Originally seen here on the Premier Lighting Blog.
The Impact of Interior Lighting on Productivity
The design of lighting in any workplace, even if it’s your home office, can drastically impact your productivity level. There’s a reason so many offices have bright lighting and that plenty opt for natural lighting. This type of lighting has a more significant impact than you may realize. Here’s what you need to know.
Circadian Rhythm
Our bodies are biologically designed to be productive when it’s light out. Once it’s dark, our brain produces chemicals like melatonin that encourage us to sleep. That’s why so many doctors recommend reducing or eliminating screen time before bed. The exposure to light can keep you awake. Dim office lighting will encourage your brain to produce those chemicals, hurting productivity.
Eye Strain
Working in dim lighting is known to strain your eyes. That’s because your eyes must work harder to see the words on the laptop before you. Many people turn up the brightness on their computer to counteract the dim lighting. However, staring at a very bright screen also strains your eyes. When your eyes are tired and hurt, focusing on work is hard.
Emotional Health
Interior lighting can also play a significant role in your emotional health. Constant exposure to bright, fluorescent lighting makes people feel more anxious and stressed. On the other hand, constantly being in dim lighting can make people feel so relaxed that they aren’t productive. According to Lightbulbs, the perfect interior indirect lighting is 1,500 lumens. This is ideal for ceiling lights.
Personalization
Many companies opt for personalization options to increase employee productivity. Some companies offer desk lamps so employees can have the level of lighting they prefer. Others opt for natural lighting due to the many benefits sunlight provides. Blue lightbulbs are becoming increasingly common because blue light helps keep people alert. However, if your employees are exposed to too much blue light, it can cause problems falling asleep at night.
Finding the Right Balance
Now, offering a workplace that provides various types of interior lighting is essential. Blue lighting is an excellent idea during early mornings when employees feel groggy. However, it should not be used all day, every day. Fluorescent lighting provides ample light, but it should not be used eight hours a day because it makes employees feel stressed. Developing the right combination is critical to increasing productivity.
Premier Lighting specializes in interior lighting and lighting fixtures. Our website is ideal for finding everything you need to customize your lighting. Check out our vast selection of products today!