How do you combat work stress? Do you rely on copious amounts of coffee, delish food and chocolates to pump you with dopamine? Well, employees in China have resorted to growing bananas on their work desks. They haven’t actually gone bananas! This is a viral trend that has taken over Chinese offices. Read on to know what this trend is all about and if this is a solution to work stress.
Employees In China Grow Bananas On Work Desks; Paint Offices Yellow
A report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP) states that burnt-out Chinese employees have found a novel way of alleviating work stress — growing bananas in their offices. They have given this a fun name in Mandarin, ting zhi jiao lu or “stop banana green”. This translates to “stop anxiety” in English. Employees purchase bananas when they are still green with stems intact and allow them to be grown in vases filled with water.
After a week of careful nurturing, these bananas are ripened and ready to be eaten. This process of employees hurting the bananas and patiently waiting for them to ripen is considered a fun distraction from work. It is a form of bonding amongst employees as it offers something to look forward to. This trend has gone viral on Xiaohongshu, China’s Instagram. These banana posts have garnered over 22,000 likes.
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Fun Distraction From Work & Alleviates Stress
As per SCMP, one employee stated that watching the bananas turn from lush green to golden, gives them moments filled with hope and surprises. It’s fun to eat away one’s anxiety and watch troubles vanish into thin air. Colleagues write down their names on the banana peels and eat them once they are ripened.
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With workstations turning into tropical forests and bananas taking over office conversation, workplaces in China have been painted yellow and how! However, some people on Xiaohongshu termed this to be a marketing stunt by banana farmers amid a slump in fruit sales.
Meanwhile, do let us know if you are inspired by Chinese employees. Are you also planning to grow bananas in your office to beat work stress?
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva Pro (representative pictures)
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