In the past, lighting wasn’t considered an important segment of productivity. But it’s no longer a question of whether or not you should pay attention to lighting—it’s now a matter of how.
Lighting can affect your mood, productivity, and even health.
Lighting has a significant effect on human perception and behavior, even influencing things like sleep cycles, circadian rhythms, and pain. These factors have a huge influence on the way we work.
According to a study by the Lighting Research Center, interior lighting can actually boost productivity and reduce the chances of making careless mistakes.
In this post, I share 5 surprising facts about light that could help you boost productivity.
Lack of light will have negative impact on you
By now, it’s already common knowledge that the presence of light affects our mood in a positive way.
A long period without light can make us unfocused on our tasks which leads us to an unhealthy state of mind and a foggy brain. Light is like a stimulant to our brain and it sends us signals to be efficient.
Lack of it doesn’t prepare us for the day, on the contrary, it can make an illusion of night which plays with our perception.
Too much light can lower productivity
It is undeniable that we need light, but there are also chances of light overload. We especially need to avoid too much light in the office environment, where most of us spend a lot of time. It can lead to a lack of focus and reduced productivity.
If you work in an office, it’s crucial to make sure the lighting is conducive to work and not distracting. Light distraction isn’t rare since there are so many bad quality lights, which makes that artificial and unsettling tone to our eyes.
The Sun is the most productive light source
The sun is the most powerful light source on earth. Its rays carry more energy than any other source and are capable of lifting our moods like no other source. It is the source of all life.
The message here is pretty clear – use as much natural light as you can. Don’t ever miss an opportunity to raise the blinds!
Lighting can increase or decrease your stress
The lighting in your workspace should be focused on you, in order to improve your mood.
In an environment where your job is to concentrate on what you’re doing, and it’s the only place where you’ll be working, the lighting needs to support that.
You know when you walk into a room and it feels just right?
The right amount of light is something that you probably won’t recognize. And that’s what makes it right!
It doesn’t steal attention and by doing that it makes you feel natural and comfortable.
On the contrary, if there’s too much or just a small amount of light, it can make you feel totally opposite and therefore increase your discomfort and stress levels.
Some lights stimulate people, while others encourage sleepiness
There are three main types that stimulate us visually: bright, dull, and low.
Bright light can be produced by the sun or electric lights. Dull light is produced by fluorescent bulbs, which are more practical and long-lasting. But low light is the most common, and the most pleasant to our eyes.
And while low light is the most pleasant – it encourages sleepiness.
It’s a good recommendation to always brighten up a room if it’s going to get dark, in order to keep your productivity levels higher. It’s all about the right dosage!
You can be productive even without natural light
Offices that have little or no natural lights at all can still be saved! You can use artificial blue lights that range from 5,000 to 7,000 degrees Kelvin.
That way you can stimulate your brain in a similar way the natural light does.
