It’s not pretty to those who even notice it.  Lined by a long chain link fence on one side and by walled-off tile-roofed houses on the other, the wash is by most accounts an unattractive, left-over piece of undeveloped desert scrub.  But to those of us who walk down the neighborhood drainage wash on a daily basis, it is our link to nature, to hidden beauty and to improved mental health.

Numerous studies have shown what many of us already know instinctively, if not subconsciously: being in nature is therapeutic.  I’ll admit that I can’t even start thinking about the day until I have been outside in the morning, either walking down the wash or hiking in the nearby mountains.  Being outside, whether I am actively looking for wildflowers, saying hello to the birds (I know where they all live now), or if I am not seeing anything at all for being consumed by my own thoughts, lifts my spirits and gives me clarity of thought. 

Children who are allowed recess outside show fewer discipline problems in the classroom.  Nursing home patients who garden are more sociable, have stronger focus and show higher levels of engagement.  But until now, no one knew how much green exercise it took to reap the rewards.

 Researchers at the University of Essex have confirmed in a recent study published in the Journal of Environmental Science and Technology that just five minutes a day of outdoor exercise contributes to mental health. 

 Improved mood and self esteem are greatest for the young and the mentally ill, but people of all ages and social groups benefit.

Just five minutes a day of outdoor exercise can improve our disposition, boost our self-esteem and focus more at work.  Urban parks and rural farms work equally well, but water seems to increase the benefits.

Businesses who want happier, more engaged employees can encourage their employees to get outside during lunch and breaks.  They can recommend nearby parks for employees to visit during lunch, or they can set up their own green areas.  Here are some suggestions for encouraging employees to get their five minutes of green exercise: 

• Set up paths through grassy areas around the grounds
• Plant flowers and shrubs along the walk way between office and parking lot
• Install a fountain

If changing the grounds is not possible, consider bringing some nature indoors:

• Use full spectrum light bulbs that mimic real daylight
• Bring live plants to the office and assign various employees to take care of them
• Consider a simple fishbowl with a single beta fish, or for the more ambitious, an aquarium with a variety of plants and fish

Reconnect with nature every day, even during work hours and have happier, more engaged employees.

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Start a conversation in support of green transportation in your workplace

 

Car or bike sharing, carpooling, using a more fuel efficient company car, alternative transportation like buses and light rail, biking, even walking to work – green transportation can provide benefits for both the employee and employer as well as the environment. While there are many options and actions you can take as an individual, more can be done if there is support from not only your co-workers but also your company as a whole. 

 May is National Bike Month and this Friday is National Bike-to-Work Day. Like most days of observance, you need not make it a one shot deal.

Bicycling promotes good health, reduces traffic, cuts down on fuel consumption and improves air quality all year round. So do other transportation alternatives.

 Most employers are open to the idea of supporting green transportation initiatives for employees so be willing to open a dialog with your manager.  If you are a manager, look into how many simple initiatives and programs can help your business.

 Whether employee or management, you can contact your local Department of Transportation to learn more about what programs may be available in your community, and if there are any incentives for workplace use. Programs such as Best Workplace for Commuters will have more information as well as Commuter Choice, which links employers with transportation providers. To support employee bicycling, contact your city or local bike club for resources and ideas. Also, consider that the League of American Bicyclists not only sponsors Bike Month, but Bicycle Friendly Business as well so aim to get your company on the list.

 Management can also consider the following green transportation strategies:

• Provide a subsidy to employees who walk, bicycle, carpool, or take public transportation to work. Many employers are already paying for parking so allow employees to choose to use this subsidy for green transportation instead.
• Buy high mileage vehicles such as hybrid gasoline-electric, for company use. Do the same with a few bicycles that can be used to run simple errands. Or consider using car sharing or bike sharing services.
• “Flexiplace” options – allow employees to telecommute to work. Employees may be more productive, save the company money, and be able to balance personal obligations with work demands more efficiently.

 We don’t need an oil crisis to remind us that alternative transportation efforts improve our environment. Grab your bike, get healthy while keeping the environment healthy, and start a conversation in support of green transportation in your workplace!

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From October 2007 to January 2010, a mere 2.25 years, the face of Facebook changed radically.  It went from being a social media platform populated overwhelmingly (62%) by college students (18-24) to one dominated by the “working class” (those beyond college and out in the workplace).  In 2010, those aged 25-34 totaled 25% of Facebook’s user base and those aged 35-54 totaled 29%, for a grand total of 54% of Facebook’s user base.  And, if you include those over 55, the total is 64% of Facebook’s user base, a complete reversal of demographics.  In just 2 ¼ short years!    

 Here are the stats, direct from Facebook:

While Facebook grew a staggering 515%, from 20 million users to 103 million users, the numbers show a much faster acceleration of growth in the 35-54 demographic, as well as a huge change in the 55+ demographic last year. 

 There are many implications for this shift in Facebook’s user base.  However, one seems to stand out:  everybody is turning to social media. 

 Social media is no longer for the young.  Social media will soon be as ubiquitous as e-mail.

 In 2008, when Facebook, YouTube and MySpace were really beginning to build up a head of steam, many marketers were talking about a coming tsunami based on the age of social media users. The young, they pointed out, were becoming comfortable with the use of social media tools. The tsunami would occur slowly over the years as those young users grew older. Who could have anticipated that the tsunami would occur not over the course of many years, but literally within the span of a few short months? Virtually overnight everyone will be comfortable using social media tools to communicate and collaborate in ways no one has previously anticipated.

 What will this mean for the way companies communicate, not with the outside world, but within? 

It is very possible that the social media communication revolution will change communication patterns as much as or even more so than the Internet and e-mail.

 Businesses have a real opportunity here to  . . . start the conversation.

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