Why Workplaces Aren't Designed for Human Nervous Systems

The best workplaces think about the people first, and the environment, systems and practices that cultivate healthy productivity, beyond perks and benefits. A few things I've seen that I really like:

Space to breathe, with 50-minute meetings. A simple shift that gives you a chance for a wee, notes, a stretch, a decompress, coffee, water, if you're quick, all of the above.

Challenging necessity. I saw recently that Elon encouraged people to walk out of meetings they deemed unimportant. For me, this lacks emotional intelligence, importance is subjective and walking out can create misplaced shame or hierarchy. But I do believe a culture that safely challenges unnecessary meetings is a healthy one.

Saving people time, protecting space to think.

Automation that removes low effort labour. Transcribed meeting notes, automated workflows, tools that reduce admin, these free up cognitive load and support clearer thinking. As long as they're not compromising the brain's opportunity to think critically and process healthily (but that's for another day).

Curated quiet spaces. Corners for reflection, plants, softer lighting. Shout-out to Wiser for this, they have a rainforest space that is a quiet jungle haven in the middle of the City. I challenge you not to rest, recharge and feel inspired to innovate in that room.

The anti-to-do list.

Quality 1:1s and team huddles. Check-ins on the person and not just the to-do list. Two-way conversations, listening first. Asking, and I think I've taken this from Amy Cuddy's work "what do you need to do your best work?" Safety to gain clarity and support where needed. Walking 121s, even better.

Town halls that create meaning beyond metrics. Connection, recognition, appreciation, clarity, authentic Q&A, vulnerability, bravery, and ideally, delicious snacks and small acts of joy.

Meetings where it's OK to say "I need a breather." Where workloads are triaged. Where time off is valued. Where late-night emails are a rarity and certainly not an expectation. Leaders that give you permission and role-model switching off. They value the brain's necessity for quality rest and sleep.

I've been working with a business recently who offer unlimited leave, with an expectation of at least 25 days. The CEO leads with a wellbeing-first and growth-mindset ethos, alongside laser-focused alignment on vision and goals. They are one of the fastest-growing, highest-performing companies in their space.

This is a bit of a random potato-gun of a list, just what came to mind over a coffee and a mind musing. But it all ladders up to workplaces that honour the human nervous system and create environments where people can think clearly, connect more deeply and perform sustainably.

What's your potato shot to add to the list, for workplaces designed to be good for nervous systems?