Is Nature the Missing Ingredient in Your Workforce Well-Being Strategy?
A free members-only eventNovember 9, 2026
Winter Park, FL
Green space. Blue space. The evidence is clear and compelling: Time in nature has a surprisingly wide array of benefits for physical and mental health and well-being, as well as cognitive performance.1–4 Rigorous research supports the impact of nature exposure on blood pressure, cardiovascular health, inflammatory markers, cortisol, depression, anxiety, and immune function.1,2,4–8 Combining nature and physical activity appears to supercharge the beneficial effects of both9 and may lead to average reductions in health care costs of more than $1000 annually.10
Biophilic design, which is focused on infusing nature connections into buildings, is gaining momentum in workplaces given its capacity to improve creativity, productivity, and well-being.11,12 A meta-analysis of 49 studies revealed that biophilic design had a medium to large effect on increasing positive emotions and decreasing negative ones.13
Experts recommend a minimum “nature dose” of 120 minutes a week,14,15 raising important questions about whether fostering nature contact and connections is an overlooked key component of employee health and well-being strategies.
This Think Tank will explore the latest research on the link between well-being and nature, best practices in implementing biophilic design, and practical, low- or no-cost strategies employers can implement with in-person or remote workforces to increase nature connections and promote time in nature.
Learning Objectives:
- Name at least three health benefits of sufficient exposure to or time in nature.
- List at least two strategies employers can implement to increase employees’ nature contact.
- Identify three changes that can be made to in-person and remote workspaces to increase connection to nature.
References:
- Schertz KE, Berman MG. Understanding Nature and Its Cognitive Benefits. Curr Dir Psychol Sci. 2019;28(5):496-502. doi:10.1177/0963721419854100
- Bratman GN, Anderson CB, Berman MG, et al. Nature and mental health: An ecosystem service perspective. Sci Adv. 2019;5(7):eaax0903. doi:10.1126/sciadv.aax0903
- Chen H, Burnett RT, Bai L, et al. Residential Greenness and Cardiovascular Disease Incidence, Readmission, and Mortality. Environ Health Perspect. 2020;128(8):087005. doi:10.1289/EHP6161
- Keith RJ, Hart JL, Bhatnagar A. Greenspaces And Cardiovascular Health. Circ Res. 2024;134(9):1179-1196. doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.124.323583
- Jimenez MP, DeVille NV, Elliott EG, et al. Associations between Nature Exposure and Health: A Review of the Evidence. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(9):4790. doi:10.3390/ijerph18094790
- Li Q. Effect of forest bathing trips on human immune function. Environ Health Prev Med. 2010;15(1):9-17. doi:10.1007/s12199-008-0068-3
- Pritchard A, Richardson M, Sheffield D, McEwan K. The Relationship Between Nature Connectedness and Eudaimonic Well-Being: A Meta-analysis. J Happiness Stud. 2020;21(3):1145-1167. doi:10.1007/s10902-019-00118-6
- Nguyen PY, Astell-Burt T, Rahimi-Ardabili H, Feng X. Effect of nature prescriptions on cardiometabolic and mental health, and physical activity: a systematic review. Lancet Planet Health. 2023;7(4):e313-e328. doi:10.1016/S2542-5196(23)00025-6
- Christiana RW, Besenyi GM, Gustat J, Horton TH, Penbrooke TL, Schultz CL. A Scoping Review of the Health Benefits of Nature-Based Physical Activity. J Healthy Eat Act Living. 2021;1(3):154-172.
- Land Trust Alliance, US Fish and Wildlife Service. Investing in Nature: The Economic Benefits of Protecting Our Lands and Waters. Accessed April 6, 2026. https://a.storyblok.com/f/120093/x/4d34103ad3/usfws-landtrustalliance-economic-benefits-brochure-1.pdf
- Larson J. Biophilic design in the workplace improves creativity, wellbeing and productivity. University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. May 7, 2024. Accessed April 7, 2026. https://arb.umn.edu/blog/2024/05/07/biophilic-design-in-the-workplace-improves-creativity-wellbeing-and-productivity
- Cooper R. Human Spaces: The Global Impact of Biophilic Design in the Workplace. 2015. Accessed April 7, 2026. https://greenplantsforgreenbuildings.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Human-Spaces-Report-Biophilic-Global_Impact_Biophilic_Design.pdf
- Gaekwad JS, Sal Moslehian A, Roös PB, Walker A. A Meta-Analysis of Emotional Evidence for the Biophilia Hypothesis and Implications for Biophilic Design. Front Psychol. 2022;13:750245. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.750245
- White MP, Alcock I, Grellier J, et al. Spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with good health and wellbeing. Sci Rep. 2019;9(1):7730. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-44097-3
- Sheikh K. How Much Nature Is Enough? 120 Minutes a Week, Doctors Say. N Y Times. June 13, 2019. Accessed March 24, 2026. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/13/health/nature-outdoors-health.html
With support from
