosphere.

Examples of healing colors are blue, violet, red, orange, yellow, green, pink, white, and purple. Green is excellent to reduce eye strain; blue makes for a peaceful environment; purple helps one feel spiritual, etc.

Each one of these colors has its psychology. Be sure to read up on it before deciding on a color scheme.

3. Lighting

Lighting is another aspect to fight workplace stress in the office. In most wellness rooms, natural light is desirable to have a tranquil setting. However, you must not overdo it.

Some employees may come to a wellness room to get a quick nap. Here, ample lighting is not suitable. In this regard, you can install wooden curtains or shades to block out the light when necessary.

If natural light is not an option for you, you can also use dimmable lamps in your wellness room. Here, avoid using harsh light of any form in a place like this. Try to maintain a quiet and mellow atmosphere.

4. Comfortable Furniture

Comfortable furniture is a must-have in any office wellness room for a relaxing time. In this regard, couches, bean bags, etc., have a more laid back and relaxing attitude.

While going for couch shopping, be sure to purchase couches with soft fabrics where employees can be comfortable. Having a few recliner chairs is also a great idea here to rest for a while.

Also, while settling on the furniture, keep in mind the room atmosphere. Matching the color scheme of the room to the furniture would be an excellent idea here. It will add a beautiful feel to the place, which will put employees at ease quickly.

Related Article: Basics about work from home furniture and an exciting deal!!

5. Privacy

Most companies have separate wellness rooms for mothers in the workplace to give them some private space. In the early motherhood stages, nursing mothers need privacy to breastfeed their children.

In this regard, you must provide them a separate room to pump breast milk and take care of their kids. Therefore, you must keep in mind a private area for the mothers in your office.

6. Massage Chair

Nothing rubs down the tension like a good massage. The office is often a haven for stress and tension in both body and mind. Therefore, it is essential to get rid of these unwanted attributes as best as possible.

Here, massage chairs are necessary for a modern office today to fight fatigue and stress. They not only erase stress but also relaxes the body by removing the tension in the muscles. It is for these reasons why massages are an excellent addition to your wellness room.

In addition to the chair, you can also get a massage therapist to offer a holistic corporate massage therapy to employees.

7. Minimalist office decor ideas

Besides these, you must also have a fair bit of knowledge about office decor ideas to include in your wellness rooms. Here, there are many things that you can have in a wellness room. Some of these are Plants, Flowers, Fragrances, Paintings, Rugs, Wall Art, etc.

8. Refrigeration

Include a fridge for storing healthy snacks and drinks, as well as breast milk for nursing mothers.

You must look out for these essentials while creating a wellness room at work.

Wellness Room ideas at work

Here are some wellness room ideas you can implement at work:

1. Meditation Sanctuary: A peaceful set-up with soft lighting, floor cushions, and nature sounds. It helps your employees to relax and self-reflect.

2. Fitness Nook: A dedicated space allowing your employees to showcase their fitness moves. It can include yoga mats, foam rollers, and light weights.

3. Reading Retreat: A silent corner with books on self-improvement and wellness for employees who love reading.

4. Creative Corner: A corner with arts and crafts supplies supporting the spontaneous creativity of your employees.

5. Digital Detox Cafe: Restrict digital devices inside this room. You can include puzzles, board games, etc, to create a device-free ambiance.

Wellness Room Guidelines

Creating a wellness room in the workplace is a valuable investment in employee well-being. To ensure its success, consider these key guidelines:

Design and Purpose

1. Define Usage: Make it clear that the wellness room is strictly for relaxation and personal time, not for work-related activities or meetings. This sets the tone for its intended use.
2. Involve Employees: Engage employees in the design process to understand their needs, whether they seek a quiet place for meditation, a space for physical activities, or a cozy nook for reading.

Rules and Etiquette

1. Time Management: Establish a time limit for room usage (30 minutes or an hour) to ensure all employees have access.
2. Booking System: Consider implementing a reservation system or opt for a first-come-first-served approach to manage access fairly.
3. Respect Privacy and Peace: Ensure the room offers privacy and a tranquil environment. Use signage to indicate when the room is occupied, and discourage loud music or disturbances.
4. Keep it Tidy: Encourage employees to maintain cleanliness and not leave personal items behind, creating a welcoming space for the next user.

Special Considerations

1. Physical Wellness: Equip the room with basic fitness tools to encourage physical activity, helping to counteract the sedentary nature of office work.
2. Mental Wellness Support: Provide elements like comfortable seating and soft lighting to foster a calming atmosphere conducive to mental relaxation and stress relief.
3. Nursing Mothers: In line with legal requirements, offer a private, well-equipped space for nursing mothers. This can include amenities like power outlets, a fridge, and a comfortable seating area.
4. Ongoing Feedback: Gather employee feedback to make necessary adjustments and improvements after setting up the wellness room.

Communication and Awareness

1. Clear Communication: Inform all employees about the availability and rules of the wellness room. Regular updates or reminders can help in maximizing its use.
2. Promote Wellness Culture: Encourage a culture where taking breaks for mental and physical well-being is normalized and supported.

Common mistakes to avoid when creating a wellness room

Here are some common mistakes to avoid when creating a wellness room:

1. Limited Access: Make the room available to everyone, regardless of their role.

2. Monotony: Offer a variety of relaxation tools and activities. Keep various options based on individual needs.

3. Underpromotion: Ensure all employees are aware of the room and its benefits. Promote awareness among new joiners through orientation sessions.

4. Ambiguous Rules: Communicate guidelines clearly for using the space. Don’t leave scope for any sort of ambiguity.

Taking care of these things will contribute to the success of the overall well-being of employees.

Conclusion

Health is a vital matter that needs the utmost attention. As employers, you cannot pass up on any opportunity to boost your employee health. It is especially necessary in the post-pandemic corporate world.

Today, there are so many things you can do with corporate wellness programs; it’s staggering. Of these many wellness opportunities, having a wellness room at work will surely be a great addition to your office.