(EN) | Yvette Mehciz interviewt Sharon Chirila

What does healthy working mean to you personally?

As is typical, the idea of working healthy is the idea that there is a balance between working and personal life. Additionally, making sure that time is spent outdoors is a large part of this philosophy. In my specific work at Grooa, I also learned that "fulfillment" is an important part of reaching a healthy balance; each one of us can lead a healthy life by being aligned with our values; for me, having time for my family, learning for my personal improvement and being in contact with nature are essential values; when I honor these values, I feel fulfilled.

How do you implement healthy working in your workday? And do you have personal experience with working outdoors?

If I don't make time for a walk or bike ride, I make sure to spend even a few minutes looking at the plants growing in my garden or near my workspace. I enjoy looking at the "weeds" that thrive in sidewalks cracks or near buildings with a plant identification app learning more about the plants and if they are useful in some way as food or as herbal remedies.
I do try to work on my laptop outside when the weather permits. If I am in my home office, I make sure that my desk is facing a window where I can look out at the trees and colorful flowers in my garden.

We know GROOA is dedicated to the theme of “Healthy working’ and wellbeing. And that Grooa even created the Inspiria Center in the middle of nature. Could you tell us more about this center?

The Inspiria center is at the heart of Grooa's philosophy about CLEAR Leadership, part of which is realizing that sometimes we are trapped inside a "mental and emotional box", we might be biased or we might be afraid of going outside our comfort zone; we train people to recognize these mental and emotional boxes and train them to get out and lead courageously.
At Grooa we have created a unique physical atmosphere to get people out of the "literal box" that is the office, to be in a place where people can benefit from being in nature and to take a break from their everyday lives. The main indoor space has a wide view of the outdoors, which includes a meadow and forest. An emphasis in the training is placed on the practice of Shinrin Yoku (mindfulness with forest bathing in our private forest) to notice how nature stimulates all our senses and to use that to learn to be in the moment. It is a wonderfully grounding experience.
As part of the enriching environment, there are several areas created outdoors for the social aspects when groups come for training or facilitation retreats, spending several days at the center. Due to the unique setting, we can have seating in sun and shade, a covered area to enjoy a fire pit in the evenings, and walking/biking paths around the property.
Now that COVID restrictions have greatly affected our lives, the desire for workspace outdoors has become a priority to help meet the needs, both physical and mental, of our colleagues and groups that we welcome to our space.

From your experience working at GROOA, which are the obstacles people face when they think of taking work outdoors?

Working outdoors requires planning ahead. Not only do you need to have a good wifi connection and seating, but when people work on laptops and other devices with screens, there need to be options to help combat the glare you get from the sun. Things to consider are tables with 'boxes'or sort of cubby to shield the laptop from the sun and cut down on glare. Having tables and chairs under the shade of trees is ideal.

More information about GROOA: https://www.grooa.com