How nature helps us to be more productive, creative and healthy

Coworking in nature – how do we benefit from this?

Who doesn’t know the feeling of working inside at the desk, but the inspiration or productivity flow you need right know just doesn’t want to come? Yes, there are tons of different tips and advice that tell us how to improve our level of productivity and brain capacity, but does it always have to be that complex? There is one really simple tool that has remarkable positive effects on our mental power: being outside in nature.

Although most of us will know the clarifying feeling that comes after a walk outside, it is not always easy to integrate nature breaks into daily work-life. Let’s have a look at what’s happening when you change your working place into a more natural environment.There are numerous biochemical and physiological changes throughout your entire body:

Improves memory functions and attention span

Multiple studies have proven the positive influences of natural environments on our memory and attention span. One study of the University of Michigan for example has shown how a short walk in nature can boost our short-term memory: Two separated groups of students had to fill out a memory test. After that one group took a walk around an arboretum, and the other took a walk down a city street. When the students came back and did the test again, those who had walked among trees did almost 20% percent better than the first time. The group who had taken in city sights instead, did not consistently improve. Compared to an urban environment, where our attention has to be in several directions at once, nature helps us to calm our minds and sharpen our focus.

Nature prevents ‘mental fatigue syndrome’

The natural environment has a general restorative effect on our brain and this is why nature also helps us to prevent “mental fatigue syndrome”, the phenomenon of an overwhelmed and mentally drained mind. In our overstimulated world this is quite a serious issue, because this state of mind doesn’t allow us to use our full mental potential. But even short breaks in nature can help to prevent this and refresh our mind again. People that just looked at pictures of nature have even attested to the restoration of the mind.

Lower stress, better health

Sitting in natural surroundings is positively impacting our immune system, lowering your blood pressure and improving the blood flow to provide oxygen. In general our hormone and heart system is more balanced. Natural environments are especially effective when it comes to the hormone cortisol – a hormone that is often used as a marker for stress. In one study, researchers found a decrease in both heart rate and levels of cortisol in subjects in the forest when compared to those in the city. „Stressful states can be relieved by forest therapy,“ they concluded. Among office workers, even the view of nature out a window is associated with lower stress and higher job satisfaction.

The „green effect“: How nature influences our creativity

A study has shown that people who looked at the colour green for two seconds before doing a creative task had better results and produced more creative ideas then people who looked at other colours. In the study that was published in the journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, scientists gave 69 men and women two minutes to write down as many uses as possible for a tin can. Then a coder rated each idea for its creativity and cleverness. The test has shown that the attendees that saw green before the task produced more creative ideas than those who saw other colours. The green colour that was used in the experiments had the same shade seen in nature and in growing plants „Green may serve as a cue that evokes the motivation to strive for improvement and task mastery, which in turn may facilitate growth“ says Lichtenfeld, an assistant professor of psychology at Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich, Germany. Another study found that people immersed in nature for four days improved their performance on a creative problem-solving test by 50%.

In sum nature is not just improving your productivity – it is at the same time influencing our behaviour, health, and emotions in a very positive way. Based on this knowledge many major tech companies have already started to implement natural designs into the working spaces—pathways through gardens, views of trees, green roofs and walls, an abundance of plants. However this is a great development – enjoying the benefits of nature can be so much easier – just take your laptop and come to work in the countryside.

Sources:

Psychological Science, 2008; PLOS ONE, 2012

Environmental Science and Technology, 2010; Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2012; Journal of Affective Disorders, 2013

Donald, I., Taylor, P., Johnson, S., Cooper, C., Cartwright, S., & Robertson, S. (2005). Work environments, stress, and productivity: An examination using ASSET. International Journal of Stress Management, 12(4), 409–423.

KOMPIER, M., & Cooper, C. (2012). Introduction: Improving work, health and productivity through stress prevention. In Preventing stress, improving productivity (pp. 19-26). Routledge.

Christmas Dinner

Das COCONAT Küchenteam zaubert auch dieses Jahr wieder ein spezielles Weihnachtsessen für Gruppen ab 8 Personen. Es erwartet euch ein 3 Gänge Menü aus regionalen und saisonalen Zutaten.

**Kosten:**

Paket Weihnachts-Schlemmerei:

Menü: 28 Euro pro Person

+ weihnachtlicher Deko

Getränke müssen einzeln bezahlt werden.

Paket Weihnachts-Völlerei:

Menü + 2 Flaschen Rot- und/oder Weißwein pro 4 Personen-Tisch: 45 Euro pro Person

+ Aufwärmen am Lagerfeuer mit Feuerzangenbowle, besonderer Weihnachts-Deko, Weihnachtsmusik

Statt Tischservice erwartet euch ein weihnachtlich gestaltetes Buffet für diesen Abend.

Bei Interesse bitte spätestens eine Wochen vorher anmelden.

Das vollständige Menü und mehr Informationen unter:

booking@coconat-space.com

A very Coco-Christmas!

 

With a merry „Co-Co-Co!“ we are happy to share the latest news and what’s going on over the holidays.

Check out our Winter Specials here!

Gift Certificate
The gift of a break for important projects, ideas, clarity for 2020, and to-dos that have been on the list for a long time.

Vouchers are available for 50 or 100 Euro, or adapted to your individual wishes.

If you are interested write to Iris at booking@coconat-space.com

 

Maker’s Christmas Market 

The Maker’s Market is getting closer new highlights to announce: 

12 to 6pm:
Find very special, handmade gifts and crafts in the bazaar tents: Upcycled bags, natural cosmetics, crafts, and much more.
— For all creative makers: learn how to do it yourself and visit one of the WORKSHOPS which are taking place the whole afternoon.
—If you need some relaxation, use our special Christmas Market massage offerings
— and of course there is a great choice of local and international food in our Food Stalls: wild deer goulash, Crêpes, and hot apple juice from the mobile Mosterei Fläming. If you like it more sweet you get homemade cakes and vegan delights at Cafe milan or enjoy a coffee from the cooperative „La Libertad“.

Children’s programme
Readings from the children’s book “Die Kinder von Tibet“.
11.30-12.30 Circus program
13.30-15.00 Horse-riding
12-18 Uhr   Gift-making workshops

Thank you to the support from

A very Coco-Christmas!

Mit einem weihnachtlichen „Co – Co – Co!“ starten wir mit euch in den Advent und freuen uns Neues aus Klein Glien verkünden zu können.

Schau dir hier unsere Winter Angebote an!

Geschenkgutscheine

Warum Zeitverschwenden mit lästigem Suchen nach Weihnachtsgeschenken?
Das Geschenk einer Pause – um wichtige Ideen und Projekte umzusetzen, Klarheit für 2020 zu finden oder Dinge zu erledigen, die schon lange auf der To Do-Liste stehen.

 

Makers-Weihnachtsmarkt

Mach’s dir mit einem Glühwein in der mongolischen Jurte bequem:
Durchgängig von 12-18 Uhr:
Was fürs Auge bieten die Bazarzelte, wo diverse Unikate, Kunsthandwerk und tolle Geschenkideen angeboten werden.
—-Wer sich zwischendurch etwas gönnen will, kann im Massagesalon entspannende Schnuppermassagen buchen.
—-Für alle kreativen Selbermacher gibt´s Workshops, in denen ihr individuelle Geschenke herstellen könnt.
—-Und natürlich darf auch das gute Essen und Trinken nicht fehlen: Im Essenszelt gibt’s lokale und internationale Leckereien wie Wildgulasch, Crepes, orientalische Suppe und heißen Apfelsaft von der Mobilen Mosterei Fläming. Wer’s lieber Süß mag bekommt im Ladencafe „Milan“ veganen und nicht-veganen Kuchen und hausgemachten Stollen. Dazu genießt Ihr einen leckeren Kaffee von der Kooperative „La Libertad“

Kinderprogram:
von 11.30  Uhr Lesungen für Kinder u.a. aus dem Buch „Die Kinder von Tibet“
11.30-12.30 Zirkusprogram Pan Panazeh
13.30-15.00 Uhr Pferdreiten
12-18 Uhr Geschenke Workshops Vielen Dank an die Unterstützung von

Vielen Dank an die Unterstützung von

Spezielles Weihnachtsmenü

COCONAT Weihnachtsmenü – buchbar für Gruppen ab 15 Personen 

** MENÜ **

** VORSPEISE **
Spinatflan an Belugalinsen und Herbstsalaten
Knuspriges Wurzelbrot mit veganen Schmalz

** HAUPTSPEISE **

Badische Kartoffelsuppe (vegan)

Zarter Hirschgulasch mit selbst gemachten Spätzle in einer Pilzpfanne, dazu ein winterlicher Feldsalat

und/oder

Leckere Tofubällchen in veganer Pilzrahmsoße

** DESSERT **
Crema di Mascarpone auf Cantuccini und Beeren

** KOSTEN **
Paket Weihnachts-Schlemmerei:
* 3 Gänge Menü
>> 45 Euro pro Person (inkl. Mwst.)
Getränke müssen einzeln oder summiert bezahlt werden.

Paket Weihnachts-Völlerei:
* 3 Gänge Menü + 1 Flasche Rot- oder Weißwein pro 4 Personen-Tisch
* Weihnachtsgebäck + Warm up oder Abschluss am Lagerfeuer mit Feuerzangenbowle.
>> 59 Euro pro Person (inkl. Mwst.)
Weitere Getränke müssen einzeln oder summiert bezahlt werden.

** EXTRA-INFO **
* Mindestzahl 15 Personen
*Das Essen findet exklusiv im dekorierten Gewölbekeller mit gemütlicher Weihnachtsstimmung statt. Wir haben keinen Tischservice, sondern ein weihnachtlich gestaltetes Buffet.
* Ihr wollt vor dem Essen noch ein besonderes Erlebnis mit Eurem Team, oder nach dem Weihnachtsessen noch tanzen oder habt andere Ideen?
>> Wir bieten viele Team-Aktivitäten vor Ort, mit Dienstleistern der Region und freuen uns Euch individuell beraten zu dürfen.

Viele Grüße
Das Buchungs-Team vom Coconat