Can Having the Right Lighting Improve Productivity? | Office Insight
A lot of research has gone into what type of lighting is most appropriate to be used in office spaces, to create a happy and productive work environment without appearing too clinical or harsh. Poor lighting can be detrimental to productivity at work, as working in a room with lights that are dim causes the eyes to strain and could result in headaches or migraines. Dim lighting has also been proven to lead to drowsiness at work and difficulty in maintaining focus and motivation, which is the opposite to boosting productivity! It all relates to the circadian cycle - circadian rhythms are physical, mental, and behavioural changes that follow a daily cycle, based on the human reliance thousands of years ago, on natural light - sunlight and moonlight - to regulate sleeping patterns. When artificial light was introduced, it affected the pattern. Over time, as lighting has adapted and developed, there are ways and means of aiding your circadian cycle which will boost your mood, relieve stress and increase productivity.
Making the most of natural light and sunlight helps avoid mental health illnesses such as depression, bipolar disorder and seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and also helps to receive enough Vitamin D which is essential for regulating the immune system and ensuring healthy cognitive function. These of which will help relieve stress, give you a calmer state of mind and in turn will boost mood and productivity. Being exposed to natural light will help workers to learn and think creatively, whilst optimising natural light will also save you money as you don’t need to spend so much on artificial light.
Whilst you may not have an office space which is exposed to a lot of natural light, choosing the right colour and temperature of your lighting will also help maintain a good office environment. Generally, warm yellow or warm orange lights are better for relaxing and unwinding therefore these would work well in a kitchen or recess area whereas cool blue or white lights are better for waking up, working and concentrating which makes them a good choice for your office. Choosing lighting that is excessively bright and harsh, will also lead to eye strain and headaches, which could lead to you seeing a drop in productivity.
LED lighting provide much brighter, more natural-looking light and smart technology operation give employees the control to adjust lighting intensity throughout the day to reflect the natural change of sunlight. Quality LEDs do not flicker and can actually help reduce headaches due to their lighting output similarity to natural light.