Bringing Nature Into Your Career: Why Green Spaces Matter for Hospitality Professionals

If you work in hospitality, chances are you spend most of your day indoors—in kitchens, conference rooms, lobbies, or back offices. The air is climate-controlled, the lighting is artificial, and the closest you get to "nature" might be the potted plant in the corner of the reception area.

But here's something worth considering: your relationship with nature might be one of the most underrated factors in your career longevity, mental clarity, and overall job satisfaction.

This isn't about becoming a forest ranger or quitting your job to live off-grid. It's about recognising that nature—even in small, intentional doses—can fundamentally improve how you show up at work, how you handle stress, and how sustainable your career becomes over the long term.

Why Nature Matters in High-Pressure Careers

Hospitality is demanding. You're always "on." Guests need you. Teams need you. Crises happen. And even when things are calm, there's an underlying hum of vigilance—anticipating the next check-in, the next complaint, the next fire to put out.

Research consistently shows that exposure to natural environments reduces cortisol levels, improves focus, and enhances emotional regulation. In other words, nature doesn't just make you feel better—it makes you function better.

For hospitality professionals specifically, this matters because:

• Your job requires constant emotional labour. You're managing your own feelings whilst reading and responding to others'. Nature provides a reset.

• Decision fatigue is real. From menu changes to staffing issues, you're making hundreds of micro-decisions daily. Time in nature restores cognitive capacity.

• Burnout is an industry-wide issue. Nature exposure is one of the most accessible, low-cost interventions for mental health and resilience.

What "Bringing Nature Into Your Career" Actually Looks Like

You don't need a garden or a mountain nearby. You just need intention. Here are practical, real-world ways to weave nature into your working life—even in urban, high-pressure hospitality environments:

1. Micro-Dose Nature During Your Day

You don't need an hour-long hike. Research shows that even 5-10 minutes of nature exposure can lower stress and improve mood.

• Step outside during your break. Not to check your phone in the car park—actually be outside. Feel the air. Notice the sky.

• If your property has outdoor spaces (gardens, courtyards, terraces), use them. Have your coffee there. Take a work call there.

• If you're stuck indoors, position yourself near windows when possible. Natural light and views of greenery have measurable psychological benefits.

2. Create a Green Corner in Your Workspace

Even if you don't have a personal office, you likely have a desk, a locker, or a staff area. Bring something living into that space.

• A small plant on your desk

• A sprig of fresh herbs in a jar

• A nature photograph as your screen saver

It sounds trivial, but studies show that even images of nature can reduce stress and improve concentration. It's not a substitute for the real thing, but it's better than nothing.

3. Walk Before or After Your Shift

If you can, bookend your workday with movement in nature.

• A 15-minute walk before your shift helps you arrive centred and clear-headed.

• A walk after your shift helps you decompress and transition out of "work mode."

This doesn't have to be a forest. A tree-lined street, a neighbourhood park, or even a quiet residential area works. The point is movement + greenery + fresh air.

4. Notice Nature on Your Commute

If you're commuting, use that time to actively notice natural elements—trees, birds, the quality of light, the weather. This sounds simple, but it's a form of mindfulness that shifts your nervous system out of stress mode.

If you're driving, crack the window. If you're on public transport, look outside instead of scrolling.

5. Advocate for Nature in Your Property's Design

If you're in a position to influence workplace design—whether you're a manager, HOD, or involved in property planning—push for more nature integration.

• Living walls or vertical gardens in staff areas

• Outdoor break spaces with seating and shade

• Natural materials (wood, stone, plants) in back-of-house areas

• Skylights or large windows in offices and meeting rooms

Guest-facing areas often get this treatment. Staff areas rarely do. That's a missed opportunity.

The Career Benefits You Might Not Expect

Beyond stress reduction, nature exposure has some surprising career implications:

You'll make better decisions. Cognitive restoration from nature improves executive function—your ability to plan, prioritise, and solve problems.

You'll be more creative. Studies show that time in nature enhances creative thinking and problem-solving. If you're stuck on a challenge, a walk might be more productive than another meeting.

You'll build resilience. Regular nature exposure doesn't just help you feel better in the moment—it builds long-term capacity to handle stress. You become more adaptable.

You'll model balance for your team. If you're a leader, your relationship with wellbeing sets the tone. When your team sees you taking a lunchtime walk or stepping outside for fresh air, you're giving them permission to do the same.

A Final Thought: Nature as Non-Negotiable

In hospitality, we're trained to think of guest experience as sacred. We design every detail of their environment—lighting, scent, sound, comfort.

But what about your environment? What about the conditions that allow you to sustain this work over years, not just months?

Nature isn't a luxury. It's infrastructure for your nervous system.

You don't need to overhaul your life. You just need to start noticing where you can bring in more green, more sky, more fresh air. Start small. Start today.

Because the career you build should be one you can actually stay in—and that requires taking care of the person doing the building.

Looking for more support in building a sustainable, fulfilling career in hospitality? Eclat's NextStep programme helps hospitality professionals like you clarify your path, develop resilience, and create careers that last. Learn more about NextStep here.

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